I was doing some web browsing, and came across these. Looks like a new 1/48 F-16C Block 32/52 “Thunderbirds” due in June and a new A6M5 due in July.
WOOHOO!!! Can’t wait to get my hands on these!
The Zero is being marketed as new tooling, kind of a special editon for it’s 25th anniversary (of this model from Tamiya). This is high on my want list. My hopes are high for great fit!
If the Zero is a scaled down version of their 1/32 kit, then were in for a treat [:)].
Regards, Rick
…inveterate
Are the old Tamiya Zero kits as bad as their price tags would lead me to believe? When I see a Tamiya 1/48 kit for less than $20 I assume that it’s old tooling and a very basic kit. Am I wrong?
Semper Fi,
Chris
The old Tamiya A6M2 kit is not a bad kit, by any stretch of the imagination. It is however showing its age. It has raised panel lines, not much detail, and some of the detail is questionable. However, it fits like a dream, makes a great “weekend” kit, or first model for a little one, and a good, cheap testbed for new techniques that still looks nice when complete. If you only want one A6M2 kit, don’t get the old Tamiya. If you just want something fun that will fall together, it is a great one that I recommend. The new Tamiya kit is high on my list too, as we definitely could use one.
Its interesting to me that two of the “big three” have started cranking out 1/48 new tool IJN & IJA kit. Hopefully we’ll see more in the near future. IIRC, AZmodel is coming out with a new tool 1/48 Ki-48 Lily and a new tool 1/48 C6N/Ki-15.
HTH! [;)]
Cardshark,
You’ve answered my question. Any kit “showing its age” should sell for less than $20, even if it “Fits like a dream.” Thanks for you input. I have to admit, I do like modern, not-much-tweeking-required kits.
Semper Fi,
Chris
Yep, the Tamiya A6M2 is an old kit but with some finesse can be built into a nice model. The wing has recessed panel lines, but the fuselage and tail parts have raised. I picked one up last year at Hobby Lobby with a coupon for $6, and built it. Rescribed the panel lines, thinned down the pilot’s seat and drilled lightening holes in it, seatbelts, a few other details and it turned out well. I had it ALMOST finished and was spraying on the final clearcoat when disaster struk and I ended up stripping it and starting over. Hand painted most of the markings the second time around, and it turned out well. Got me a first place Axis 1/48 single prop at our local IPMS show in March. [tup]
Im completly agree with Cardshark and Frank, btw great build in that zero you get there Frank and congrats for your first place, Im also get this old Tamiya zero and got a second place at Modeling Clud La Silla, over here at Monterrey. I guess I didn’t convince the jury about my ame-iro color were not that fade… hehe 
I didn’t care I enjoyed building this bird.
Just as Frank I also thinned the seat, making some holes in it, rescribing some panel lines, I also made some few details in the cockpit like for example wiring some stuff, making masking tape seatbelts, and perhaps what it may desapoint you if you never has build or are not used to old tamiya kits, it’s this big gap at the cockpit floor, the floor’s kit it’s a small square piece and it’s glued at the right side of the cockpit wall, leaving you a big gap at the left side, it’s not a big deal if you don’t mind to make a new floor from a plastic sheet, as I did. Im also have the old Tamiya’s Rufe and Frank… not you dude I mean the Ki-84! and both have the very same raised panels and the gap at the cockpit floor. But as I said… not a big deal if you don’t mind to fix it with a new homemade floor.
I love this old Tamiya kits, in fact Im trying to get the old Tamiya’s Raiden, you still can do a great plane from this old kits, if for 9 bucks you get a kit like this I still think it’s a big deal!
Von A-
WOW, outstanding work yourself! Both that Zero and Frank are beautiful models. Thanks for sharing! [bow]
Thank you Frank and sorry for invading this thread with my pics!
No worries my friend! Beautiful work, glad you showed them to me. [:D]
I like the old tamiya zero, cant beat the hobby lobby price. I just did one, it’s cheap so I used it to test out the aluminum powder NMF thing, added some cammo to the upper surfaces of it. I’m not happy with it, I kept runnning into problems with it, self made problems. Maybe I’ll get around to posting pics of it oneday.
Hey Daywalker, Great Zero, good job with 1st place. I posted along time ago I finished the Rufe version. It was one of the nicest kits I’ve ever built. [:)]
Thanks Andrew! I remember that Rufe, mind sharing another photo of her?
Sure, its not that good though it was my second airbrushed model. I didn’t fill seams, mask canopy, wrong interior color. But I still like it I added weathering. I just normally like clean builds more so this is my only weathered one. Thanks
Very nice! I like the colors you used, what color/brand is it?
The paint I used on it was MM arcryl Gull Gray. It is actully right I think.