Jeff's A6M3 (Hamp). The clipped wing Zero***Finished***

[jssel]

Staking out a spot to build the Tamiya 1/48 A6M3 Hamp.

[Gadfly]

Sounds good. Old or new tool kit???

[jssel]

Hi GF. Appears old. Well detailed. Scribed with four markings choices. Instructions in Japanese. But hey, it's a Tamiya.

[jssel]

So here are some warm up pictures,

Boxart:





Innards:







Japanese instruction sheet plus decals.






Initial peek shows the kit has mixed raised and scribed panel lines. The kit also includes two sets of canopies, one open and one closed.

It appears that it will be a pretty straight forward build.

[DazDaMan]

I rather like the clipped-wing Zero.....

[jssel]

Wow, nice build

[MarkyM607]

Why was it clipped wing?, if that's not a silly question. I know Spit's were clipped for lower altitudes.

[DazDaMan]

Pretty much the same reason as the Spitfire's clipped wingtips - better roll rate, and an increase in speed. On the downside, though, it sacrificed the Zero's turning circle and range.

[jssel]

Daz is right. The general consensus was that it was the best performing and most graceful of the A6M line. I think the Zero 22 had folding wingtips for carrier storage. But I am far from being an expert on this subject.

[DazDaMan]

I've actually just ordered the Tamiya 1/72 kit of this version.

[jssel]

Well I am underway. Interior parts are getting a coat of green from Vallejo to simulate the Bamboo color that is mentioned often. Lightening holes were dimples in the seat so I drilled them out.









Now I am aware that I covered more than just cockpit here but I have a cunning plan. The other interior pieces will now get a coat of Tamiya Clear Blue and so hoping it will simulate Aeotake primer.

We shall see.

[iggie]

It'll be interesting to see how your experiment works out; fingers crossed for you!

[Gadfly]

Yes hopefully you get a good result with the clear blue

[Kevan Bailey]

Excellent, Jeff. Really pleased you're trying this method; all we need now is for someone to do the aluminium base with blue/green laquer on top. It would be interesting to see which method gives the best scale effect; to be honest I'm not that happy with the paint I've used, but that might be down to the weathering wash. It just seems too dark.

[jssel]

For years I have used Tamiya metallic blue but wanted to try something new. Pictures up in a little bit.