Fine Molds 1/48 scale
Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero

by Harvey Low

Here is my 1/48 scale Fine Molds model kit of the WWII Japanese Navy A6M5 Nakajima Zero of the 61 Kokutai.

This Zero fighter was one of twelve aircraft found at Aslityo Airfield in June 1944, and taken aboard the USS Copahee CVE-12 to the United States for technical evaluation.

While there are numerous photos of these Zeros onboard the USS Copahee, the absence of any colour photos or testimonials, leave much room for interpretation of the colours of these aircraft.

But 61-131 was indeed a Nakajima machine which therefore had different Hinomaru sized surrounds (generally thinner); a curved pattern upper-lower camo demarcation line at the rear fuselage; and different coloured wheel wells than Mitsubishi-built machines (wheel wells for Nakajima aircraft were painted Aotake while those built by Mitsubishi were the same colour as the exterior). 

The Hinomaru surrounds on this aircraft were black or dark green.

I also made my own from masks using my cutting machine.

An article on this plastic model appeared in the April 2026 issue of Scale Aircraft Modelling.  

Model and Text Copyright © 2026 by Harvey Low
Page Created 22 September, 2026
Last Updated 22 September, 2026

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