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World War II
Discuss WWII and the era directly before and after the war from 1935-1949.
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Review
Bandai: A6M5 Zero 52c
JPTRR
Staff MemberManaging Editor
RAILROAD MODELING
#051
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Tennessee, United States
Joined: December 21, 2002
KitMaker: 7,772 posts
AeroScale: 3,175 posts
Posted: Friday, February 09, 2018 - 11:59 AM UTC


When BANDAI released their 1/24 A6M5 MODEL 52 ZERO, it was a sensation. Let''s see how this 40+ year-old kit has held up over the decades.

Read the Review

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
Merlin
Staff MemberSenior Editor
AEROSCALE
#017
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United Kingdom
Joined: June 11, 2003
KitMaker: 17,582 posts
AeroScale: 12,795 posts
Posted: Monday, February 12, 2018 - 01:20 AM UTC
Hi Fred

Ohhh! - back when this came out, I'd have been overwhelmed with jealousy towards you - because this exotic beauty simply never made it to my local model shop. I read about it in Scale Models Magazine, but to actually see on the shelves anywhere?... no chance.


Quoted Text

A pilot figure is included. Detail and molding are...well, let's just say you can identify the parts as representing a human.


That's got to rate among the classic lines in the whole of our review section!

All the best

Rowan
rdt1953
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: February 06, 2015
KitMaker: 1,098 posts
AeroScale: 900 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 13, 2018 - 07:10 AM UTC
Hi Fred - Thanks for posting this - I always enjoy the unusual kits you share with us - keep 'em coming !

Richard
redcap
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England - East Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: November 06, 2005
KitMaker: 753 posts
AeroScale: 311 posts
Posted: Monday, March 05, 2018 - 03:15 PM UTC


Excellent review and it brings back some memories of modelling in my youth. I really cannot think however of a single reason why if you wanted a big Zero in the collection, anyone would choose this one over the superb Tamiya 1/32 A6M5 (I know they are different scales and sub variants) but the big Tamiya Zero is about as complete a model kit as you could ask for. If the Bandai kit were 1970's prices still then perhaps, but this one will take a (lot) of work to elevate many of the toy like details.

It really does demonstrate though just how far the hobby has come in terms of kit design and details. Gary
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