I loved Acree's Peruvian A5M profiles in this thread:
http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=5110.msg83881 (and his build here: beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=5164.msg84778)
I decided to make one as well. The HobbyBoss 1/72 A5M2 is cheap and goes together quickly, although I spent a very, very long time hollowing out the so-called "engine" in the cowl. I took the Fiat A.74 radial engine from the Revell 1/72 Macchi C.200 Saetta and chopped off 9 cylinders to replicate a 9 cylinder single row engine. This is a very old kit and the plastic was brittle, so the engine is just a minor improvement over the HobbyBoss engine. I added a spinner (from a Zero, IIRC) to help hide the Frankenstein engine.
I also detailed the cockpit, adding sidewalls and an instrument panel.
Here it is, ready for paint:
The decal sheet was based on Acree's drawings. I messed up on the pendant blue color. I added the EAP ("Ejercito Aereo Peruano") and skipped the red band over the fuselage.
The antenna wire is ultra thin, stretchy, nearly invisible rigging wire from Uschi.
I added some weathering as well.
I didn't follow Acree's profile 100%, mainly because I left the printout on my desk. Hence, the cowling colors are different. The number "15-2" is the year and month I finished this.
Here are closeups of the cockpit.
Thanks for looking and to Acree for making a great profile!
