1:48 Mitsubishi A6M2-K SPACE

Two cockpits of the trainer Zero in one set

Against the combat Zero, the A6M2-K trainer version has two open cockpits, and with them twice as many instruments visible on a model. Eduard decals with printed relief make this work simpler: the panels and consoles gain depth and color without a single stroke of a brush.

Tips for smooth seating

Prepare the base glossy and degreased, otherwise air will be trapped under the decal. Take the pieces off one at a time, move them with a damp brush and draw the surplus water off with a cloth from the middle toward the edges. On a two-seat cockpit it pays to match both stations, so that the shade of the printing looks uniform.

What made the A6M2-K interesting

The Imperial Japanese Navy needed a machine on which pilots could move smoothly from basic training to the carrier fighter. A two-seat conversion of the Zero was therefore created, with a separate station for the instructor, lightened armament and reworked landing gear. It was flown right up to the end of the war and some of the machines ended up with special attack units as well. In shape it is still a Zero, only with lengthened glazing and a differently arranged spine to the fuselage.

The set will be appreciated by

• Lovers of Japanese naval aircraft of the Second World War
• Builders of trainer and two-seat versions of well-known fighters
• Modelers who do not fancy painting the instruments twice
• Those who want an interior finished in a single evening

The plastic subject is not part of it, and neither is anything for gluing and painting.