I have it in Photobucket.  Is there anyway I can help?

Tom: For some reason I can't get the photo to download and then upload to PhotoBucket- going to keep working on it.

Thanks for the kind words.  I guess I see and know where all my mistakes are.  There's a few things I'd like to take a mulligan on.  Oh, well, things to aspire for next build.  

Gamera, yes please do.  I think the top pic would be the best one.

Tom: She looks like a fine job to me, very nice work! I like the chipping, looks good without being overdone.

Do you want me to go ahead and post you, I am thinking about using the first photo.

Jeez, looks good to me Tom, I'd certainty be proud of it.

Well, I'm going to declare it finished.  Not my best build nor my best work, but for my first Japanese plane ever, I'm OK with it.

I never was able to find any info on the tail number T2 197 other than a few sketchey opinions that it was involved in the Yamamoto mission.  I usually like to learn a little more on my subjects.  If anyone knows anything I'd love to hear it.

Thanks Ken, nice reviews! Those 'In The Cockpit' books seem like a viable alternative to out of print Mikesh book.

Hi Everyone!

Well I actually received 4 out of the 6 books I ordered today instead of just 3.  Here is my review of them.

A6M Zero in action:  This book by Squadron/Signal publications has a lot of technical details of the Zero.  It details the different versions.  It is a good resource for detailing your model if you want to build a specific version.  The biggest con for this book is the lack of color photographs.  In fact the only color is the two center pages showing accurate side view drawings (not actual photographs) of 10 different planes and the back cover showing 2 aircraft drawings.

In the Cockpit:  This book has nothing but full color photographs of cockpits taken with a wide angle lens.  Each one is taken from the view that the pilot would have if sitting in the pilot's seat looking forward.  So you get to see the front main instrument panel and the side panels from the seat forward.  There is also a photograph of the whole plane along with a description.  One plane that would be of interest to this group build is the Kawasaki Ki-45 Kai Hei Toryu.

In the Cockpit II:  The format of this book is the same as the first.  Planes that would be of interest to this group include; Aichi M6A1 Seiran, Kawanishi N1K2-JA Shiden Kai "George", Kugisho MXY7 Ohka Model 22, Kyushu J7W1 Shinden, Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen Model 52 "Zeke", Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko "Irving", and the Nakajima KI-115A Tsurugi.

Modelling the Mitsubishi A6M Zero:  This book just as the title suggests is focused on building models of the Zero.  The models built are an A6M2-N Rufe using a 1/48 Hasegawa kit, an Kamikaze A6M5c using a 1/72 Hasegawa kit, an A6M2 model 21 in Pearl Harbor trim using a 1/48 Hasegawa kit, and a captured A6M5b TAIC No. 7 using a 1/32 Tamiya kit.  At the back of the book is a section called "Zero Walkaround".  This has actual photographs of close ups of different areas of different planes.  Nowhere near complete.  The book also explains general modeling techniques not just unique to the Zero.

 Ken

Thank you Ken for diverting the conversation and getting us out of that one.

Hi Everyone,

Three of the six reference books I ordered will be arriving tomorrow.  Hopefully I will find what I need.  I will let everyone know tomorrow evening.

Ken

Gamera

I don't get the whole Japanese high school girl thing, then again I don't 'get' anime/manga either. I do have some friends who are big fans and the whole Japanese high school gal thing has turned into a bit of a joke so I had to pick them up.

I figure I'll put the gal in the summer dress in a scene with the Type 10 and I have a Type 74 I'm thinking of hitting with whitewash I'm thinking of sticking the gal in the winter coat with.

Then again another friend suggested doing some sort of 'Girls Und Panzer' sorta thing with them! (it's an anime with yes gals in high school uniforms driving around in tanks and shooting at each other, I watched a few episodes but it's just way too WTH!?! for me).

TAD

I don't get the whole Japanese high school girl thing, then again I don't 'get' anime/manga either. I do have some friends who are big fans and the whole Japanese high school gal thing has turned into a bit of a joke so I had to pick them up.

