A nice kit, well built. One thing to keep in mind when weathering WW2 Japanese aircraft is that no matter how beat-up they may be, the hinomaru (red meatballs) were always kept in immaculate condition. The maintenance crews would face very serious punishment if the national insignia were not kept in top order. You can see this in period photographs. A famous pic of ace Hiroyoshi Nishizawa's A6M3 is a great example. A great deal of that Zero is down to bare metal, yet the hinomaru visible in the photo is solid in color. Depending on the resolution, it appears that there is obvious touch-up work done to the insignia. The only Japanese aircraft seen with imperfect "red meatballs" are those that were shot down and the insignia damaged by enemy fire or aircraft that were hastily abandoned in the wake of invading Allied troops.

It's a pitot tube, and like you said it's for measuring the speed. This airfix is a very nice kit. The tamiya a6m2b is of course superior, but a bit more expensive.

Beautiful build on the zero and excellent weathering effects buddy 👍

Great build this got me inspired to get back into modelling! Keep up the great videos

love how this small kit turned out. Great work

Brilliant build and great info as always

so beautiful

Hi There, long time wargamers but not done a model kit for about 35 years. I picked up a Zero from local shop in Barnsley and am looking forward to having a crack. I can already appreciate the danger of the rabbit hole I am approaching so not sure how far down it I am prepared to venture. Anyway I really enjoyed your vids, many thanks for some great tips. Keep em coming

A wonderful little kit, inexpensive and detailed.

Very excellent work there dear friend. I just love it.

From my own research, the markings for this A6M2 are for an advanced trainer from the Tsukuba Air Group, not the 201st Air Group. The A6M2s from this unit all seem to have the trainer orange underneath the wings and fuselage. I also cannot find any photos of their aircraft with the large tail number painted under the wings. Even the photo of this exact aircraft does not show them.

Beautiful build, congratulations, although a little bit overweathered in my personal opinion. I liked the way you masked the canopy. I am in the process of building the Airfix 1:72 scale Aichi Val and masking that canopy will be a pain. Thanks for sharing the video and tips.

Reet gradely job. Grand channel

Great video and build matey.. Nice finish on that airfix kit.. also a reat kit from airfix

Your under wings numerals are wrong way round, but great build.

But where I live there no airfix kits in the United States or in Wichita someone look pretty good but but they never get to Wichita

Hiya mate nice build, the answer to the pilot fit issue is cruel but simple, amputate the feet.

Pitot Tube!

By heck lad that's gradely. Does tha fancy a couple of la'al ones to build on commission for me. Give us a shout if you do. There's a week or more viewing for your viewer

Nice job but the port side numbers were the wrong way round 🙄

Can I have your paint

Treat yourself to some MRP paint 😉

🤗 ｐｒｏｍｏｓｍ

Nice Zero! Zelensky will take it!