While we currently sell the Zero Fighter Type 52 series, for the development of this Zero Fighter Type 21, we redesigned and developed almost the entire model, including the wings, forward fuselage, cowling, first canopy, and vertical stabilizer (rudder), using new molds. Features of the kit include the ability to choose between folded and unfolded wingtips, separate parts for the canopy frame and glass, and a slide mold for the rear fuselage, ensuring ease of assembly. Furthermore, while there are differences in the ailerons of the actual aircraft depending on the manufacturing lot, this kit reproduces the early Mitsubishi-made type (up to aircraft number 326) equipped with a protruding mass balance.
About the Type 21 Zero Carrier-Based Fighter (Nakajima-built)
The Type 21 Zero—the early production variant of the "Zero Carrier-Based Fighter"— performed remarkably during the opening stages of the war. It also saw intense action during 'Operation I-Go,' an air campaign conducted in the Solomon and New Guinea theatres. This operation took place from 7th to 15th April 1943, involving joint sorties by land-based air units and aircraft from the carriers Zuikaku, Jun'yō and Hiyō. Since Mitsubishi had already ceased production of the Type 21 in June 1942, it is believed that the majority of the Type 21 Zeros participating in this operation were manufactured by Nakajima.
Kit Details
Nakajima Aircraft began mass production of the Zero in November 1941. Nakajima-built units are characterized by a spinner that is more pointed than the Mitsubishi version; additionally, due to the timing of their manufacture, they lack the protruding mass balances on the ailerons. While the airframe paint scheme was initially the same as that of Mitsubishi-built aircraft, Nakajima built planes began featuring a white border around the fuselage 'hinomaru' (red circle insignia) starting around the summer of 1942.
This kit accurately reproduces these manufacturer-specific differences; the canopy frame and transparent sections are molded as separate parts, and the rear fuselage is a single piece created using a slide mold. Markings are included to replicate aircraft from the carriers Jun'yō and Hiyō, as well as an aircraft from the 202nd Air Group finished in the characteristic 'light grey-green' (ame-iro) color.
PS The newly announced 1/48 scale Ki-32 kit from Classic Resin Airframes is resin with 3D printed details and Hannants are showing it as a future release for £159.99!
Image credit: All © 2026 Fine Molds
6 comments:
More great choices for the A6M2. It‘s getting difficult to decide which kit manufacturer has the best offer (depending on personal preferences). Thanks for posting these new kits.
I heard about a brand-new Ki-32 from Classic Airframes in 1/48. Is there more to the rumor or am I led astray?
Thanks, Nick! Another excellent update. Fine Molds really seems to have gone the extra mile with the new tooling and attention to the Mitsubishi/Nakajima differences. Looking forward to this one...my only regret is that they (Ki-32 included) are not being produced in 1/72
Having built the Fine Molds Model 52 when first released, very excited for these Model 21's. Have 3 on pre-order from HLJ.
Bring on the Model 22's next!!!
Dan
Thank you, Nick.Terrific news and it's curious how long it took a Japanese company to step up and do a Model 21, the specific machine at the height of the Zero Ascendency. Will definitely have to get one...and interesting how different manufacturers are approaching Zero subassemblies in lsightly different ways; with the slidemold, Fujimi's taken it a step further.
Still hoping either FM or Tamiya will be the company to bring us, finally, a Ki-46-II Dinah, with the stepped canopy......
Nick thanks for sharing this good news.
I'm currently building the Eduard 1/48 A6M2 and it's a near-perfect kit in my opinion. I added some scratchbuilt details to the cockpit and replaced the guns with Luminaero items, but otherwise there's little room for improvement.
The Fine Molds Zeros look promising, but I've seen mixed build reports on the A6M5 releases. Some fit issues, among other things, and I've noticed some weird panel lines myself, that seem to be incorrect (wing root). The cowling on this A6M2 release also looks suspect and if the sideview profiles are representative of the 3D CAD, there may be some other issues with the kit. It just looks a bit off (with an odd taper to the cowling).
But it's good we now have three new tool A6M2s to choose from: Eduard, Academy and Fine Molds, each with their strengths and issues.
We can never have too many Zeros to build. I did not know Academy is releasing a new-tool. The separate panels for the canopy is brilliant but I'm a little nervous about how well it will work out. I recall Wingnut Wings' 1/32 Lancaster also used individual clear parts to insert into the canopy frame - I scrutinized it up close and personal at the 2019 IPMS NatCon.
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