This is volume 75 in the monograph series. The book follows the usual monograph format. Included along with 1/48 drawings bound into the volume is a separate 2-sided page of 1/32 drawings.

The first 16 pages of the book discuss the A5M’s predecessors such as the Nakajima A1N2, Mitsubishi 1MF10 and its immediate predecessor; the Ka-14. The bulk of the book is dedicated to production and combat usage of the A5M, most of which was in China. Assigned the Allied code name “Claude” with “Sandy” reserved for the inverted gull wing version that never went into production. At the time of Pearl Harbor 193 A5Ms were in service. Most of these in rear units. The Claude stayed in service with operational units until April of 1942 with some air defense units using them until near the end of 1943.

The true gem of this book are the many photos of Claudes in action and detail shots of components. Pages 56 to 73 are 1/48 scale drawings of the A5M and its variants, including the in-line engine variant the A5M3.

This is a nice book on a lesser covered subject. I can recommend it to anyone building a model of this aircraft and to those interested in the A5M and Japanese pre-war and WWII era aircraft. The drawings and photos are very helpful. I enjoyed this book and think you will as well. It is well worth the money.

Our thanks to Casemate Publishing for the review copy and my thanks to IPMS/USA for the review opportunity