[vaindioux]

Hi

I just acquired my second zero fighter, Corgi's Mitsubishi A6M-3a Zero "Hiroyoshi Nishizawa".
What does that letter "a" at the end mean?
Looking at other zero variants online I can see more with letters at the end like:

A6M2b
A6M5c


I already own a Dragon A6M2, is the A6M2b different?

One more question to totally get rid of my zero confusion, what are types? Like type 21 or 22?

The A6M2 seems to come only as (Type 21 or 22)
The A6M3 (Type 32)
The A6M5 (Type 52)
The A6M7 (Type 63)

I know you must be thinking "Get yourself" some written references and I will but I figure I could ask here first.



Thanks a lot

Patrick

[1250ships]

I'm not a Zero expert but I did a bunch of reading to figure out which models to buy so here is my two cents. The best online summary of all of this is on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A6M_Zero

Originally Posted by vaindioux

I just acquired my second zero fighter, Corgi's Mitsubishi A6M-3a Zero "Hiroyoshi Nishizawa".
What does that letter "a" at the end mean?

The "a" code on the A6M3 model referes to a variant of one of the two models produced. The Japanese used model codes which are what you refer to as types. To the Japanese the overal aircraft type would be Type 0- that was the same for all the Zero variations.

There were two aircraft with the A6M3 designation. The A6M3 Model 32 featured a larger engine than the A6M2 models and was visually distinctive because it dispensed with the folding wing tips giving it the clipped wing look. This aircraft was not very sucessful and only 343 were produced. Witty makes I think two examples of this model.

The A6M3 Model 22 was an effort to address the shortcomings of the Model 32. The folding wing tips were restored and the fuel capacity increased to restore lost range. The IJN called this plane the A6M3 Model 22 but the Mitbubishi factory refered to it as the A6M3a. There was also an A6M3b model which was an experimental version armed with 30mm cannons.

Originally Posted by vaindioux

Looking at other zero variants online I can see more with letters at the end like:

A6M2b
A6M5c

I already own a Dragon A6M2, is the A6M2b different?

There were two Models of the A6M2. The Model 11 was the original production version with 65 produced. The Model 21 was the improved version with the main change being the addition of the folding wing tips for use on board carriers. Over 1,500 of these were produced. The IJN did not use the lower case letter designations. They might be factory usage or US military usage. Don't look too much at the letters in this case- just the Models.

There were two Model 21 variations that did get letters. The A6M2-N was the float plane version and the A6M2-K was a two seat trainer.

When you get the the A6M5 then there are letters in use. The basic A6M5 Model 52 has no letter. The A6M5a had different cannons with more ammo provided. The A6M5b had an armored windscreen, a fire extinguisher, and one 7.7mm machine gun replaced with a 13.2mm gun. The A6M5c had more armor around the pilot and used three 13.2mm machine guns plus two 20mm cannons.

Originally Posted by vaindioux

One more question to totally get rid of my zero confusion, what are types? Like type 21 or 22?

The A6M2 seems to come only as (Type 21 or 22)
The A6M3 (Type 32)
The A6M5 (Type 52)
The A6M7 (Type 63)

As mentioned above types are what the IJN called Models. Model is the correct usage as the aircraft was a Type 0.

Look at the Wikipedia article noted above for a chart that shows how the various Models are related.

[Cruver Collecter]

If you can get your hands on a copy of Aero Details No. 7, talk about a really interesting reference book on the Zero. Book covers the Zero from the A6M1 prototype through the last variants and even a little bit on the Rufe too.

[vaindioux]

Originally Posted by 1250ships

I'm not a Zero expert but I did a bunch of reading to figure out which models to buy so here is my two cents. The best online summary of all of this is on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A6M_Zero

1250 ships

What a great link indeed, I can't believe I missed it while searching for zero variants. Learned a lot, especially that "Types" are in fact "Models". The letters often are factory named, the Japanese navy used a model number.
About the A6M5 I found 2 more variants listed on the wikipedia page that you provided:

"A6M5d-S": Night fighter version,guns different too.
"A6M5-K Zero-Reisen"(model l22):Tandem trainer.

I really appreciate the link, that's all I need I think for now as far as zero's variants.

Cruver thanks for the info on the book too.

Best regards

Patrick