Reviewed by Brett Green

Eduard Brassin’s 1/72 scale Storm Shadow missiles are available online from Squadron.com

Hasegawa released their all-new 1/32 scale A6M5c Zero at around the same time as the 2016 Shizuoka Hobby Show. I saw the kit at the show and then found it again on sale at the legendary Rainbow Ten hobby shop (no longer operating international mail order but alive and well as a bricks-and-mortar shop in the suburbs of Shizuoka).

The price was ridiculously low for a brand new, high quality 1/32 scale kit but I resisted. With so many projects queued up already, surely I didn't need to buy another kit.

By the time I arrived home I regretted not buying the kit, so I ordered one online.

Hasegawa's approach to 1/32 scale kits differs appreciably from Tamiya and most of the new-wave Far-Eastern model companies. Hasegawa gives us the basics - no fancy workable features, removable panels, super-detailed cockpits and engines. What we get is a kit with excellent surface textures including crisply recessed panel lines, a decent level of detail and a modest, manageable parts count.

The latest parcel from CMK made me pleased that I had not started building my Hasegawa 1/32 scale Zero. They have released six new resin update sets specifically for the new Hasegawa A6M5c Zero.

All the sets are perfectly cast in grey coloured resin with no imperfections that I could see. Most of the parts are cast onto simple strips that should be fast and easy to remove and tidy up.

The sets are as follows:

Item No. 5117 – A6M5c Zero Wing Flaps Set

This comprises four parts in grey resin - two upper flap sections and two lower flap sections. For this set to be fitted, the kit's lower wing flap section must be removed and the inside of the upper trailing edges must be thinned.

Structural detail is very nicely done and should look even better with careful painting and weathering.

Item No. 5118 – A6M5c Zero Tail Cone Set

This set provides a replacement tail cone and tail undercarriage bay with interior station detail cast in place, a rear bulkhead, tail wheel and tail wheel strut. The kit tail cone will have to be removed.

Six parts in grey resin make up this set.

Item No. 5119 – A6M5c Zero Main Undercarriage Bays

This set is simply broken down into two resin parts - one port side and one starboard side main undercarriage bay. The bays are nicely detailed with raised structural features.

The resin parts are cast onto a cruciform block. I'll be using a razor saw to carefully remove these blocks as I would not want to break through the roof of the bays.

Item No. 5120 – A6M5c Zero Correction Undercarriage Doors Set

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure what needs correcting on the Hasegawa undercarriage doors, but this set is well detailed with twelve parts in grey resin. These offer the main and inboard undercarriage doors, and retraction menchanisms for all the doors.

I can tell you that the kit's undercarriage doors have a number of visible ejector pin circles, and the resin replacements do not. The resin parts also feature raised rivet detal that is not present on the kit doors.

Item No. 5121 – A6M5c Zero Wing Fuel Tanks Set Quick & Easy Line

This one will require a bit of surgery to remove the wing panels. The set provides the two wing fuel tanks, their bays and the covers. Six parts are included.

Quick & Easy Line Item No. Q32 277 - A6M5c Zero Main Wheels Set

This one really is quick and easy - two main wheels to replace the plastic kit parts. No centreline seam and nice detail will make these smooth-tyred wheels a useful option.

Each set is packed between a clear blister and cardboard backing. Instructions and a listing of the parts are included for all the sets.

These high quality detail sets will add to the detail of Hasegawa's new 1/32 scale A6M5c Zero.

All Recommended.

Thanks to CMK for the review samples.

Review Text & Images Copyright © 2017 by Brett Green
Page Created 8 August, 2017
Last updated 9 August, 2017

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