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Japanese Group Build IX

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  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Monday, February 17, 2020 7:37 AM

Gary: Considering how little you can see of the cockpit down inside there it looks good enough! Wink

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    March 2019
  • From: Post Falls, Idaho
Posted by Sigep Ziggy on Monday, February 17, 2020 9:04 PM

Small update on my Zero, I tried drilling the holes in the seat but the plastic was too thick, so I cut the center section out and replaced it with .005 inch thick styrene. I will mark the holes and drill them next.

Also, I started on the engine. The front seven cylinders has been removed from sprue and trimed. Just waiting for the back seven to catch up.

your shipmate,

Ziggy

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Monday, February 17, 2020 10:16 PM

I painted the area behind the seat Mitsubishi cockpit green on the A6M1 and the two A6M2's I've built, as I think they were all early enough to be built only by Mitsubishi.

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Naples, FL
Posted by tempestjohnny on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 6:11 AM
In my research on Zeros. Mitsubishi used the green interior color for turtle deck but Nakajima, which built quite a number of the Zeros, used flat black. So it all depends on the manufacturer. Also the exterior grey's were different too.

 

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: ON, Canada
Posted by jgeratic on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 9:54 AM

Should post a link when quoting research ...

I find the link below interesting.  Even though almost 20 years old,  but fact is that references are made to physical findings regarding the decking colour :

http://www.j-aircraft.com/faq/A6M_pt4.htm#Mitsubishi%20Zero%20Cockpit%20Deck%20Color

 

Cool photo here,  supposedly of an A6M3 in 1943.   Although severely chalked and weathered,  the decking and cowl do look to be the same tone of grey.

 

Another quote from Nick Millman (from 2013), he too gives black decking for both Zero manufacturers:

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234947758-zero-detail-colours/

"The cockpit decking wasn't black as such but the same anti-glare blue black as the cowling. It was to a standard IJN specification of four parts carbon black to one part ultramarine pigment (similar to RAF 'Night') and most of the differences attributed to MItsubishi and Nakajima cowlings arose from the way the procured paints weathered and degraded.

Whilst the cowlings got regular maintenance the decking rarely, if ever, did so on in service machines it often ended up looking flatter and greyer over time."

 

regards,  

Jack

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 12:37 PM

Thanks Jack, that's evidence enough for me. I'm going to go back and repaint the back deck of my Zero black. 

 

Guys, I found out this morning that my dad has passed away. I'm going to be off the forum for a bit till things clear up. Please keep at it as always, I'll try to be back early next week. Any thoughts and prayers are welcome... 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 2:26 PM

Cliff...  Sorry to hear that, as always, our thoughts are in your corner

GAF
  • Member since
    June 2012
  • From: Anniston, AL
Posted by GAF on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 2:38 PM

Cliff,

That's sad news concerning your father.  My condolences.  Hope you'll be back with us soon.  Prayers for your family and you.

Gary

GAF
  • Member since
    June 2012
  • From: Anniston, AL
Posted by GAF on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 2:59 PM

Jack,

Well, you've almost convinced me, though I feel very uneasy about relying upon one authority (Nick).  I'll take your word that this is not a "colorized" photo. Here's another more recent article upon A6M colors from Imodeler.

https://imodeler.com/2019/04/japanese-a6m-zero-colors-part-1/

Note that the article contains almost the same photo Jack posted, but with a soldier standing beside the wreck.  Someone had a very steady hand, or the camera was on a tripod!

Might want to hold off on the "black" and paint the rear decking "Navy Dark Blue".

Still, there are some photos of wrecked Japanese aircraft at the end of the war that make me go "hmmmm..."

Are these colorized photos?  I don't know.  The rear deck in both photos does appear to be lighter than the cowling.  Could it be oxidation?  Maybe.  That is what makes me go "hmmmm..."

Thanks for your information!

Gary

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 12:07 AM

So sorry to hear that Cliff.  Godspeed.

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: ON, Canada
Posted by jgeratic on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 8:06 AM

Dear Cliff,

Sorry about the passing of your father, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

 

regards,

Jack

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 10:57 AM

My deepest condolences, Cliff. We lost my father-in-law this last september and it just isn't easy. Our hearts go out to you and your family.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: ON, Canada
Posted by jgeratic on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 11:43 AM

Hi Gary, thank you for the Imodeller link, lots of info presented there, and 'all under one roof.'   Have it bookmarked for a future build.

In my last post, I quoted both Nick (Aviation of Japan) as well as linked J-Aircraft.  These are two different entities not affiliated with each other, but both talk about the black decking.

Concerning the last two photos crammed with aircraft, going to assume not colourized.  To be fair though, we are trying to judge a colour through the glass canopy that has the sun glaring off the surface.  The headrest area definitely has a blue hue, so took a reading of the area:

https://i.imgur.com/WsTetJd.jpg

So the above is GIMP software (available free).  What I like about it's eyedropper tool is you can adjust the size for reading a colour, so that it averages the result instead of just reading one pixel.  The white square with pointer indicates the area and size measured.

Over the resulting find, have pasted a screen shot of FS 36164 from the Colorserver.net for ease of comparison.  Not that dissimilar from the Imodeler link, where they describe the weathering of anti-glare black would shift into light blue grey.  Not stating this is conclusive, just interesting.

