Mitsubishi A6M Zero [Paperback]

Artur Juszczak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2001

The illustrated technical history of the most famous Japanese warplane of World War Two. The different versions of the plane, from the 1940 prototypes to the final Kamikaze aircraft of 1945 are described and illustrated; all the changes in specification, equipment and performance are recorded. Drawings and data from the original technical manuals, full dimensional details and photographs of surviving examples preserved in aviation museums illustrate all aspects of the airframe, inside and out. Wartime photographs and many pages of colour illustrations complete the book's comprehensive coverage.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Mushroom Model Publications (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 8373000852
• ISBN-13: 978-8373000858
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,581,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Early Mushroom Yellow Series title, April 23, 2010

By 

Jim Davis (St. Charles, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Mitsubishi A6M Zero (Paperback)

This is one of the first Mushroom Yellow Series titles (No 6103) dating from 2001 when Mushroom Model Publications decided to enter the book market. The Yellow Series had not found its winning format yet. This was still very much a "recognition manual" type of book. Unlike the previous two books on the Bf 109E and G this book seems to hold up rather well over the past decade or so. At least there doesn't appear to be better books that have appeared in the interim as is the case for the Bf 109. I'm not sure whether this is due to linguistics, fluency in German being much more common than fluency in Japanese amongst English language writers, or whether it is due to knowledge of the Zero, even down to the details, being much firmer.

In any event the book is a 6-1/2" x 9-1/2", 96 page, square bound, card cover. The first 34 pages details the differences between the various Zero models via a mostly adequate but minimal text, nicely done line drawings and sketches, and black and white photos the best of which are of captured examples. The rest of the book consists mostly of close up color photographs of preserved examples (or in a few cases replicas) and color profiles.

All seems well done with a few reservations. The statement in the introduction that "The best American fighter at that time, the F4F Wildcat, did not stand a chance against the Zero" is excessive and almost immediately contradicted in a confusing comparison. Translation problems? In an armament list there is listed a 3 20mm and 2 7.7 mm armed A6M5 which is not subsequently detailed. All the color profile of the A6M2 Model 21 show the exhaust port coming through the fourth oil cooler flap whereas we were previously assured that the change to it coming through the fifth flap was made during the Model 11. The profile artist not getting the memo? Finally, I wish the museum where the various color photos were taken was pointed out on each photo.

Despite these inconsistencies I rate this book four stars because detailed monographs on Japanese planes are not plentiful in English. I wouldn't lay out serious coin to get this book but if reasonably priced both the modeler and general enthusiast will find it worthwhile.