From: "Submissions for ARC" To: "Dave Johnson" References: <4C97F286.8090206@wingnutfilms.co.nz> Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?Re:_UPDATED_Ver_HLJ_-_Mitsubishi_A6M3_Zero_Fighter_Type_?= =?Windows-1252?Q?22_=91201st_Flying_Group=92?= Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2010 15:23:32 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="Windows-1252"; reply-type=original Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Unsent: 1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3664 Hi, I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today. Thanks again for sending it in. Steve Bamford Aircraft Resource Center http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com Live like there is no tomorrow; Love like you've never been hurt. Work like you don't need the money. Dance like nobody's watching. Sing like nobody's listening. Live like it's Heaven on Earth. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Johnson" To: Sent: Monday, September 20, 2010 4:47 PM Subject: UPDATED Ver HLJ - Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero Fighter Type 22 ‘201st Flying Group’ > > > Hasegawa > > 1/48 Limited Release > > Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero Fighter Type 22 ‘201^st Flying Group’ > > Product #09919 (http://www.hlj.com/product/HSG09919) from HobbyLink > Japan (http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljlist.cgi?rel=nav&GenreCode=Air > ) > > Product Article by Dave Johnson on September 2010 > > History > > In late 1941, Nakajima introduced the Sakae 21, which used a two-speed > supercharger for better altitude performance, and increased power to 840 > kW (1,130 hp). Plans were made to introduce the new engine into the Zero > as soon as possible. The new Sakae was slightly heavier and somewhat > longer due to the larger supercharger, which moved the center of gravity > too far forward on the existing airframe. To correct this, the engine > mountings were cut down by 20 cm (8 in), moving the engine back towards > the cockpit. This had the side effect of reducing the size of the main > fuel tank (located to the rear of the engine) from 518 L (137 US gal) to > 470 L (120 US gal). The previous type 32 Zero had the folding wing tips > from the type 21 Zero removed creating a shorter wing span. The wing > changes had much greater effects on performance than expected. The > smaller size led to better roll, and their lower drag allowed the diving > speed to be increased to 670 km/h (420 mph). On the downside, > maneuverability was reduced, and range suffered due to both decreased > lift and the smaller fuel tank. Pilots complained about both. The > shorter range proved a significant limitation during the Solomons > campaign of 1942. In order to correct the deficiencies of the Model 32, > a new version with the Model 21's folding wings, new in-wing fuel tanks > and attachments for a 330 L (90 US gal) drop tank under each wing were > introduced. The internal fuel was thereby increased to 570 L (137 US > gal) in this model, regaining all of the lost range. As the airframe was > reverted from the Model 32 and the engine remained the same, this > version received the navy designation Model 22, while Mitsubishi called > it the A6M3a. The new model started production in December, and 560 were > eventually produced*. > > The Kit- > > The A6M3 kit has been released a couple times already by Hasegawa over > the last couple of years. It’s a fairly typical Hasegawa kit that most > of us have come to known with fine recessed panel and crisp rivet > detail. The kit is molded in 698 medium gray and clear parts and bagged > in a single bag. The 13 piece cockpit has been nicely tooled with some > excellent detail in this scale. The seat will require the lighten holes > drilled out and an aftermarket seat harness of your choose will be > require to make that cockpit to pop! Also included is an excellent 5 > piece Nakajima Sakae 21 engine. The cooling fin’s are crisply molded > along with the spark plugs. The dry fit of the parts shows an excellent > fit and hopefully the modeler will not require any filler during the > build. A couple of the parts have a very small amount of flash. But, > this is mainly on the trailing edges of the elevators, a quick pass with > a piece of sandpaper will easily fix. The instruction sheet is the > standard Black and White fold out type that comes with all Hasegawa > kits. The build process is very short in 11 steps. All the assembly > points and callouts are very easy to follow and clear to understand. The > painting callouts are in Mr Color lacquer and GSI Creos Aqueous ranges, > but these can be easily converted to your favorite paint brand. > > The print and colour registry on the decal sheet is very crisp. Decals > are nice and thin and appear to be a newer type of decal paper that > Hasegawa has been using lately. These will sit down very nicely with a > small amount of setting and sol solution. > > There are 3 aircraft markings supplied in this boxing, two are green > over grey and one all gray. > > Type22 Koh, 201^st Naval Flying Group, Lt Shiro Kawai, #2-163, 1943. > > Type22 Koh, 201^st Naval Flying Group, #6-171, 1943. > > * * > > Type22, 202^nd Naval Flying Group, #X2-172. > > Overall, the simple construction process and offers plenty of detail > even for the most experienced modeler. This offering of the A6M3 Zero > from Hasegawa is worth having for any WW2 or Japanese collection. > > I would like to thank HobbyLink Japan (www.hlj.com > ) for providing this review sample. > > * * > >