I figure I'll put the gal in the summer dress in a scene with the Type 10 and I have a Type 74 I'm thinking of hitting with whitewash I'm thinking of sticking the gal in the winter coat with.

Then again another friend suggested doing some sort of 'Girls Und Panzer' sorta thing with them! (it's an anime with yes gals in high school uniforms driving around in tanks and shooting at each other, I watched a few episodes but it's just way too WTH!?! for me).

I'll never understand the Japanese fascination with High School girls.

I suppose they could be on a High School field trip.

Gamera, Both are strange!  Are the girls going on the tank?

BTW, just posted on another thread about these I just got from HobbyLink Japan:

And that I'm not sure which is stranger, that Japan makes stuff like this or that I actually ordered a set!!!

Son Of Medicine Man

Gamera

Ken: Sounds cool! I assume you already did a web search?

Guess I'm lucky I picked up Mikesh's book years ago for about forty bucks or so. Maybe I should sell the darn thing! Gee friggin whiz- $175 to $1460 for a copy in very good condition!?! Mine is almost like brand new!

So Cliff, you are currently sitting on a gold mine!  Should you sell it and make a bunch of money, or keep it being the "treasure" that you wisely bought at a good price?

Ken

Haha, Doubt I'll see it but I won't be loaning that one out to anyone that's for sure!!!

Btw: Please let us know what those books look like, always on the look for good reference material here too.

And also, the Mikesh book too provides a bunch of photos of restorations, not much else available it seems.

Tal Afar Dave

Hey Ken,

Running into some of the same problems as well finding reliable references....I may run down a few that you mentioned.....already confused about my trip down "the rabbit hole" on the colors already!!!

Working on my Val; it's an older kit with low parts count and the world famous "Humbrol Only" paints call out.  Took me awhile to decode the different colors.  Fuselage fit is pretty poor, but hopefully will settle down after I seal it up.

Hopefully, I'll get onto the new Zero kit soon....

Watching everyone's builds with great interest as I've not built many Japanese planes......maybe 2?? (in my life......)

TAD

Hi Dave,

If you want to wait a few days before purchasing any of the ones I mentioned, I can let you know if any of them will be helpful.  I am not sure myself yet.  As soon as they show up I will post my review of them!

Ken

Hey Ken,

Running into some of the same problems as well finding reliable references....I may run down a few that you mentioned.....already confused about my trip down "the rabbit hole" on the colors already!!!

Working on my Val; it's an older kit with low parts count and the world famous "Humbrol Only" paints call out.  Took me awhile to decode the different colors.  Fuselage fit is pretty poor, but hopefully will settle down after I seal it up.

Hopefully, I'll get onto the new Zero kit soon....

Watching everyone's builds with great interest as I've not built many Japanese planes......maybe 2?? (in my life......)

TAD

waikong

Yes, the A6M5 is in there, 1 page full color looking from seat to front. There are no pictures of the side or the seat itself.  I can also recommend the Osprey book "modelling the Mistubushi A6m", besides having great model builds, there are four color pages of a walk around (but strangely only1 semi-cockpit picture), and a page of color chips with an explanation of where they got the colors from. But becareful, trying to find 'accurate' ww2 Japanese aircraft colors is to start down that rabbit hole. :)  Good luck and let me know if I can help.

Hi Waikong,

From the description that I read about the book, the pictures are very crisp and clear.  But that is disappointing that it only has the front instrument panel.  I particularly need the side panels.

I did act on your recommendation for the Osprey "Modelling the Mitsubishi A6M Zero" by Brian Criner.  (Modeling is misspelled by the way).

I also ordered "Mitsubishi A6M Zero" by Artur Juszczak, "Zero:  Combat and Development History of Japan's Legendary Mitsubishi A6M Zero Fighter" by Robert Mikesh, Squadron/Signal "A6M Zero in Action" by Shigeru Nohara, and the first "In the Cockpit:  Inside 50 History-Making Aircraft" by Dana Bell.

Hopefully I will find what I need with this combination.

