Rabaul based A6M2 Zero-Sen
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/8/5/6/1381856-34859-71-720.jpg)
Project inventory so far. Will add at least textile seatbelts and maybe resin wheels
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/6/2/5/1395625-34859-68-720.jpg)
Started cutting the baffles for the Sakae engine with my Silhouette.
The holes need to be punched - a tedious task
The holes need to be punched - a tedious task
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pipes and wires added to the engine's front row
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made a start on the ignition distribution ring.
More stubs to be added
More stubs to be added
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/8/2/4/1427824-34859-11-720.jpg)
Finally completed the ignition distribution. 28 Stubs made from 0.6 mm brass tubing and 0.3 mm annealed copper wire for the ignition cables
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metal primer and gloss black base
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RDF controller shouldn't be there in land based Zeros - built a new shelf from scratch
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Spinner painted with Tamiya Silver and Prop with Alclad Aluminum
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Engine painted and pin wash applied (need to clean that up)
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building a land based Zero means leaving off all the radio related parts
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/5/7/9/1497579-34859-21-720.jpg)
lots of shelves and attachments point scratch built.
Not a 100% sharp/perfect but best I could do so far
Not a 100% sharp/perfect but best I could do so far
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What a tedious work: adding the rope on the rudder pedals
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RB model brass barrels - a quick, inexpensive and worthwile update
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raised weld lines from stretched sprue and Archer rivets applied to the drop tank.
boatload of patience necessary there
boatload of patience necessary there
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/0/3/5/1580035-34859-88-720.jpg)
tank with black basing, followed by a quick sanding to remove some blemishes;
then decided to add a fuel filler cap from styrene
then decided to add a fuel filler cap from styrene
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/0/3/6/1580036-34859-66-720.jpg)
Type 97 guns added and cockpit assembled
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Aires wheel wells epoxied in place
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best I could do. Not perfect, not even good, but hopefully won't be visible
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/6/6/2/1585662-34859-26-720.jpg)
drilled out the wrong fuel filler port - it's in fact a small window for the cannon's magazine
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changed the rear wheel cutout from the kit's Mitsubishi shape to the more wavy Nakajima one
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/2/6/6/1623266-34859-99-720.jpg)
Thinned down the landing gear doors and added a small strip to simulate the stiffener
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/2/6/7/1623267-34859-43-720.jpg)
added weld spots by drilling small holes
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Placards from sheet glued on and smoothed out with CA
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more of them on rudder and alevators
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/2/6/5/1623265-34859-29-720.jpg)
Rivetrs filled with perfect plastic putty - not my preferred solution so far
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Tsting the Quinta rivets
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Raised rivets are on!
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Starboard wing root dry fit - should be okayish with glue and some pressure
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This one needs a lot of elbow grease
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Same on the other side - the Aires wheel wells push the lower piece down
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Starts to look like a Zero-Sen
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Cockpit glued in
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temporary spreader
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not perfect, but at least the fuselage closes up now. Will trim and sand the wing root around the wheel well later
![Album image #52 Album image #52](/albums/img/4/4/9/1631449-34859-65-720.jpg)
engine test fit - still a little tweaking necessary
Comentarii
30 15 January 2023, 08:15
![](/profiles/img/user-s.jpg)
Thank you very much István - although it's a minimalis's approach for the closed cowling.
An openend one would require a lot more detailing!
6 March 2023, 11:44
![](/profiles/img/user-s.jpg)
Thanks mates - I'm finally back on track. There's just so much small stuff to do for an accurate Nakajima Zero.
Definitely not the quick out of the boix build, I was hoping for.
26 June 2023, 07:44
![](/profiles/img/21096-573-s.jpg)
wow, engine is beautiful. and cockpit will probably be as good. i am certainly in. i love the idea of the twisted and flattened cable for the chain in the cockpit.
26 June 2023, 09:13
![](/profiles/img/user-s.jpg)
Thanks mate - it only took like forever.
Will hopefully post more frequent updates soon.
16 October 2023, 20:41