A6M2a Zero in China WWII

Coming to a thread near you soon! I am on the Zero kick again, can't remember
how may I have done, loving them! This one will be done as Saburo Sakai's mount
he flew in China before the U.S. entered the war. It's the 1/48 Hasegawa kit, very
well done, needs no aftermarket as far as I am concerned.---John

I have a bit of work done. I drilled out the lightening holes in the seat
and did some detail painting in the cockpit.---John

Nice subject John, one which I must do myself sometime.

I don't blame you on the P/e. I don't think I'll ever use it again on a plane. It looks cool when the fuselage is open but a lot of it is hidden when it gets closed up. Seat belts would maybe be the exception.

Side panels are looking good. Maybe a little wash in those 'holes'?

Thanks, my weak point is washes, never got good at them. Need some
more "tutorial". Also it's mixed media, enamel and acrylic, can that be washed?---John

I would think that depends on what you dilute your wash with. If you used an acrylic craft paint and diluted it with water I would think it would be very safe.

I know you can paint acrylic over enamel BUT it's a definite no no to
do enamel over acrylic, the enamel is HOT and will eat at the acrylic
causing it to craze. Ask me how I know, I ruined a perfectly good
A6M3 Zero by doing that. Learned the hard way.---John

Thanks Buck. I diluted a small amount of acrylic black paint with
distilled water then added a drop of dish soap and it works good.
I had to pour some out, it was too solid and add more distilled water.
Got the consistency I want now.---John

Great looking airplanes that the Axis flew !!

I have the engine built and a light wash, the cockpit interior in and
washed. I will try to get detail pics of interior and wash but it is cramped
in there, hard to see.---John

Looking good John.

Some interior pictures. The wash shows best in the seat.---John

Very cool.  Interior and engine really help make planes more interesting to build and see.  P.E. parts, I think on a "special" build they make sense, but in general the expen$e and effort may not be worth it.

The wings are on, not an easy task. I had a heck of a gap
at the wing roots, had to pull wings up and tape them until
they dried. I also had a good sized gap at the wing to fuselage
joint on the belly. Why do some people make a big deal out of
how GOOD Hasegawa kits are, I have had a LOT of them that are
just as "doggy" as Revell, Monogram and Airfix with crappy fit
issues and next to no cockpit detail.---John

More parts on. Flap accutators, wing tip lights, and oil cooler scoop. After I
add the drop tank I can mask and paint, soon.---John