interior color for Mitsubishi - 1945

No worries folks, anytime.

WOW -----  really great stuff and greatly appreciated

This oughtta help...

http://www.j-aircraft.com/faq/ki61.htm#IJA Type 3 Ki61-1 Tony interior colors ... http://www.j-aircraft.com/faq/ki61.htm#Help!! Cockpit color of a Tony
http://www.j-aircraft.com/faq/ki61_pt2.htm#Ki-61 1d interior colours

In summation, use RLM79, but feel free to add a bit of green or grey to make it a slighty different hue.

Let me know if you need anything more! HTH!

Excellent reference post! Is there any word on Kawasaki built AC interior colors? Specificaly Ki-61s  or Ki-100s?

Nope! Don't use aotake on the interior of a Betty!  For the most part, the aotake interior is a myth, and its definitely not used in bomber interiors...

Instead, try something close to FS *34151 Interior Green; most of us tend to add some white to get a grayer lighter color.

Here are some pics of the Planes of Fame Betty relic:
http://www.j-aircraft.com/walk/dave_pluth/davesg4m.htm

Especially these color samples: 
http://www.j-aircraft.com/walk/dave_pluth/davesg4m.htm

There has been some discussion about aluminum-based anti-corrosion primer being used as well.  This fits with standard painting procedures for other large, comparable aircraft of the IJN.

For more info read the old FAQs here:
http://www.j-aircraft.com/faq/G4M.htm#Betty's/Color scheme questions

and finally, a section from the old FAQs for everyone:

"Dear friends,

I think a FAQ should be created concerning interior colors.

In fact it was closely linked to the manufacturer and to the period.

I won't go here into the pre-war mostly fabric covered times as few information is available.

Aotake (the fresh bamboo color) which could have a green or a blue dominant (independent from the manufacturer)was NOT properly a paint but a clear anti-corrosion varnish tinted by blue or green pigments (for control of application) which was to be applied on all the internal side of the metallic revetment. It looked like a metallic paint because of its translucence when applied on the aluminum base. It was supposed to be applied everywhere (including the cockpit (and all living quarters).

But it is a MISCONCEPTION to think it was visible in the cockpit (and living quarters) area of most IJNAF planes.

In the late 30's, each manufacturer devised its own "cocpit color" which was applied OVER the Aotake protective coat (which acted in this case like a primer). On some big planes (like G3M and G4M) this color was sometimes extended to all internal areas visible in normal use (i.e. : wheel wells and internal sides of undercarriage traps).

This practice extended up to the late war years when simplified procedures were used to cope with the required output, the lack of qualified manpower and the consequences on raw material availability of the allied blockade. Then and ONLY THEN, some aircraft types cockpit area had Aotake visible in the cockpit area. Nakajima was one manufacturer concerned (but on Zeros) and according to relics and surviving aircraft usually let the cockpit area in Aotake but painted the seat external dk. green (34077) and any horizontal surfaces in the cocpit area was covered with gray black antiglare paint. Naval Air Arsenal went even further with solid Aotake interiors (B7A "Grace" for example).

Be aware of the fact however that Aotake WAS NOT A COCKPIT COLOR for most of the war and that some aircraft (Zeros and seaplanes for example) NEVER used it as a cockpit color even at war's end.

Mitsubishi used a color which was a green near to USN interior green but a tad darker.

Nakajima used a yellowish green much lighter than Mitsubishi color

Aichi seem to have used a rather dark green (see the post on D3A2 interior color) and may-be a lightened RLM 02 gray-green on Seiran floatplanes.

Kawanishi used a kind of light apple green (rather vivid).

Air Arsenals specific internal shade is unknown for sure but has ben often described as identical to Mitsubishi interior color as long as they used it.

Add to this than a number of cockpit "accessories" came from sub-contractors which used their own colors (mostly in the green range). For example a lot of throttle quadrants are notorious for their color akin to RAF aircraft gray-green.

As for the Zero, notice that the surfaces under the windscreen and the canopy were most of the time (if not systmeatically at factory level) finished the cowling color: Mitsubishi blue-black or Nakajima gray-black.

It must be emphasized the cockpit color was linked to the actual manufacturer of the plane and not the parent company.

This is important for example as far as the Zero is concerned as Nakajima built Zeros used the Nakajima yellowish green inside and not the Mitsubishi color...

Speaking of the Zero, remember that if Aotake was generally used as the visible color in wheel well area, Mitsubishi had the habit to paint the auxilliary traps of the main undercarriage the same color as undersurface on the internal side but Nakajima used Aotake at this place.

But PLEASE stay away from the old myth of Aotake being a cockpit color for all IJNAF planes.

Hope it helps.
François"

François, if you read this, thanks for posting such an accurate, concise answer to this.

HTH!  Let us know how your Betty turns out! 

Testor's makes a set of enamels for Japanese aircraft.  That Mitisubishi interior color is in the set.  It's a semi-transparant blue-green color.  By that late in the war (if it was built that late in the war) I'm not sure if the color is still used or not.