Mitsubishi A5M4 color opinions please

Welcome to the FSM Forum, Hoggarth!

You've come to the right place. I'm not an expert on Japanese aircraft, but you won't have to wait long for the advice to start rolling in.

Good luck on your build!

Tim

Hi and welcome.  Don't sweat the "exactness" as shades varied depending on application methods, weathering etc.  Here's a very informative thread on Claude colors:

http://www.j-aircraft.com/faq/A5M.htm

Hello and welcome to the forums,I'm no a/c expert for sure,but you might find more answers in the aircraft section or the painting and weathering section.

Welcome!  One other place you can check is in the "Group Builds" section, where the "Japanese Group Build III" is on-going.  Jgeratic has a nice rendition of the Claude in it.  These guys should be able to tell you with a confident "maybe" what colors to use. 

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/29/t/157204.aspx

Gary

Hey there Hoggarth,

Since you are new here (welcome aboard!), will cut you some slack and try and answer your question here.  I had the same question earlier this year, directing it to Nick Millman that runs the Aviation of Japan blog.  Here is what he gave me:

"Claude went through several finish evolutions, mainly due to corrosion issues that emerged with its first operations off China during the north-east monsoon of 1937. The first examples were natural metal, then brown and green camouflage was applied briefly in China, then either an anodising film or clear varnish was applied over the natural metal giving a reportedly "gold" effect and finally aluminium pigmented paint was applied overall. It has not been confirmed whether those operational Claude still in service during the Pacific War (after Dec  41) were re-finished in the special paint for light metals applied to the Zero. There are very few photographs of them and not clear enough to tell."

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Thanks to Gary for pointing out my recent build, it can be viewed here:

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/2/t/159678.aspx?sort=ASC&pi240=1

regards,

Jack

Thanks all. I appreciate the links and help. I guess this should have been put somewhere else. I'll be more diligent in the future.

Taking a look at your build now Jack .... thanks!

Hoggarth

Thanks all. I appreciate the links and help. I guess this should have been put somewhere else. I'll be more diligent in the future.

Taking a look at your build now Jack .... thanks!

No problem about the placement,it's about getting more looks and  answers to your questions,enjoy your stay