Yellowhammer Decals

1/32 A6M2 Decals (for Tamiya)

Sheet Number: 32014, 32015

Reviewed by  Ed Kinney, IPMS# 2989

Yellowhammer (YHD 32014) This sheet gives the builder the option to choose from seven different aircraft! Five are finished in the Imperial Japanese Navy light grey with one in the dark green over grey and one unusual shown in captured US Navy blue grey over light grey. The choices of markings are as follows: Koga: Ryujo Fighter Squadron (4 June, '42) Itaya: Akagi Fighter Squadron ( 7 Dec, '41) Sakqi: Tainan Air Group (Feb, '42) Hirano: Akagi Fighter Squadron (7 Dec, '41) Shiga: Kaga Fighter Leader (7 Dec, '41) Iwamoto: 253rd Air Group Rabaul (late, '43) Koga: captured, USN test program NAS North Island (fall, '42) Included are large color profiles of each aircraft, with top views for marking placement, as well as a section entitled "General Notes" which contains explanations of significant points dealing with colors and marking histories. The decals are, as always, excellent quality in terms of thickness, registration and color representation. As a bonus, for use on Iwamoto's aircraft, Black Magic Masks (not shown) are supplied to paint the dark green surrounds on the Hinomarus. (The kit decals are then applied over the painted areas). On the captured Zero, space available did not permit the inclusion of the USN National Insignia, but many of the aftermarket sources are available for this selection. Yellowhammer Decals (YHD 32015) This sheet offers markings for six different aircraft with blue trim, from the previous sheet, all in Imperial Japanese Navy light grey finish. The choices are as follows: Saburo Sakai: Tainan Air Group, Rabaul (7 Aug, '42) Toyoshima: Hiryu Fighter Squadron, Darwin, Australia (19 Feb, '42) Hashiguchi: 3rd Air Group, Bali, Dutch East Indies (Feb, '42) Nishikaichi: Hiryu Fighter Squadron, Pearl Harbor (7 Dec, '41) Arita: Tainan Air Group, Bali, Dutch East Indies (Feb, '42) Shingo: Shokaku Fighter Squadron Leader (26 Oct, '42) With respect to Saburo Sakais' aircraft, while the kit decals offer the stripes in a much lighter shade of blue, these markings have been matched to a surviving piece of a Pearl Harbor Zero that shows them to be a much darker, as represented on this sheet. This becomes a "builders choice" decision. As with the previous sheet, color profile, overhead views and comments are included with the instruction sheets, and of course the same good standards as to color, register and quality apply. Either sheet would put the finishing touches on this outstanding new release from Tamiya. A sincere thanks to Dave Klaus at Meteor Productions for the review samples and a REALLY BIG THANK YOU for what you have done for IPMS/USA.

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