Border model has shared photos of the two latest kits. They are a complement to their recently released Kate & Akagi Deck in 1/35th Scale. We look at what we know in our preview…A 35th scale Zero & the Akagi’s bridge from Border
…ModelTo add to their recent 1/35th scale kit of the Japanese carrier
…
To add to their recent 1/35th scale kit of the Japanese carrierModel
Border model have a new companion or alternative The other Japanese aircraft that modellers love, the Zero, either by itself or with the Akagi in 1/35th scale are their latest two releases.
A6M2 Zero
From Border
Kit No. BF-006
1/35th Scale
While Jiro Horikashi acknowledged that he studied Allied designs his Mitsubishi A6M2 would be largely original. It was a refinement to his A5M fighter. The A6M2 was designed with a sleek and lightweight airframe in order to make up for the limited performance of the Japanese Navy’s 940-hp engine. It was a fighter that could outperform land-based adversaries, and it had an amazing speed, agility, and range. It was introduced to service in the Japanese calendar year of 1940 (also known as 2600). The aircraft’s designation is Rei shiki Kanjo sentoki, or “Type 0 Navy Carrier Fighter”. The Japanese called it Reisen (Zero Fighter), and the Westerners also knew the aircraft as “Zero”, though the code name for the Allied version was Zeke, in line with the tradition of giving Japanese fighters male names. The Zero was the most produced Japanese aircraft of World War II with 10,939 units. Western aviation experts were shocked by the aircraft’s performance and declared that it was a copy. It was eventually defeated by the inherent weaknesses in the design of its lightweight airframe, despite the addition of stronger engines and improvements to weapons. By early 1944 it had been downed steadily in increasing numbers and lost a whole generation of pilots. The limitations of Japanese manufacturing prevented the production of adequate replacement fighters, so the Zero was forced to fight until the end of the war. The kit is:
Zeros A6M2 & A6M3 from aircraft carrier Zuikaku, preparing to fly a mission in Rabaul. The kit includes a complete engine, external stores and drop tanks with bombs. The kit also features the latest trend in stressed skin surfaces, with an “oil-canning” look that is pretty impressive at this scale. The Zero will feature three marking choices of these early zeros…
Battle of Midway (June1942)
Akagi Bridge w/flight deck + A6M2 Zero w/Interior
From Border
Kit No. BSF-002
1/35th scaleModel
Full interior with engine kit
Stressed skin details on the aircraft
3 marking choices on the aircraft
Setting the scene:
An A6M2 Zero fighter pictured on the flight deck of the Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Akagi around the time of the Pearl Harbor attack on 7 December 1941. Akagi was among six Japanese flattops to launch their aircraft that fateful morning. She was later sunk by SBD Dauntless dive bombers during the Battle of Midway in June 1942.
Mitsubishi Zero
21s aboard IJN carrier Akagi (Chi Cheng ) two days prior the attack on Pearl Harbor. Tadao KIMURA, PO1c, will fly the aircraft in front, ‘AI-101,’ as part the the second-wave strike force. The Kit
:ModelThe kit’s long title, “Battle of Midway June1942 Akagi Bridge with Flight Deck + A6M2 zero w/Interior” indicates a period after Pearl Harbor. Therefore the bridge would need to have your own mattress pad that is not included in the kit. The markings are not yet known, but since the Midway Battle is mentioned we expect to see some kites that were made during that period and location. We are certain that more information will be released in the coming weeks.