Saburo Sakai Zero, Airfix A01005 in 1/72
I completed the Saburo Sakai autobiography “SAMURAI !” some time ago and it was a very enjoyable read. The publication has been around for quite a while, my Balentine Book edition was printed in 1957 with a posted price of 50 cents! Credits indicate the book was authored ‘by Saburo Sakai with Martin Caidin and Fred Saito', although some accounts suggest it may not be the most accurate record of Sakai's activities. My paperback copy pictures not the A6M zero, but the J2M Raiden which Sakai did fly as a test pilot.
Getting to the kit, after reading the book I wanted to build an aircraft flown by Sakai. Little did I know that the toughest part of completing this build would be deciding on a colour for the model. This is my second Airfix Zero, with intended decals being the Techmod 72041 sheet which provided transfers for aircraft V-103 flown by Sakai with the Tainan Kokutai stationed in Bali, early in 1942. The Airfix kit is very nice that went together easy enough with nice fit and no putty requirements, the only critique I'd have is that the canopy is a bit thick.
I primed the plane with Mr. Hobby Surfacer 500 Gray with some black pre-shading expecting to simply apply Tamiya XF-21 IJN Grey, but Airfix instructed to use Humbrol H168 Satin Hemp. I decided to dive a little deeper and figure which colour to use. I compared a few shades, those being Humbrol 168, Mr. Color H61 IJN Gray, Tamiya XF-76 IJN Gray-Green, AK-2061 J3 Hai-Iro Grey, and AK-2061 J3 SP Amber-Grey. I also found Tom Cleavers recommended mix of XF-76/XF-51 (3:2) and included it in the selection. Referencing a few websites on Japanese WWII navy aircraft colours, I figured I wouldn't be 100% wrong by utilizing J3 SP Amber-Grey. Funny how in basement lighting the paint looks more greenish, but with blue background the paint looks more grey.
In the past I have found the AK Air Series of paints a little tricky, but figured I can give the paint another try since it does spray nicely when thinned with the recommended AK-712 Thinner. After applying 3 or 4 thin coats, I got the plane ready for decals and finishing. Also, the cowling was sprayed with the instructed 50/50 mix of ‘black and blue', but it still looks just ‘black' to me.
I ended up using the Airfix decals for the insignia and data, the Techmod decals for the aircraft ID and victory blossoms and also used decals from a Hasegawa kit for the fuselage and tail banding. I was a bit too aggressive for the AK paint when I was removing the excessive panel lining solution and the paint starting coming off in 2 or 3 small areas. He exposed areas were corrected with by brushing on the thinned down acrylic. Finished spray with a 50/50 mix of Micro Satin/Flat.
Before calling it finished, I replaced the pitot tube with some stretched sprue and cleared up the wing canon holes. I have no idea where the belly tank ended up, but I know it was painted and it will show up in the next couple of months.
Glad to have read the biography and also glad I chose this Airfix kit for the build.
Thanks for viewing.
Ahoy George. Beautifully done Zero. Your research focuses on what I find to be the most distressing part of the building a WW2 Japanese airplane and this is "what color should I paint it?" You seem to have worked it out perfectly and this little gem is a work of art. And a bonus, it's in 1/72nd scale.
Thanks Thomas (@strongeagle), the more I build 1/72nd scale the more I like it.
You did a great job with this tiny kit, George @georgeswork. I like the Airfix Zero a lot but i do agree with you on the thick canopy. Really nice paintjob and respect for trusting techmod decals 🙂
Thanks Felix (@fxrob) I only had to use 4 of the Tecmod decals - and that was enough thank you very much.
This Zero looks amazing, George @georgeswork
Hard to believe this is a tiny 1/72 scale build.
Well done.
Thanks John (@johnb), I'll be sticking to 1/72 for a few more builds.
Nice work, George. That looks like a fun kit.
Thanks John (@j-healy)
I have another Airfix Zero to build and I really like them, but I do have another Zero for a different kit manufacturer to post soon.
Excellent Zero, George! Very nice color research!
A great tribute to Saburo Sakai!
Thanks Spiros (@fiveten), colour was still a guess, doesn’t appears that there is a conclusive answer.
Nice job on your Zero, George! This is a great looking build, so is the overall colors and weathering.
Thank ad Bob (@v1pto ), still kinda playing around the panel lining.
Nice job, George! 👍👍
Thanks Gary (@gwskat)
Very nice, George (@georgeswork). I like your approach to the colors used. I have some Japanese planes in my future, so your approach will come in handy. Well done.
Thanks George (@gblair)
I guess any of the colour could be close - prob none are 100% correct.
Aviation of Japan Website provided lots of options to cloud up the discussion.
Here they are:
http://www.aviationofjapan.com/2008/03/j3-i3.html
http://www.aviationofjapan.com/2009/11/painting-into-corner-part-2-exploring.html
Wow, George, there is a lot of variation in the paint chips. Some are very close, while others are very different. You throw in sun fading and other weathering from salty air, then you really get unexpected color variation. I would also imagine that as the war continued, it became harder to get the required ingredients, and the manufacturing processes might become disrupted. So, like you said, there are "lots of options". But I think all of your research means that your colors are much nearer the center of the target than others.
Looks great - and think you made a good choice on color selection from what I can see in the photos. Well done!
Thanks Greg (@gkittinger), happy with what I chose.
Looks so different in different lighting.
Great! How works Techmod sheet of decals?
Hello Bernard (@lis),
I was nervous about the TechMod Decals as previous older decals that looked very good ended up being britle and tore easy. The few that I used were vey stiff but stuck very well. I have had large insignia crack and break while drying, and that appears to happen a lot with the older TechMod decals.
I used Techmod decals from New Arma Hobby Kits. New Techmod decals are better.