 

regards,

Jack

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Friday, February 21, 2020 9:42 AM

I'm jumping in on this topic late, but I did a ton of research when I built my Zero and I can't find my links for it, but it was determined that the rear deck and engine cowl are painted the same color. There are pics out there of surviving parts that never saw the light of day that prove they are the same black with blue tinge. Gunze Mr Color makes the perfect color for it, Cowling Color, Mr Color 125. I'll see if I can find those references as they sealed the deal when I was given them.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    April 2014
  • From: Australia
Posted by lostagain on Saturday, February 22, 2020 2:25 AM

Hi Cliff,

Sorry to hear about your father, my condolences.

Thinking of you, take care of yourself and your loved ones.

Piers

  • Member since
    March 2019
  • From: Post Falls, Idaho
Posted by Sigep Ziggy on Saturday, February 22, 2020 6:08 AM

I'm going paint my tiny one 'black'. I makes more sense to me that part of the should be black.

your shipmate,

Ziggy

 

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Naples, FL
Posted by tempestjohnny on Saturday, February 22, 2020 7:19 AM
Cliff. Just reading through the last few posts. So sorry to hear of your father. My condolences

 

  • Member since
    March 2017
Posted by Armor_Aficionado on Sunday, February 23, 2020 8:19 AM

Latest progress on the Chi-Ha:  the tank itself is done, just working on the commander figure now.  The decals for this were a real pain in the a$$!  I don't what it is with Tamiya, if they changed how they mae their decals, or if they went to a new outside supplier or what, but the last two Tamiya kits I have built, both purchased within the last year, have had absolute shite decals.  I'vee always used the same method - gloss clear coat, then apply decals and settle them down using Micro-Set/Micro-Sol, then matt clear coat - and usually have no problem, but the last two Tamiya kits have had the decls silver horribly, to the point they were (on this kit) completely opaque white!  I ended up having to hand paint the markings.

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: ON, Canada
Posted by jgeratic on Sunday, February 23, 2020 9:22 AM

Hello AA, that is great looking camou work on the Chi-Ha.

Is there any date printed on the box or instructions?  Even though you purchased recently, it may have been on the store shelf for a number of years.  This Tamyia subject was first tooled in 1975, with a re-box in 1987 containing an 'improved' turret.

 

regards,

Jack

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Monday, February 24, 2020 7:28 AM

Hey thanks guys! Sorry between all the stuff with the funeral and I really didn't feel like posting anything. Guess I'm back now. In any case I could use something to keep my mind occupied. 

AA: Great job there on the Chi-Ha, I agree the camo looks spot on and great job there on the commander. 

And thanks everyone for the discussion on the rear cockpit deck. Still haven't repainted mine yet. 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Monday, February 24, 2020 8:49 AM

Hi Gamera! Been wanting to do this Hasegawa 1/32 Oscar for a while so plese sign me up in this GB.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Monday, February 24, 2020 8:51 AM

Hey PJ that looks cool, will go put you down now! 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Monday, February 24, 2020 10:04 AM

Thanks gamera. Hey sorry for your loss. I read about it over Bish's GB.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Monday, February 24, 2020 11:40 AM

Thanks PJ and welcome to the GB! 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Monday, February 24, 2020 11:42 AM

Gamera

Thanks PJ and welcome to the GB! 

 

Yes

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Monday, February 24, 2020 8:19 PM

PJ-  The only airworthy Oscar is at the Erickson Collection, about 120 miles from me.  It is US powered though, just barely fits in the cowling .

Will be watching it come together in your capable hands.

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 7:13 AM

Thanks GH. I'm doing some research before starting. Was hoping to get some decals with colorful markings but  there's not a good selection of them for this subject in this scale. The kit decals appear to be in usable condition so I just may go with them.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 8:29 AM

PJ: Just for kicks I looked on Ebay and there's a couple of sets of decals for your Ki-43. Japanese, Indonesian, Thai, and Chinese Nationalist, Communist, and Manchukuo (Japanese collaborator government). To be anal captured Japanese aircraft aren't within the GB but I'd be more than willing to let things slide just to see you get her built. 

BTW: None of them are cheap though. Twenty-five bucks including shipping for a set of decals is rather on the steep side for me. 

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=1%2F32nd+Ki-43+decal&_sacat=0

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 9:24 AM

Gamera

PJ: Just for kicks I looked on Ebay and there's a couple of sets of decals for your Ki-43. Japanese, Indonesian, Thai, and Chinese Nationalist, Communist, and Manchukuo (Japanese collaborator government). To be anal captured Japanese aircraft aren't within the GB but I'd be more than willing to let things slide just to see you get her built. 

BTW: None of them are cheap though. Twenty-five bucks including shipping for a set of decals is rather on the steep side for me. 

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=1%2F32nd+Ki-43+decal&_sacat=0

 

Thanks for looking. I saw them too but they are not exactly what I was looking for. The kit decals have two versions I'm liking. I can always paint the markings if the decals are bad. 

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 10:50 AM

plasticjunkie

 

 
Gamera

PJ: Just for kicks I looked on Ebay and there's a couple of sets of decals for your Ki-43. Japanese, Indonesian, Thai, and Chinese Nationalist, Communist, and Manchukuo (Japanese collaborator government). To be anal captured Japanese aircraft aren't within the GB but I'd be more than willing to let things slide just to see you get her built. 

BTW: None of them are cheap though. Twenty-five bucks including shipping for a set of decals is rather on the steep side for me. 

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=1%2F32nd+Ki-43+decal&_sacat=0

 

 

 

Thanks for looking. I saw them too but they are not exactly what I was looking for. The kit decals have two versions I'm liking. I can always paint the markings if the decals are bad. 

 

Sure! Just thought I'd point it out. Looking forward to seeing how the markings come out. 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

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