1/32 Tamiya Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero Model 21

Gallery Article by Olivier Barles on May 14 2014

 

Bonjour,

Here are a few pictures of my 1/32 scale Mitsubishi A6M2, Model 21 from Tamiya.

The construction phase was easy, pleasant and uneventful. My only "extra-contribution" consisted in adding wires for the engine plugs.  Then, came the time to decide on an exciting decoration.

If most of the Zeros Model 52 were painted in IJN green and grey, a majority of Model 21 were all painted in greenish grey that remained a standard colour used by the Imperial Japanese Navy, from Pearl Harbour to mid-1943.

Nevertheless, even if obsolete at that time, some Model 21 were still in active duty in 1944 and even until the end of the Pacific War...  And this is where I found my inspiration...

 

Click on images below to see larger images

The 261st Kokutai was created in Kagoshima in June 1943 before being literally "dissolved by Hellcats' fire" during "the Great Marianas Turkey Shot" in July 1944.

In the meantime, this Group was equipped with all types of Zeros and wore the most original paint schemes, from the A6M2 veteran of the early days to the most recent A6M5 type - and BTW, my 1/32 Tamiya A6M5 that is already on ARC, wears also "a 261st Kokutai deco".

So, I decided to paint my A6M2 with the colours of the "Tiger 110" ("Tora" in Japanese, the Kanji Character that is painted on its tail).

It is supposed to be the plane of the 261st Kokutai Commanding Officer and it seems its exact colours are still matter of speculation.

So I decided to go for an interpretation found in a recent "Aerojournal" monograph about the Zero edited by "Caraktere", a publisher that offers in French language, one of the best references in aviation history.

Hope you'll enjoy...

Merci,

Olivier Barles

Click on images below to see larger images

 

      

Photos and text © by Olivier Barles