Small Scale Military Headquarters

Are the 1 32 ultimate soldier a6m2 and a6m3 prebuilt models any different? I am most concerned with the cowl shape and size. If someone wouldn't mind comparing the two and letting me know that would be great.

Thanks!
Graeme

The troughs for the fuselage machine guns on the cowling are definitely different, and even though both models come with the cannon tubes for the wings, you only are supposed to use them for the -3 model, if I'm not mistaken...

Thanks for the reply. is the nose on the M3 any bigger to suit the engine change that was done?

Thanks again

My M2 has a rectangular duct on the bottom of the cowling where my M3 does not. The troughs for the fmg's are long on the M2; on the M3 they seem to be more like exit holes rather than troughs. The M3 cowling seems only marginally larger - you almost can't tell.

The cowling/gun troughs are the main visual difference between the two. In reality, the A6M3 had an uprated engine and a few other internal differences from the A6M2.

Thanks for the help eveyone! In full size the space between the windshield and the end of the cowl should be slightly longer on the M3 however, the difference might not show up in 1 32

Both of 21C's Zero variants use the same (A6M3) fuselage. Note also that the wings are incorrect for either the M2 or the M3; they are the short span type seen on the A6M5.

Interesting blurb about the model by the designer over at the Hyperscale boards:

"And once again, suffered at the hands of pattern makers who ignored my explicit instructions and references and just converted a 1/32 Tamiya A6M5 with a new cowling. Of the many battles that I fought to make these collectibles better, this is one I lost. "

He tried...I still like it...