Hasegawa 1/48 Mitsubishi A6M1 12-SHI Experimental Zero Fighter - Zero First Prototype, 09840

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Hasegawa 1/48 Mitsubishi A6M1 12-SHI Experimental Zero Fighter - Zero First Prototype, 09840 plastic model kit

1/48 09840 Hasegawa Mitsubishi A6M1 12-SHI Experimental Zero Fighter - Zero First Prototype

Plastic Model Kit,   Box Condition: Sealed NM

Still factory sealed. Rare, special issue and a very highly detailed kit. Superbly molded with all very fine recessed panel lines. Features very highly detailed cockpit and landing gear wells and more. From Bill Koppos on modelingmadness.com: Planning an aggressive war of expansion across far-flung regions, the Japanese Navy was looking for an air-superiority fighter with extreme long range capabilities. The specification 12-shi included range and armament requirements that scared off all bidders except one-Mitsubishi, with talented head designer Jiro Horikoshi leading the team. The new airframe was built with lightness paramount, as with the available engines the specs could only be met if every spare ounce was pared off. Extra-Super-Duralumium, an ultra light new alloy, was employed in the main spars. Pilot armor was not considered. To keep fuel capacity at a maximum, no fuel tank protection was used, and a expendable underbelly fuel tank planned from the start. Watching European developments, the J.N. required 20 Millimeter Cannon main armament. One was planned for each wing, along with the usual 2 7.7 machine guns. Wanting to use a company engine, the Mitsubishi Zuisei ('Holy Star') 13 power plant of 870 hp was installed in the machine. As there was no airfield adjacent to the factory, the aircraft had to be disassembled and transported (allegedly by oxcart) 25 miles to Kagamigahara airfield in Nagoya. Mitsubishi's legend first took to the air on 1 April 1939. Except for top speed, the fledgling fighter performed well, exceeding the 12-shi requirements. One problem was a dangerous vibration, another poor lateral stability. A second slightly modified prototype was added to the test program, this crashed without explanation, but testing went on. The vibration problem went away when a three bladed propeller replaced the original two blade unit, the stability fixed by lengthening the fuselage and redesign of the rudder and stabilizers slightly. The more powerful, but Nakajima designed Sakae 12 engine solved the speed problem. Thus appeared the familiar Zero-Sen, conqueror of the Pacific.

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