Ken

Gamera

Ken: Sounds cool! I assume you already did a web search?

Guess I'm lucky I picked up Mikesh's book years ago for about forty bucks or so. Maybe I should sell the darn thing! Gee friggin whiz- $175 to $1460 for a copy in very good condition!?! Mine is almost like brand new!

So Cliff, you are currently sitting on a gold mine!  Should you sell it and make a bunch of money, or keep it being the "treasure" that you wisely bought at a good price?

Ken

Yes, the A6M5 is in there, 1 page full color looking from seat to front. There are no pictures of the side or the seat itself.  I can also recommend the Osprey book "modelling the Mistubushi A6m", besides having great model builds, there are four color pages of a walk around (but strangely only1 semi-cockpit picture), and a page of color chips with an explanation of where they got the colors from. But becareful, trying to find 'accurate' ww2 Japanese aircraft colors is to start down that rabbit hole. :)  Good luck and let me know if I can help.

waikong

I have the "in the cockpit 2" book, execellent reference.

Thanks Waikong.  I could not find a list of the aircraft it had.  Is the Zero included?

Ken

I have the "in the cockpit 2" book, execellent reference.

Gamera

Ken: Sounds cool! I assume you already did a web search?

Guess I'm lucky I picked up Mikesh's book years ago for about forty bucks or so. Maybe I should sell the darn thing! Gee friggin whiz- $175 to $1460 for a copy in very good condition!?! Mine is almost like brand new!

Hi Cliff,

If you are asking if I did a web search for the interior of the Zero, the answer is yes.  That is where I ran into the problem of finding conflicting colors.  That is always the problem when you find "restored" aircraft pictures.  They are not always true to original.  Especially when it comes to the cockpit since this is rarely seen by the general public.

Ken

Ken: Sounds cool! I assume you already did a web search?

Guess I'm lucky I picked up Mikesh's book years ago for about forty bucks or so. Maybe I should sell the darn thing! Gee friggin whiz- $175 to $1460 for a copy in very good condition!?! Mine is almost like brand new!

Gamera

Ken: I have Robert Jackson's 'Mitsubishi Zero' in Airlife's Combat Legend line- lots of good information on the various Zero versions but not much on the interior though.

Robert Mikesh's 'Japanese Aircraft Interiors 1940-45' is probably the best book for that sort of stuff but it's pretty expensive- I wouldn't have bought it except for my interest in the subject.

Hi Cliff,

Yes, that book is more than I want to spend.  The cheapest I found it for was $150.00 on Amazon.  I did order instead "In the Cockpit 2:  Inside History-Making Aircraft of World War II" by the National Air and Space Museum.  It has pretty good reviews.  It should arrive by Wednesday so I will let everyone know my review of it then.

Ken

Ken: I have Robert Jackson's 'Mitsubishi Zero' in Airlife's Combat Legend line- lots of good information on the various Zero versions but not much on the interior though.

Robert Mikesh's 'Japanese Aircraft Interiors 1940-45' is probably the best book for that sort of stuff but it's pretty expensive- I wouldn't have bought it except for my interest in the subject.

Hi Everyone,

I started painting the details inside the cockpit today.  I thought I found some accurate photos to use for a reference online.  Then I started finding photographs that disagreed with each other.  So very frustrating.

So my question is this.  Does anyone have recommendations for a reference book to use on the Mitsubishi A6M Zero?

Ken

Hi Everyone,

I spent a good part of this evening harvesting hot peppers out of my garden.  It is supposed to freeze tomorrow night.

I did manage to paint the "boxes" on top of the front instrument panel semi gloss black.  And I found a video that has a good view of the inside of a Zero to use for references.

Well with tomorrow being Halloween it will leave very little time to reach the workbench.  Talk to you all later!

Ken

Gamera

Everything looks good to me Ken. I know what you mean though, sometimes I want to throw the #$@%@# airbrush against the wall- I swear sometimes the whole point to an airbrush is make sure it takes three hours to do something I could do with a brush in ten minutes.

You crack me up Cliff!  That was funny!   

Ken