One of the modeling forums I hang out on is doing an "Easter Eggplane" group build, so I dug out one of my Zeroes. Naturally, I couldn't resist adding a few "improvements."
The kit is designed the the landing gear mounts smack in the middle of the wing, and no wheelwells. I moved the mounting points forward, and scratchbuilt wheelwells with a Dremel and some styrene tube and sheet.
I then added the prominent cooling slots on the side fuselage (that's the unaltered kit part below.) I was going to scribe a complete set of panel lines on the model, but decided that it even my insanity has limits!
The kit engine (on the left) is a joke (well, the whole kit is, but that's beside the point!) I dug through one of my junk boxes, and found a replacement..it's the engine from a long dead Monogram 1/48 C-47. The P&W R-1830 makes a perfect substitute for the Sakae 21 (in fact, all but one of the currently flying real Zeroes use the P&W.)
The canopy frames were heavy, crude, and uneven, so I sanded them off and polished the canopy back to clarity..then made new, crisper frames. I want the canopy nice and clear, because I'm scratchbuilding the cockpit!
I know..I'm completely cracked and my brains are scrambled!
SN
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