Trumpeter Nakajima A6M2-N ''Rufe'' 1:24 (02410)

A6M2-N Floatplane Zero The A6M2-N was the seaplane version of the famous Zero fighter. It was the first seaplane that was ever designed as a pure fighter plane. While it was some 60 mph (53 knots) slower than the land version, it was surprisingly maneuverable even with the drag created by the large floats. This type was code named "Rufe" by the Americans, and it was a successful fighter. It was designed to provider fighter protection to areas where there was no airstrip such as over invasion beaches, very tiny islands and atolls, or places where terrain did not make it practical to build an airfield. When it first came into service it scored a number of air to air victories, but as more and more advanced Allied fighters were developed, it became easy prey to the Allies later in the war. By late 1944 it had been supplanted in the seaplane fighter role by the N1K1 Kyofu (code name "Rex"), and was used to train pilots for this more advanced fighter. During the last desperate months of the war remaining examples often flew from Lake Biwa northeast.