The A6M Zero was the primary long range naval fighter aircraft used by the Empire of Japan during World War II. Its extreme long range and aerobatic performance made it a nearly unbeatable adversary during the early part of World War II. Its was designed as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) strategy to use it's aircraft to whittle down the opposing fleet from long distance. The Zero would be used as a fighter escort for attack aircraft carrying bombs and aerial torpedoes. It's 20mm cannons were also ideally suited for strafing enemy aircraft on the ground. The Zero was used with great effect in the early campaigns of World War II, including the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor, Singapore and the Philippines.
The Zero's superior performance was achieved by sacrificing defensive features like self-sealing fuel tanks and armor for the pilot. While Allied aircraft could not match the turning capabilities and climb rate of the Zero, tactics were designed to nullify its advantage and exploit its defensive weakness. The Zero's battle performance was further eroded by the arrival of more advanced Allied aircraft, in addition to attritional losses of experienced IJN pilots. While the Japanese military sought to replace the Zero with a more advanced fighter, a suitable replacement could not be produced due to heavy strain on the industrial base caused by the war.
To this day the A6M Zero remains one of the most legendary fighter aircraft of all time and well deserving of attention by the Brickmania model team.
Additional information about this Brickmania custom model kit
The A6M Zero has the following features:
- Retractable main landing gear
- Pilot minifigure
- Sturdy construction means lots of play possibilities
- 1/35 scale to match other Brickmania models
- Navy gray as standard on all IJN aircraft until 1943
- Includes 403 genuine new-condition LEGO® bricks
- Intermediate Skill Level (4-6 years experience with LEGO is recommended)
All Brickmania model kits are made of new-condition LEGO bricks and this one includes compatible accessories by BrickArms. This model comes disassembled, includes complete full color printed building instructions and comes packaged in a sealed box.
