Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero Type 52 A6M5 Bandai #8507 Injection 1/24: A first impression

by Rob Graham

While I have this kit, I have not yet built it. But I can say that it is an impressive kit, if for nothing else than its size. It’s big. It represents an A6M5c with a pretty good selection of markings (thankfully—I don’t know of any aftermarket 1/24 decals for this subject), and as a basic kit, it looks to be a fair one for an old-mold kit. Some of the details are a stroke of genius, while some other details are woefully inadequate. It averages out to be a fair kit; however, it’s going to take a helluva lot of work to build it up to a high quality level.

Pros

• Engine, propeller, gun, and cockpit detail is complete and looks to be reasonably accurate. Even the back of the engine (supercharger, etc.) is included and appears to mimic what I see in the Maru Mechanic photos and drawings. If built properly, removing various panels can see many of the details.
• All control surfaces are separate and operable.
• Landing gear is retractable.

Cons

• Because landing gear is retractable, it has no gear wells or anything much to speak of. This will require a total redo to make it a gear-down display kit.
• It has a mix of raised and recessed panel lines plus raised rivets, but the recessed panel lines are deep and w-i-d-e. Correction of this alone will require much filling.
• While the overall shape is definitely a Zero, something looks wrong. The cowl looks too oval for my eyes, and the fuselage seems the same aft of the canopy.
• Price is around $60 retail, which seems awfully steep for what you get.

Verdict

I’m sure that if I used a micrometer, I could nit-pick it to death. I don’t think that would be fair because it’s not a kit that ever would have stood up to this type of scrutiny. If you’re looking for a big Zero, this is your only choice this side of the Plastruct and Squadron sheet plastic bins or the balsa or other flying kits. I guess this kit will continue to stand the test of time with this one distinction, and the best thing one can hope for is a resin accurizing kit, although I know of none to this date.

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