MITSUBISHI A6M5C ZERO-SEN TYPE 52C
Scale: 1/72
Brand: ACADEMY
Item # 12493

Was kit #2176.

The Zero Fighter(Reisen or Zero-Son) was the lmperial japanese
Navy's first single-seat and single-engine shipboard fighter with
the retractable undercarriage. It was the most produced types of
all Japanese combat aircraft of World War II.

Designed to the 1937 specifications. the Zuisei-powered prototype
flew in the spring of 1939, but the most more successful
Sakae-powered prototype was adopted as the Zero type 11, and two
squadrons with 15 aircraft were sent to China in July 1940 for
trials under operational conditions. More than 400 had been
delivered by the time the type 21 and type 32 appeared at Pearl
Harbor.

After the battle of Midway the Allies slowly gained the
ascendancy, and the Zero found itself outclassed by the F4U
Corsair and F6F Hellcat. Mitsubishi urgently tried to devise
improved versions and type 52 (A6M5) was built in quantities far
greater than any other japanese combat aircraft. To satisfy front
line demands for increased fire power and pilot protection, most
of the changes were made in these areas under the designation
type 52c (A6M5c). Especially, armament was increased to an
additional 13mm machine gun mounted in each wing just outboard
the 20mm cannon and undrawing bomb rack for 30kg bomb.

Total production amounted to 10,937, of which 6,217 were built by
Nakajima Hikoki and another ones were built by Mitsubishi
jukogyo. In late of war, hundred of Zeros of many sub-types and
young pilots were converted for reckless suicide attacks,
Kamikaze.

Fully engraved panel lines and rivet detail.
Highly detailed cockpit interior & landing gear bay.
Wooden drop tank and bombs included.