[vanir]

I'd like to see the variant too. I do believe you'll find according to the historical record (i.e. recovered airframes) the A6M5 (Model 52) was widely employed at least in the South Pacific by November 43. It is noted at a variety of sites the Model 22 had a very short service life, although slightly more were produced than the Model 32, during late 42 to early 43. In this the Model 22 appears much like a mid-production update based on pilot requests.
The Model 52 however was based on the Model 32 airframe, though the wing structure was lightened and overall skinning thickened. This was because roll rate and dive speed had now become more important than range and manoeuvrability, and it was these elements the Model 32 had inadvertantly achieved.
Also it was only a 52 litre increase in internal fuel between the Model 22 and its predecessor, much of the range lost to the Model 11/21 was regained by fittings for two underwing drop tanks instead of the single underfuselage one.

But again I'd still like to see the Model 22 just for completeness sake. Why should Germany have every 109 under the sun and Japan miss out? Cripes, the poor blighters need all the help they can get in the Pacific War :lol:

I'd also really love to see this plane for 1946 campaigning (with carrier equipment), only one made it off the production line before the end of the war:
the A7M2 Reppu


And it'd be nice to see the N1K floatplane version see the light of day in its own slot, with a new FM.