I think as modelers we try too hard to make things perfect, staight lines and smooth finishes, forgetting that the 1:1 subjects are constantly maintenanced, painted on, welded and sheet metal repairs riveted. Your zeeroh looks quite nice IMO 
Cajun 
Now that part I agree with wholeheartedly. The stuff that I saw in the Army over the years was good looking, but flawed. And the closer you were to it, the more flaws that you saw.
And thank you.
Well, today I have wrapped up my Zero build. Another longtime sideliner completed!
And posed on the Eduard Carrier Deck base that I’ve been working on during pauses in this build
Farewell last project of 2021!
I’ll get more photos of this up tomorrow.
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Well done, Carlos! 
To me the A6M5 was the most elegant of them all.
@BlackWidow, thank you Torsten. Personally, I’d have a hard time choosing a favorite variant of Zero. 
So here it is in a proper all angles session, my last completion of 2021, Hasegawa’s 1982 vintage A6M5 Zero. I bought and started it in 2016, barely, then sidelined it for unknown reasons. I restarted it a bit over a month ago and wrapped it up on the 30th. I added a PE harness in the cockpit, and used some Aeromaster Hinomarus for the green outline types that the actual aircraft wore when it was captured on Saipan. I figured it must have had a decent pilot to survive the Marianas Turkey Shoot, as it was captured intact and in flying condition on Saipan after that battle. It was brought back to the US for evaluation. Today it is the only flying Zero still equipped with the original Sakae engine. All others still flying today have had their engines replaced by other types that fit the airframe. Decals aside from the Hinomarus are from the kit, and the paint colors are Tamiya.
It’s nice to finish another old shelf queen. Thanks for looking, comments and critiques are welcome.
4 Likes
Old rivals side by side. I like that! 
Very nice looking build “Stik”, I have to say, seeing your Zeke parked next to the Hellcat is an impressive shot, thanks for posting
Cajun 
Torsten & Terry, thank you. Yeah I figured that the two types were classic opponents, and that the 261st Kokutai faced off against the USN carrier based Hellcat squadrons including VF-27, it would make a natural pairing photo.
A seriously great looking model! Tons of detail but I really like the feathered OD and belly paint job. Top Shelf!
Thank you sir! You are far too kind.
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