While Mitsubishi kept refining and revising the A6M Zero, the company’s designers were also working on a “Super Zero” known as the A7M Reppu (allied code name “Sam”). The Reppu was much larger than the Zero (even larger than a P-47 Thunderbolt!) and was fitted with an engine with twice the horsepower of its predecessor. It was superior to the Zero in almost every way, but due to production capacity issues, Mitsubishi was not able start manufacturing the Reppu until late 1944. It had  a great climb rate which, along with formidable firepower, made it an excellent candidate for intercepting incoming bombers. Alas, too little, too late. A total of ten A7M aircraft were built, of which eight were A7M2 variants as shown here. Here's a video clip of me flying the A7M2 against a P-51 Mustang. Note that the Reppu and Mustang were both made to perform at high altitude (where the bombers lived) and so this low altitude dogfight favored neither plane.

 Class: Fighter

 Crew: 1

 Engine: Mitsubishi Ha-43 18-cylinder twin-row radial (2,220 hp)

 Max Speed: 390 mph at 21,660 ft

 Climb Rate:  3,937 ft/min

 Service Ceiling: 39,370 ft

 Range: 770 miles

  Model Scale:  1:100