Two weeks went by, and even with few model quality time I am heading towards the finish line on this one.
Main paint work is complete as is most of the weathering.
Some very small retouching needed in specific places (even though it’s lacquer paint coated with an acrylic varnish, the simple handling of the kit removed portions of paint here and there).
The blue and the white band are painted and started today applying the decals

For quite some time I thought about adding ignition wires but once I set the engine cowling and a dry fit of the propeller, I quickly put the idea aside, no way anything inside is that visible when all is added.

I am really happy with my in house mix of paints to get the “sun bleached” J3 hue this machine probably had. The fact that the inside the wheel well was sprayed with the uncut jar paint might not be true to life but adds a nice contrast.
Tom Cleaver mentioned this in his own build, but I find the way the background and sun exposure changes the hue of this colour really unique

The basic layer / preshading has paid off! Great attention to the details as always Pedro.
And yes, the service by Eduard is fantastic - they often came to my rescue too @holzhamer.

From what I've read the Zero's that where launched on Dec 7th 1941 on the Hawaiian Islands where show room new, all glossy and shiny and for modelers who care they go to certain links to represent that "Look". Which is historically accurate. However, getting that scale gloss look is hard to do and it compromises the surface detail of the kit. Pedro, your basic layer / preshading combined with your technique of painting really brings out the surface detail and creates a sense of depth in the control surfaces and on the rest of the model. Your choice of colors allow the eyes to move all around the kit, making it interesting and a warm hue leaves an impression or feeling that things are being done right. How's that for Artsy Fartsy. But, your photos and comments go along way in teaching a man how to fish and cast a better net in the modeling. Somethings are learned through seeing and touching. The written words doesn't always offer the best solution. Some great photos too.

Pedro, @holzhamer
I have been watching you work your magic on this Eduard Zero. You don't know just how hard it is to resist tearing into the pair I have in the stash. I really like how you have depicted this finish. It looks very realistic, and I believe you have captured the look of how this Zero would have looked after a little time in the jungles of the South Pacific. I have read from some sources at Jaircraft.com, where the intelligence reports described the color in a multitude of ways, ranging from a pale olive green to a chalky light gray color. I think the chalky gray color best describes how it could have looked after some lengthy exposure to the elements.

Please keep it going, I am anxiously awaiting your next installment. 🙂

Very interesting read through and I'll be consulting this build thread repeatedly as I've just recieved this lovely little kit, especially with how great the model is turning out to be.

I only have only have one critique of the kit when I opened the box, and that's being unable to decide whether to go with Sakai's Zero or that super interesting scheme D of Hikōtai 311. Hard choices.

It's always amazed me that Tamiya released their amazing A6M5 and A6M3 Mod 22 re-tool circa 2010, but never re-tooled their ancient A6M2 Mod 11 and A6M3 Mod 32. They could have got some good money from that, good job Eduard swooped in and took the place of being the best A6M2 in scale. Will be looking forward to the F4F Wildcat set to release Q3 this year.

@holzhamer - beautiful paintwork on this; I think it's very accurate.

FWIW (and not a complaint) - Sakai only flew his Zero to Guadalcanal once, August 7, the day of the invasion. After shooting down Pug Southerland, he made the mistake of misidentifying three SBDs as Wildcats (this was the first time he had ever gone up against USN aircraft) and he got the nasty surprise of coming in range of the rear gunners. Badly wounded, he nearly died in an immediate crash, but was able to pull out. He then made an epic solo flight back to Rabaul nearly blinded by the bleeding from his head wound (he also eventually lost an eye). He managed to get back after over six hours in the air total (he had set the record for fuel economy in the fall of 1941 when they determined they could fly the Zero to the Philippines from Formosa, which the Americans considered impossible). He then was evacuated to Japan where his eye was removed. He didn't re-enter combat until July 1944, over Iwo Jima.

But your airplane is right weathering-wise, since he had been flying it since they were assigned to Rabaul from Lae, New Guinea, in June 1942, when he was issued this one.

Been awhile since I last posted some progress update here.

Despite the kit being really sweet to build, I managed to do some self inflicted problems along the way. Other than that the only thing hampering the kit completion (since all the visibly missing components are ready to be merely glued in place) is my OCB regarding adding brake lines to the UC legs. I hope to get that done in a few days so the Zero will finally be completed. You all can look the headline pages for the final details.

In the meantime here’s Saburo machine as I imagined it

The road less traveled is always the most interesting. I'm sure most folks will opt for a day in infamy and go with a pristine Zero on December 7. But, the war wasn't won in one day and the vagrancies of war or the grim reality of . . . our well represented in your version Pedro.