The Cosmo Zero, packed with highlights
thanks to its silver panel shading paint job
Showcasing Susumu Kodai’s craft, the “Cosmo Zero α1,” with panel shading paintwork using multiple shades of silver
Published on Hobby Japan Web, Oct 4, 2025.
See the original post here.
Construction & Text / NAOKI
Vanguard of the Yamato Attack Force
From Space Battleship Yamato 2199 comes the United Nations Space Navy All-Range Space Fighter, Zero Type 52 Space Carrier Fighter Cosmo Zero.
Yamato carries two units: α1 piloted by Susumu Kodai and α2 piloted by Akira Yamamoto. Both 1/72 scale kits were released in 2013, alongside multiple variant models including the Cosmo Falcon. This build features the Cosmo Zero α1, Kodai’s aircraft. The kit’s quality was so outstanding that no modifications were needed beyond switching the optional magnetic parts connections. Instead, the focus was entirely on painting, using multiple silvers for panel shading to create a highly detailed and impressive finish.
A multi-role space fighter developed by the UN Space Navy/Far East Space Combat Group/Space Engineering Dept. Equipped with an axial-flow Cosmo Engine (Comet Type 5 Model 2), it can operate both in and out of the atmosphere. Designed for carrier operations, its distinctive features include folding structures for the nose, main wings, and vertical tail.
Air-to-ground missiles were selected for the main wing armament. They were attached and secured to the main wing.
The stowed configuration, including the landing gear, is reproduced by swapping parts. The optional left/right nose antennas now connect magnetically. Two sets of main wings are provided, allowing for complete wing replacement.
The canopy parts can be inserted/removed to recreate open/closed states. The pilot figure of Kodai and cockpit details are meticulously painted.
Engine nozzles can be opened/closed by swapping parts.
For the silver body, seven different silvers were used: Super Duralumin, Classic Silver, Super Titanium (GSI Creos), Dark Stainless Silver, Star Bright Duralumin, Star Bright Silver (Gaia Nuts), and Flat Silver (NAZCA). Masking was applied along panel lines while considering the overall tone, then shaded with Smoke Gray for balance.
This time, for the Yamato feature, I built the classic 1/72 Cosmo Zero kit. While the compact Mecha Collection kits are convenient, the 1/72 series truly offers excellent kits in terms of ease of build, detail accuracy, and color separation! I really hope they expand the lineup.
Regarding this 1/72 Cosmo Zero kit, while it offers selectable configurations for flight, landing, and storage modes, parts swapping allows for some poseability even after assembly. Some parts, like the antennas on either side of the nose, are designed to clip in during assembly. While you could force them to swap after completion, I opted for a minor modification: embedding tiny magnets to allow safe swapping. Beyond that, I only did surface finishing, except for sharply detailing the landing gear. It’s really well made.
For painting, even the single-silver real aircraft shows variations in tone across different exterior panels. To add visual detail through painting, I used seven different silvers. I masked along each panel line and painted them separately, adjusting the overall tone as I went.
To avoid excessive visual clutter, I then masked along the panel lines again and applied smoke gray shading across the entire surface to unify the overall tone. Next came adjusting the gloss level. The finish was still too shiny as-is, but going completely matte would eliminate contrast. To balance this, I applied a flat black enamel wash over the entire surface. The degree of wipe-off controlled the overall gloss level.
For the engine nozzles, I applied Super Titanium to the front side and Neutral White (NAZCA) to the back side as the base coat. I then sprayed Clear Blue and Clear Orange, finishing with Smoke Black.
The red body sections were painted with Deep Crimson (NAZCA), and the yellow sections with Eva Proto Yellow (Gaia Notes). Similar to the silver parts, I masked off areas and applied smoke gray for shading.
As mentioned at the start, I really want to see the 1/72 carrier-based aircraft series expanded!! Designs like the Cosmo Tiger series, Python, and my personal top pick (?) the Czvarke all look like they’d translate beautifully in 3D, so please make them in 1/72! I’m eagerly waiting!!!