|
Last
year, I was fortunate enough to be given a commission to build this very rare
and exclusive kit.
The
Kit
|
The
overall presentation is very impressive with the box being about 50%
larger than the normal kit. All
parts are of typical Tamiya quality.
This
kit is based on the regular 1/32 Zero kit with additional parts for adding
the action sound track, motor function and lighting.
They include an integrated circuit board with on/off and volume
switches. This board controls
the sound, motor and lighting sequences.
A base, which holds the completed model, batteries and speaker, is
included. Exclusive parts for
the Zero include; 3 lighting diodes with fibre optic cable for; the
fuselage (tail light) and one for each wing (wing tip navigation light and
upper wing formation lights). Also
included is the electric motor, circuit board, speaker, foil tape a
pre-painted canopy plus new main and tail wheels. |
Click on
image below to see larger image
|
|
|
Electronics,
new wheels, new canopy
|
|
Construction
I
will focus on the differences of this kit from the regular kit as the regular
kit has been covered elsewhere. Construction
begins with the fuselage, this painted aluminum (Testors metalizer) and interior
green (Tamiya XF71 –[new colour]). The
first of the specialized parts is added – a light diode with 3 fibre optic
lines – 1 for the tail navigation light and two for cockpit flood lights. The light diodes are covered with self adhesive aluminum
foil, which is provided in the kit. The
foil seals the light so that excess light does not show around the diode.
The foil is very sticky and once its on it can’t be moved.
Next up the circuit board is screwed into place using a mounting bracket.
The cockpit construction is normal except for vinyl tubes that are
installed onto the throttle quadrant and under the right side electrical panel.
These tubes will later hold fibre optic cables for cockpit lighting.
The fibre optics need to have their ends sanded in order to “release”
light. They are then threaded into
the vinyl tubes with the ends just slightly protruding and are held in place
with foil tape. The cockpit is then
installed into the fuselage. I used
the provided pilot and he fit into the cockpit very well with left hand on the
throttle and the right on the stick. (Photo
3). The wiring for the propeller motor is threaded under the cockpit floor and
secured again using foil. (Photo
4).
|
Click on
images below to see larger images
|
|
|
| Completed
cockpit & pilot |
Wiring
& circuit board |
| Moving
on to the wings, the inner surfaces are painted silver (metalizer) except
for the inner flaps and gear bays (metallic blue/green).
Next, lighting diodes and fibre optic cables are added. |
| Each
diode has two fibre optic cables – one for the tip navigation light and
another shorter one for the navigation light on the upper wing surface.
Both of the cables need to be sanded at the tips and the longer
fibre needs to be sanded where it passes under the upper wing light
The diodes and cables are all held in place by foil tape. (Photo
5). Landing gear, guns, flaps and the rest of the wing construction is per
the regular kit. New wheels are used, rather than rubber, they are plastic
with embedded nuts. The nuts
will capture screws from the base to hold the model firmly in place. |
Click on
image below to see larger image
|
 |
|
Wing
light diodes & fibre optics
|
|
The
electric motor simply fits into the back of the kits “engine” without a
fuss. The motor is plugged into the harness and the engine is installed to the
fuselage. This is a little tricky,
as there is quite a bit of wiring and the connector to stuff into a very small
space.
A
pre-painted canopy is provided in the kit and it is beautifully done.
The colour is a very close (but not exact) match for Tamiya XF70 “IJN
Green 2” with a semi-gloss sheen. It
was close enough to use so I put it to the side and installed it after
airbrushing the kit. I could have
used the regular canopy as a mask, but it would be a shame to ruin it and one
day I might need a spare!
 |
|
Cockpit
with pre-painted canopy
|
| The
base went together very easily and consists of the plastic base (upper and
lower), a plastic mesh top (self-adhesive), a battery compartment, speaker
and a circuit board with on/off and volume controls.
All
of the wiring went together without tools, it is all pre-soldered or fixed
with connectors. The model is
attached to the base using screws in each of the main wheels plus the tail
wheel. A cover is installed
to cover the electronics and then the bottom of the base is added. This is a very tricky operation as you are tightening screws
to the bottom of the plane while holding the plane to the base, after that
you need to screw the electronics/speaker cover from
the bottom and finally the base bottom is screwed on.
This is a very nerve racking procedure with your very newly
finished and valuable Zero hanging on by 3 tiny (and hopefully tight)
screws! |
Click on
image below to see larger image
|
 |
|
Base
components
|
|
|
|
Finished
model on the base |
The
photo-etched placard was added to the base and the model was complete.
The
Fun Begins
The
show is worth the wait!
4
“C” batteries are added and push the start/stop button
Suddenly, there is the sound of the engine’s starter motor turning the
engine over, a couple of “coughs” and then the sound of a running engine. Next the lights come on and then, after a couple of bursts,
the engine revs up to full throttle rpm. What’s
really special is that the propeller turns in time with the sound, slowly
turning over for the start, speeding and slowing for the bursts and then
spinning very fast for full rpm. Press
the start /stop button again and the engine slows down to an idle, a little
burst to “clear the plugs”, the engine stops and the lights go out.
9 times out of 10 the prop stops at exactly the same time as the last
engine sound. It is incredible how
realistic it seems. Tamiya recorded the engine sounds from a real Zero and the
motor is programmed with very precise timing.
There are a couple of variations on the sound sequences that can be
selected. I can’t show you a
video of the model but Tamiya has a demo (it takes a long time to download) on
their site:
http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/60311zero_sound/zero_sound.htm.
This
particular special edition model carries quite a premium price over the
“base” kit. IMHO - if you can afford it, get it! The model looks very nice on the base and the sound &
light show adds great entertainment value.
There will likely be some value as a collectable (more likely if not
built – but that would be a shame). If
you're on a smaller budget and want
to own one of the best kits ever produced - get the “basic” kit.
The cockpit is a kit on its own and the rest is just a pleasure to build.
Thanks
to Borgfeldt Canada for letting me build this amazing model (and letting me
visit it once in a while).
Bill
|
|
