Product Description

The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was an aircraft that had near mythical performance qualities in terms of speed, range, climb and manoeuvrability, and its performance made it an infamous weapon in the Japanese arsenal. This aircraft has been a popular modelling subject, and there are a variety of scales and types by model manufacturers and aftermarket companies. This book showcases four individual models representing different variants of the Zero, each in different scales and with varying weathering and finishing techniques, reflecting different periods of World War 2, and the different environments in which the aircraft served.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #775563 in Books
• Brand: Osprey Publishing
• Published on: 2006-07-25
• Released on: 2006-07-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .60 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 80 pages

Review
"My favorite thing (besides humility, a great attitude and a fun writing style): one of the only successfuly scale attempts I've seen to gate, to duplicate the many wrinkles or waves of stressed sheet metal surfaces... Highly recommended--even to guys like me, who only rarely build models with props." -Ward Shrake, Internet Modeler (April 2008)

"Osprey's Modelling series is an expanding and wonderfully beneficial resource for modelers and historians alike. I am thrilled the Zero has its own book, and I look forward to utilizing the many new ideas this book so ably demonstrates. I am certain all modelers of the A6M Reisin in particular, and Imperial Japanese air enthusiasts in general will find this book a great value." -Fred Boucher, Aeroscale

"This was a fun fast read for me. It has all the content you would expect written in a light conversational style. If you build the A6M or plan to, this book should be on your research list. If you build WWII Japanese aircraft there is ample information on weathering and painting that this book will definitely help you out." -Scott Lodder, AeroScale

About the Author
Brian Criner became interested in modelling at the age of nine when his grandfather bought him a model of a P-51 and told him he would receive a silver dollar if he built it for him. His interest has remained strong ever since. Brian currently works as a biology teacher in a small high school in southern California. This is his first book for Osprey Publishing.

Customer Reviews

One of the best Osprey Aircraft build reviews
Two things caught my attention right away - the author empahsized that this is a hobby and is to be done for fun and to satisfy the modeler, not the contest judge or the 'reviewer'. Excellent. Also, the caliber of this man's builds and his techniques are simply outstanding. This book is jammed with good advice, techniques and practices. The various sections describing the actual weathering and abuse the Japanes planes were subject to (and, more importantly in many instances, not subject to) is worth the price of the book. It seems to be a little known fact among modeling circles that the Japanese planes were primed with a dark red primer which would, naturally, show up due to wear, chipping, etc. This is seldom portrayed on most heavily weathered Japanese scale models. Reading books like this will help you do your homework in a most enjoyable way, and build better models besides. I recommend this book to you even if you are not interested specifically in Japanese aircraft because the philosophies and techniques are applicable to all kinds of scale modeling.

the numerous extras
I thought the book overall was not as helpful as it was played up to be. it went through the nemerous scale models 1/144,1/72,1/48,1/32 but it covered none in any heavy photos. overall a good article for fine scale modeler but not a book!
i got better reference photo's off of the internet than what was in the book.I purchased the book in the hopes of getting some insight into the way the 1/32 tamiya went the construction stages photo's of a real zero next to the model parts but that seened to be asking to much!