A6M5 Type 52 / A6M2-K two-seat trainer
Kamikaze Tokkotai
IJN Special Attack Units

Eduard Limited Edition, Dual Combo

1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" was a long-range carrier-based fighter aircraft manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the Mitsubishi Navy Type 0 carrier fighter, or the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen. The A6M was usually referred to by its pilots as the Reisen, "0" being the last digit of the imperial year 2600 (1940) when it entered service with the Imperial Navy. The official Allied reporting name was "Zeke", although the name "Zero" (from Type 0) was used colloquially by the Allies as well.

The Zero is considered to have been the most capable carrier-based fighter in the world when it was introduced early in World War II, combining excellent manoeuvrability and very long range. The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) also frequently used it as a land-based fighter.

At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, 521 Zeros were active in the Pacific, 328 in first-line units.

The carrier-borne Model 21 was the type encountered by the Americans. Its tremendous range of over 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi) allowed it to range farther from its carrier than expected, appearing over distant battlefronts and giving Allied commanders the impression that there were several times as many Zeros as actually existed.

In early combat operations, the Zero gained a reputation as a dogfighter, achieving an outstanding kill ratio of 12 to 1, but by mid-1942 a combination of new tactics and the introduction of better equipment enabled Allied pilots to engage the Zero on generally equal terms.

By 1943, the Zero was less effective against newer Allied fighters due to design limitations. It lacked hydraulic boosting for its ailerons and rudder, rendering it extremely difficult to manoeuvre at high speeds.

By 1944, with Allied fighters approaching the A6M levels of manoeuvrability and consistently exceeding its firepower, armour, and speed, the A6M had largely become outdated as a fighter aircraft. However, as design delays and production difficulties hampered the introduction of newer Japanese aircraft models, the Zero continued to serve in a front-line role until the end of the war in the Pacific.

During the final phases of the war, it was also adapted for use in kamikaze operations.

Japan produced more Zeros than any other model of combat aircraft during the war.*

* Historical summary courtesy of Wikipedia

It is always a treat to welcome a brand new tooling from Eduard, and they have been running in overdrive lately with an eclectic mix of esoteric and famous subjects.

Eduard continues this ambitious release programme with another substantially new 1/48 scale Dual Combo release in April 2025 - Kamikaze Tokkotai IJN Special Attack Units.

The package includes two complete 1/48 scale kits in the one box, both of which are new variants for Eduard. First is the A6M5 Zero Type 52, and the second kit is the A6M2-K two-seater trainer.

Parts are supplied to build one of each variant.

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Thumbnail panels:

A 48 page instruction book with a five page illustrated history section plus decals for ten Kamikaze subjects are also included.

Surface texture is everything we have come to expect from Eduard - just gorgeous. There are very fine and crisply recessed panel lines, rivets and fasteners.

There are also rows of subtly raised rivets and weld beads on the drop tank, plus raised fabric rib stitching and wing panels. These really add to the effect and the closer you look, the better it gets! I can't see any moulding imperfections in my kit.

Assembly starts in the cockpit. Some structural detail is moulded onto the inside of the fuselage sides, and the front office is enhanced with Eduard’s excellent colour photo-etched parts. Separate parts are supplied for the fuse box, throttle quadrant, radios, side console, bulkheads and more. These are built up in layers on the inside of the fuselage halves.

The instrument panel may be finished with either the supplied colour photo-etched parts or decals. If you prefer, you could paint the plastic parts yourself too – the choice is yours.

The one-piece seat is moulded with full perforations and it looks quite acceptably thin. If you want thinner still, Eduard is offering a 3D printed seat as an aftermarket option.

Colour photo-etched harness straps are also included.

The cowl machine guns are also built into the front of the A6M5 cockpit. The overall effect should look very busywhen this is all in place.

The engine is made up from just seven parts including the rear mount but detail is very crisp and fine. It should look very nice after careful painting and weathering.

Eduard supplies a cylindrical jig to help align the cowling parts during assembly. The cowl is made up from two sides, a top part with the gun troughs moulded in place and a separate intake duct for the bottom of the cowling. The jig is a great idea. It offers the best of both worlds – nice deep detail free from sink marks plus perfect alignment if the jig is used correctly.

The wings are conventionally presented as a full-span lower section and separate upper halves. The wheel wells are built up from five separate parts that are glued to the inside of the lower wing halves. One of these parts acts as a nice rigid wing spar. Additional detail parts are also included for the wheel wells.

Ailerons, elevators and rudder are all separate parts. Flaps are moulded shut.

Bombs and a training arrestor device are included.

Wing tip navigation lights are supplied as clear parts.

The canopy parts are clear, thin and free from distortion. The A6M5 canopy may be posed open or closed. Alternative parts are offered for open or closed sliding section.

The A6M2-K forward cockpit canopy is permanently open, but the rear canopy may be posed open or closed.

Self-adhesive die-cut masks are provided for the canopy and the main wheel hubs.

Markings

Markings are offered for ten Kamikaze aircraft.

The instructions offer four view colour illustrations for all ten options, plus individual histories for each subject.

They are

• A6M5 Zero Type 52, probably c/n 4271, Lt. Yukio Seki, 1st Kamikaze Tokubetsu Kogekitai, Shikishima-tai, Mabalacat airfield, Phillipines, October 1944

• A6M5 Zero Type 52, Hikotai 165, Kokutai 653, IJN Zuih?, ?ita base, Japan, September 1944

• A6M5 Zero Type 52, Kokutai 210, Meiji Base, Japan, winter 1944-1945

• A6M5 Zero Type 52, Lt. (jg) Yasunori, Kamikaze Tokubetsu Kogekitai, Dai 7 Shiwa-tai, Kanoya Base, Japan, May 1945

• A6M5 Zero Type 52, Lt. Nao Sugisaki, Kokutai 352, Omura Base, Japan, March 1945

• A6M2-K, Ensign Koizumi, Kamikaze Tokubetsu Kogekitai, Dai 7 Showa-tai, Kanoya Base, Japan, April 1945

• A6M2-K, Kasumigaura Kokutai, Sentokai Tokubetsu Kogekitai, Chitose Base, Japan, July 1945

• A6M2-K, Lt. (jg) Tamotsu Kaneko, Kamikaze Tokubetsu Kogekitai, Dai 1 Tsukuba-tai, Kanoya Base, Japan, April 1945

• A6M2-K, Tsukuba Kokutai, Tsukuba Base, Japan, 1944

• A6M2-K, Tsukuba Kokutai, Tsukuba Base, Japan, 1944

The decal sheets are printed by Eduard. Stencils are also included on two separate smaller sheets.

Printing and registration look good on my samples.

Eduard’s 1:48 scale Kamikaze Tokkotai is a very impressive package.

In my opinion, the cockpits are the equal to Eduard’s best to date (the double cockpit in the A6M2-K is twice as good!), while surface textures and fit match the lofty heights of Eduard’s other recent releases.

I was very pleased to see both the A6M5 Zero and A6M2-K trainer in the one box too.

Some prior experience will be helpful due to the kit’s photo-etch and some tiny plastic parts.

This one won’t be sitting in the box for long. My only challenge is deciding which version I should build first!

Thanks to Eduard for the sample.

Review Text Copyright © 2025 by Brett Green
Page Created 8 April, 2025
Last updated 8 April, 2025

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