Hasegawa 1/48 A6M2-K Type 11 Trainer Late Version
By Jacob Russell
The Plane
The A6M2K Zero Fighter Trainer Type 11 was a two seat version of the Type 21 Reisen (Zeke) fighter. It was primarily used as an advanced trainer for new aviators. It used the same Sakae Type 12 radial engine and airframe of the carrier borne A6M fighter. The cockpit was shifted forward to accommodate a second cockpit for the instructor, and the 30mm wing cannon were removed but the 7.7mm machine guns were retained. A fixed tail wheel replaced the standard retractable unit.
The Type 11 prototype made its first flight in November of 1942 and the first production plane was delivered in January of 1943. It was produced until the end of the War and saw service throughout the Imperial Japanese Navy.
The Model
The kit consists of 128 parts on 10 sprues. Two of the sprues are clear. 45 of the parts go unused. This is basically an A6M2 kit with a new 2 seat fuselage, a second cockpit and different clear parts. Hasegawa kits are very detailed and well molded, and this kit is no exception.
There are two pilot figures included, and they're pretty good. There are some modifications to make to the kit: the cannon openings in the wing leading edges need to be filled, and there are ejection chute holes to be filled in the lower wing panels. There is also a different oil cooler to fit underneath the cowling.
The decal sheet is well printed and in register with great colors. They're the usual thick decals that one associates with Hasegawa kits; Gunze's Mr. Mark Softer and Mr. Mark Setter decal solutions work well with them.
The sheet includes instruments for both instrument panels, wing walk (“No Step”) markings, yellow wing leading edge panels, and a complete set of national insignia. There are 2 decal options on the sheet. Both aircraft are painted in Nakajima Navy Green over Trainer Orange. One aircraft is from the 302nd Naval Flying Group and the other from the 343rd Naval Flying Group. Both aircraft have black cowls and red brown spinners.
Conclusions
This is a sound kit. Tamiya's new A6M kits have the edge in cockpit detail and in overall refinement, but Hasegawa offers more variants of the Reisen . AML offers a A6M2-K kit in 1/72nd scale, but this is the first injection molded kit in 1/48th scale that I am aware of. I would add a pair of Eduard Zoom sets for details like seat belts and instrument panels, or you could just put the pilots in the cockpit...
I recommend this kit and I would like to thank Hasegawa for the review sample.
References
A6M Zero, Aircraft in Action No. 59, by Shigeru Nohara, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1983