Original by Oicraftian.
I started with an A6M3 and made many of the same modifications that were made in real life for the A6M5. Including shortening the wings, rounded wing tips, a different exhaust system, and a more powerful engine. The flight characteristics are fairly accurate.

As the war drew longer, the Japanese needed a better plane to combat thd newer American fighters. Since inter-service competition was preventing any new planes from being designed or any real upgrades to existing from happening, the engineers pushed the limits of what the Zero could achieve. A new exhaust system boosted horsepower, non-foldable and shorter wings reduced weight. All this made this iteration of the Zero capable of fighting more effectively however, the initial loss of experienced pilots meant that all the improvements made little difference in the outcome of the war.