Jiro Horikoshi Design III: IJN Mitsubishi (made by Nakajima) A6M5 Model 52a Zero-Sen 'Zeke' 653-III 1/72 Tamiya

Jiro Horikoshi (Wikipedia)

This Tamiya 1/72 Zero-Sen kit (60779-1400) is possibly the best scale model kit I've ever built: no putty, no problems, no fuss. And the final result sure looks like a Zero!
Not only this model rounds up my anime-inspired 'The Wind Rises' Jiro Horikoshi project, but it nicely dovetails with my other models that were made after the photos and color profiles in the old "Aircraft in Profile" series. There is even a photo of the orignal 'Zeke' aircraft at Ohita Air Base, Japan on October 13th 1944!
Built out-of-the-box with kit decals, airbrushed Revell and Humbrol enamels. Turpentine umbra washes sealed with Revell matt varnish clearcoat.

Aircraft in Profile vol. 12 original photo caption: --Photographed on October 13, 1944 at Ohita Air Base, Japan, Zero-Sen Model 52a (A6M5a) fighters of the 653rd Naval Air Corps are being readied preparatory to embarking on the ill-fated imperial Japanese Navy carriers which took part in Operation Sho - the Battle of Leyte Gulf - two weeks later (Photo: via Takeshi Miyawaki)

Jiro Horikoshi Design (top to bottom): Mitsubishi J2M 'Raiden', A6M 'Zero', A5M

Mitsubishi 'Jack', 'Zeke', 'Claude'

Tamiya Zero 1/72 scale item 60779 1400

Tamiya 1/72 scale war bird collection 79 Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero Fighter Zeke