This is an attempt to get a general overview of a possible production path for a Japanese player in Scenario 1. Every player will most likely take a slightly different course, and that is part of the fun.
The zero line is generally boosted in the beginning to fill out A5M groups and get a surplus for offensive operations to proceed.
A6M2 - 110/month
The Ki-43 Ic production is increased for the same reasons to fill out units still using earlier Ia and Ib and the Ki-27.
Ki-43 - 110/month
From this point on the Japanese production can vary significantly from player to player. I'll simply try to give a general idea of what an 'average' player in scenario 1 with PDU-ON might produce, also using the majority of models available to get an idea of when they would arrive. This will result in a multitude of models being produced into 44-45, whereas many players choose to streamline to one or two models each for the IJNAF and IJAAF.
This may be slightly high for some or low for others, but based on looking around at quite a few AARs these numbers seem to me to be close to an average amount projected into 45. Many of the AARs are not Scenario 1 though so I've tried to keep things somewhat reasonable at least until the late game brings a lot of new models online, and to consider economic implications of overproduction.
This is open for all kinds of discussions and alterations if the consensus is that the levels are too high or too low. Let me know what you think.
Here are also the actual approximated numbers from a US document about Japanese production during the war.
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FIGHTERS
DECEMBER 41 - DECEMBER 42
As production ramps up the new fighters come out agonizingly slowly.
DECEMBER 41
A6M2 Zero
75
Ki-43 Ic Oscar
75
----------------------------------------------
150
JANUARY 42
A6M2 Zero
95
Ki-43 Ic Oscar
95
----------------------
180
FEBRUARY 42
A6M2 Zero
110
Ki-43 Ic Oscar
110
----------------------
220
MARCH 42
A6M2 Zero
110
Ki-43 Ic Oscar
110
-----------------------
220
APRIL 42
A6M2 Zero
110
Ki-43 Ic Oscar
110
A6M2-N Rufe (one size 30 R n D factory converted to production).
30
A6M3 Hamp (-2 months accelerated, and one size 30 R n D factory converted to production).
30
----------------------
250
MAY 42
A6M2 Zero
110
Ki-43 Ic Oscar
110
A6M2-N Rufe
30
A6M3 Hamp
30
Ki-45 Ia Nick (One size 30 R n D factory converted to production).
30
-------------------
310
JUNE 42
A6M2 Zero
110
Ki-43 Ic Oscar
110
A6M2-N Rufe
30
A6M3 Hamp
30
Ki-45 Ia Nick (built to size 40)
40
-------------------
320
JULY 42
A6M2 Zero
110
Ki-43 Ic Oscar
110
A6M2-N Rufe
30
A6M3 Hamp
30
Ki-45 Ia Nick
40
Ki-44 IIa Tojo (-3 months accelerated, and five R n D factories converted to production).
150
-------------------
470
AUGUST 42
A6M2 Zero
110
Ki-43 Ic Oscar
110
A6M2-N Rufe
30
A6M3 Hamp
30
Ki-45 Ia Nick
40
Ki-44 IIa Tojo (built to 160)
160
-------------------
480
SEPTEMBER 42
A6M2 Zero
110
Ki-43 IIa Oscar (IIa accelerated - 2 months from 11/42)
110
A6M2-N Rufe
30
A6M3 Hamp
30
Ki-45 Ia Nick
40
Ki-44 IIa Tojo
160
-------------------
480
OCTOBER 42
A6M3a (factory upgrade accelerated - 2 months from 12/42, one size 30 factory upgraded from A6M3)
30
A6M3a (A6M2 factory changed to A6M3a production line. Because this is not in the same path the factory must be retooled and start from 0 to produce this plane).
15
Ki-43 IIa Oscar
110
A6M2-N Rufe
30
Ki-45 Ia Nick
40
Ki-44 IIa Tojo
160
-------------------
385
NOVEMBER 42
A6M3a Zero
75
Ki-43 IIa Oscar
110
A6M2-N Rufe
30
Ki-45 Ia Nick
40
Ki-44 IIa Tojo
160
-------------------
415
DECEMBER 42
A6M3a Zero
105
Ki-43 IIa Oscar
110
A6M2-N Rufe
30
Ki-45 Ia Nick
40
Ki-44 IIa Tojo
160
-------------------
445
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4325/13 = 332.7/month DEC 41 - DEC 42
This number being ~1,300 airframes higher than the Japanese production for this period according to the chart above. (This list includes December 41 where the chart separates 41 and 42 production).
