Eduard 11155, "Tora Tora Tora" A6M2 Zero, Dual Combo, Limited Edition. 1:48 Scale

"Tora Tora Tora" A6M2 Zero, Dual Combo, Limited Edition. 1:48 Scale

11155 - Eduard

The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" is a long-range Carrier-based fighter aircraft formerly manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) from 1940 to 1945.

The A6M is usually known as the "Zero" from its Japanese Navy type designation. Type 0 carrier fighter, taken from the last digit of the Imperial Year 2600 (1940) when it entered service. In Japan, it was unofficially referred to as both Rei-sen and Zero-sen; Japanese pilots most commonly called it Zero-sen, where sen is the first syllable of sentōki, Japanese for "fighter plane". In the official designation "A6M", the "A" signified a carrier-based fighter, "6" meant that it was the sixth such model built for the Imperial Navy, and "M" indicated Mitsubishi as the manufacturer.

The official Allied code name was "Zeke", in keeping with the practice of giving male names to Japanese fighters, female names to bombers, bird names to gliders, and tree names to trainers. "Zeke" was part of the first batch of "hillbilly" code names assigned by Captain Frank T. McCoy of Nashville, Tennessee (assigned to the Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit at Eagle Farm Airport in Brisbane), who wanted quick, distinctive, easy-to-remember names.

At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbour, 521 Zeros were active in the Pacific, 328 in first-line units. The carrier-borne Model 21 was the type encountered by the Americans. Its tremendous range of over 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi) allowed it to range farther from its carrier than expected, appearing over distant battlefronts and giving Allied commanders the impression that there were several times as many Zeros as actually existed.

The Zero quickly gained a fearsome reputation. Thanks to a combination of unsurpassed manoeuvrability—compared to contemporary Axis fighters—and excellent firepower, it easily disposed of Allied aircraft sent against it in the Pacific in 1941.

“Tora Tora Tora” was the Japanese code expression for the signal to begin the attack on Pearl Harbour. “Tora” is a Japanese word that means “tiger,” but the full phrase is considered an abbreviation for totsugeki raigeki, which implies “lightning attack.”

Limited edition kit of Japanese WWII naval fighter aircraft A6M2 Zero Type 21 in 1/48 scale. From this kit you can build Zeroes from the attack on Pearl Harbour.

Model Kit Features:

• plastic parts: Eduard
• marking options: 12
• decals: Eduard
• PE parts: yes pre-painted
• painting mask: yes
• resin parts: no

Glue and paint are required but are not included.