Unez_rdr's A6M5 modification of Captain Kurt's 3DZ development!

This is a somewhat improvised A6M5 - for the 190D slot in European Air War. Markings are of an A6M3 model 32 Zero of the Tainan Air Group operating in the Phillipeans during 1944, my guess is that A6M5s operating in the group at that time would have had similar tail markings.

Another issue is the armament for the Pacific Tide A6M5. The A6M5 model 52 and model 52a both retained the original pair of 7.7mm machine guns in the cowling; all versons of the A6M5 had two improved 20mm wing cannons. The A6M5 model 52b had single 7.7mm and 12.7mm machine guns in the cowling. The A6M5 model 52c, A6M6 model 53c (less than 100 built), and A6M7 model 63 all had three 12.7mm machine guns. (source: Zero Fighter by Martin Cadin)

None of the later armaments are represented in EAW, but then again I have reason to doubt the accuracy of these loadouts reported by Cadin anyways. My guess is that Cadin was correct in the number of heavy machine guns listed for the later Zero models, but the 7.7mm was omited from the loadouts; I have seen a number of refrences to a 7.7mm included in later armaments of the Zero. There is also evidence that the caliber of some heavy machine guns on the model 52c and later models were actually 13.2mm.

One thing I am sure of is that there was no third machine gun in the cowling! I have found no reference to a third machine gun added, and it would have been a major change in the design of the forward fuselage of the Zero to add it. It would not have been overlooked in the numerous historical accounts and design histories of the Zero which are in my library. Where were the extra machine guns fitted to the Zero then?

Starting with the A6M5 model 52c, two heavy machine guns (12.7mm or 13.2mm) were mounted in the wings, outboard of the 20mm cannons. With the A6M5 model 52b varient, the fuselage armament was standardized as a single 7.7mm and 12.7mm mahcine gun; after the model 52c the standard wing armament for following versions was two 20mm cannon and two heavy machine guns, probably 13.2mm. The final production version of the Zero was the A6M8 model 64, armed with a pair each of heavy machine guns and 20mm cannon.

The hardest part of creating this Zero skin was getting the right color for Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Green. I have a jar of Tamiya IJN Green for plastic scale models that I judged the greens by. I was not satisfied with any single green available in the 256 color pallette; each was either too dark or too light, too yellow or too grey. The best greys and silvers for skins are mosaics at the bitmap level, so I decided to create a 'mosaic green' to simulate IJN Green in EAW. I'm satisfied with the result, which has some interesting lighting effects in gameplay, similar to IJN Green, I think. In shadow, the color is nearly black; in light, almost forest green.

I hope that this Zero skin adds a bit more realism to your Pacific experience!

A word of appreciation must be said for all the contributers to EAW, which never gave up on the program. Their work is the bedrock of the EAW experience, I only hope that I can contribute a minor trinket to the imersive world which they have built. Captain Kurt's original readme is below.

Banzai!
Unez_rdr
statement@pronetisp.net
12-04






EAW - New A6M5 Model 52 Zero - based at Rabaul in 1944. PACIFIC TIDE 2 VERSION

The model is for the most numerous version of the A6M5. This was the Model 52 which had a shortened wing to improve speed and roll rate while eliminating the folding wingtips, combined with a more powerful engine and new cowling design. It improved top speed to 351 mph, a 20 mph increase over the A6M2. It still retained the same armament of 2 x 7.7mm cowl machine guns and 2 x 20mm wing guns, but with longer cannon barrels giving improved accuracy at longer ranges.


The 3DZ development - from my earlier A6M2 model - and skin are my work. The cockpit and wingview are by Claudio.

To use place ALL of the contents of the folders into your EAW Pacific Tide 2 folder. The model is specifically intended for the Pacific Tide 2 Campaign Zero 52 in the FW190D slot.


Cheers,

Captain Kurt D.M.M.
August, 2004