Stage 1 contains frames 15 & 16, keel plate 1-W, funnel castings and Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" aircraft kit.

The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long range fighter aircraft operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the Mitsubishi Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter, and also designated as the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen and Mitsubishi Navy 12-shi Carrier Fighter. The A6M was usually referred to by the Allies as the "Zero", from the 'Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter' designation, the official Allied reporting name was "Zeke". When it was introduced early in World War II, the Zero was the best carrier-based fighter in the world, combining excellent manoeuvrability and very long range. In early combat operations, the Zero gained a legendary reputation as a "dogfighter", achieving the outstanding kill ratio of 12 to 1, but by mid-1942 a combination of new tactics and the introduction of better equipment enabled the Allied pilots to engage the Zero on more equal terms. The IJNAS also frequently used the type as a land-based fighter. By 1943, inherent design weaknesses and the increasing lack of more powerful aircraft engines meant that the Zero became less effective against newer enemy fighters that possessed greater firepower, armour, and speed, and approached the Zero's manoeuvrability. Although the Mitsubishi A6M was outdated by 1944, it was never totally supplanted by the newer Japanese aircraft types. During the final years of the War in the Pacific, the Zero was used in Kamikaze operations. During the course of the war, more Zero's were built than any other Japanese aircraft.

Please Note: Official build diary images & text are protected under UK copyright law.

The official build won't keep pace with the rollout of this colection.


Stage 1 starts with the hull frame assembly, which involves fitting frames 15 & 16 into the two 1-W keel frames.

For now I will only dry fit the frame parts, and will glue all frames in place at a later date once I have all frames and keel plates to hand.

The two halves of the funnel were glued together with superglue gel, and when fully set any burrs removed with a fine file (which is included, and any joint lines filled with model filler such as Squadron white putty.

The individual aircraft are mini-kits in themselves, the first of which is the Mitusbishi A6M Zero.

The parts were superglued in place; I left off the bomb, leg struts/wheels, canopy and propeller to make it easier to paint the aircraft, which will be done later on.

That's it for stage 1.

The correct shade of grey for the ship is 'Kure Grey' (Tamiya TS-66 or XF-75)

Future stages:

Stage 2 - Includes frames 13 & 14, keel plate B2 and keel 3-W, plus photo-etched brass funnel cooling rails, and cast metal island parts.

Stage 3 - Includes frames 12, 12a, keel plate B1, Nakajima B5N torpedo bomber kit, and more island parts including glazing for the bridge.

Stage 4 - Includes frames 9,10,11, anti-aircraft gun turret & base, turned metal gun barrels, search lights, and island detail parts, plus two paint brushes.

Stage 3 - Includes frames 12, 12a, keel plate B1, Nakajima B5N torpedo bomber kit, further island parts and glazing for the bridge.

Nakajima B5N (Kate) Carrier-borne Torpedo Bomber
The B5N series of aircraft (dubbed Kate by the Allies), was the standard torpedo bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) for much of World War II. While the B5N was substantially faster and more capable that its Allied counterparts, by 1941 it was close to obsolescence. Nevertheless, the B5N operated throughout the whole war, due to the delayed development of its successor, the B6N. In the early part of the Pacific War, flown by well-trained IJN aircrews and as part of well co-ordinated attacks, the B5N achieved particular success at the battles of Pearl Harbour, Coral Sea, Midway, and Santa Cruz Islands.
Although primarily used as carrier-borne aircraft, on occasion the B5N was also used as a land-based bomber. The B5N had a crew of three: Pilot, Navigator/Bombardier/Observer and Radio Operator/Gunner.


Start stage 3 by adding base B1 and frame 12, you will need to glue the two 12a frame doublers to the front of frame 12, setting them to the correct height as shown in the steps.

After removing any burrs or mould lines from the cast parts for the island these parts were then added.

The photo-etched brass window section of the bridge should be gently shaped along the fold lines and then glued to the inside panels of the bridge.

The island and its additional parts should be primed with metal primer and then painted before adding the glazing panels to the windows, I used Tamiya TS-66 Kure grey.

The glazing panels need to be cut as per the instructions and then added to the inside of the window frames.

The remaining bridge casting's which have been pre-painted are then added to the assembly.

The torpedo bomber kit was assembled as per the instructions, the folding wings are not intended to be operable.
I left off the torpedo, antenna, propeller, canopy and wheels for ease of painting later on.

That's it for stage 3, carefully store the assembled and any remaining parts.

Future stages:

Stage 4 - Includes frames 9,10,11, anti-aircraft gun turret & base, turned metal gun barrels, search lights, and island detail parts, plus two paint brushes.

Stage 5 - Contains frame 17, base plate B3, along with further island castings, photo-etch ladders and set of parts to construct the first dive bomber aircraft - Aichi D3A "Val".

Stage 6 - Contains two 5-W keel sections, reinforcing plates, paravane platform & paravane's, winch and brass photo-etched railings for the island.

Stage 7 - Contains frames 18 & 19, bottom plate B4, plus another Zero aircraft kit.

Stage 5 - Contains frame 17, base plate B3, along with further island castings, photo-etch ladders and set of parts to construct the first dive bomber aircraft - Aichi D3A "Val".

Aichi D3A "Val" carrier-borne Bomber/Dive Bomber

The D3A series of aircraft (dubbed "Val" by the Allies) were thought to be all but extinct when war in the Pacific began. The rude awakening came in the form of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbour (home to the US Navy's Pacific Fleet) as D3A's made up the principle attack air arm in that assault. Though appearing very much from an image of a bygone era of aviation, complete with fixed undercarriage in spatted housings, the D3A was used effectively as a carrier-borne bomber and dive bomber in the imperial Japanese Navy throughout the Second World War.
By 1944, the D3A was simply outclassed by the plethora of American fighters appearing throughout theater. Many Val's ended up as duel-control, two seat trainers while some were featured in Kamikaze attacks, the latter focusing in and around the area's of Leyte and Okinawa during the final year of the war.

Start stage 5 by adding base plate B3 and frame 17 to the hull framework.

Carefully cut free the photo-etched brass stairways from the fret. noting that you have two large,one medium and one small.
The stairway sides require careful folding inwards to 90 degree's, and the stair treads folded into the stairwell.
You'll find that photo-etch bending pliers such as those from Tamiya (shown in photos) make the task easier, and use of a blade tip to fold down the stair treads.

Remove any burrs from the cast metal parts and cut the antenna as shown in the diagram, then paint all the parts (including stairways), then fix the parts in place on the island at the points shown in the diagrams.

The Aichi D3A aircraft is assembled as per the steps, taking note of the handed parts; I left off the propeller, canopy and antenna for placement after painting, which will be done at a later point along with decal placement.

That's it for stage 5, carefully store the assemblies.

Future stages:

Stage 6 - Contains two 5-W keel sections, reinforcing plates, paravane platform, paravane's, winch and photo-etched brass railings.

Stage 7 - Contains frames 18 & 19, bottom plate B4, plus another Zero aircraft kit.

Stage 8 - Contains frames 20 & 21, keel 8-W, platform & platform castings.

Stage 9 - Contains frames 22, 23 & 24, paravane platform, Paravane's and winch, plus Tweezers.