Saburo Sakai

Final progress report – F4F-4 Wildcat, F4U-2 Corsair and A6M2 Zero

Pierre Lagacé3 Comments

I have finally decided to finish up the F4F-4 Wildcat as Marion Dufilho’s Wildcat even if I don’t have much information about which Wildcat he flew on August 24, 1942.

 

I know he flew a F4F-4 and I know he was a naval aviator aboard USS Saratoga with Richard Harmer. F-8 could even be the plane he flew or it could be the Wildcat Richard Harmer flew on that same day when he crashed his Wildcat aboard the carrier after being wounded.

I guess I will never know unless his son Tom looks at his father’s log book for that information.

My Forgotten Hobby II is a way to remember a hobby I started back as a kid in 1958, and is a way to motivate me with building what I have in my stash. It is also a way to share the experience and the fun of building model airplane kits some of which are in their boxes since the 1980s.

This being said here are my two other builds…

Richard Harmer’s No. 15 F4U-2 Corsair…

 

Saburo Sakai Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero…

 

Next time on My Forgotten Hobby II?

The choice is yours…

 

Progress Report – Tamiya – Saburo Sakai’s A6M2 Zero – First Steps

Pierre LagacéLeave a comment

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My instructions were in Japanese.

This leads me to believe that this model kit of the Zero is from the mid 70s.

Could be a collector’s item then!

I got a jump start since I could not use the airbrush on Monday.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 5

And then, lo and behold the grandchildren left and there was a window of opportunity…

I finished the F4F-4 base coat.

I touched up the Corsair base coat…

Then came some mixing of homemade zinc chromate with a drop of black and silver to simulate Grumman bronze green. I then used it with a paint brush instead of an airbrush.

Finally I have decided to use the Grumman bronze green as interior green for the Zero.

I don’t think anyone will notice.

Progress Report – Tamiya – Saburo Sakai’s A6M2 Zero

Pierre Lagacé2 Comments

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My instructions are in Japanese. I found these on Scalemates yesterday. They will be quite useful.

For once I won’t have to look for how this model airplane has to be painted and for the proper decals.

A nice review is here.

Excerpt
The Zero, next to the P-51 and Bf-109, is probably the most modeled WWII fighter. The Tamiya kit of the early war Zeke was considered state-of-the-art when it was released over 25 years ago. By today’s standards it’s just okay. Cockpit detail is passable and there are a mix of very fine raised and engraved panel lines. The wheel wells are molded in and detailed plus you get a choice of either open or closed canopy clear parts. The engine is just a half molding so displaying it with the cowl removed or open requires some aftermarket resin. Flaps are molded in place so don’t expect Hasegawa finery here. Despite their age these molds have really stood up to the test of time. There is no flash. The only problem I could see was the lower wing (which is one piece) was a bit warped. The decals are typical Tamiya and seem thick but after application that thickness appears to go away.