IJN navy green, OK but which brand???

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Hello guys![8D]

Got the tamiyaa zero 1:32 (naturlly…) and I also bought the “special made” paint for thisa model the XF-70 IJN green 2,
I also have the IJN green from polly scale (no nomber on this one, so is it IJN green 1?)

I painted them on scrap of styrene and came up with two very different greens. Tamiya’s is semi-gloss and leans toward the green, and polly scale is dead flat and leans toward the green sorta grey…
I wish I could show you a picture…
I did thoroughly stirred both paitnts.
So which one should I use?
thanks!

2

Without actually seeing your colors, I would say that Tamiya sounds more correct than the Polly Scale. I use Model Master enamel for mine and their IJNAF green is a semi-gloss and quite green in color, which seems to agree with most references.

3

For building that kit, this wikll be of use to you.

http://j-aircraft.com/research/ryan/notes_on_the_tamiya_a6m5.htm

There is a LOT of information at this site:
http://j-aircraft.com

Hope this helps.

4

I think you will find Tamiya’s green more accurate than Polly Scale’s. I am a fan of Polly Scale but their Japanese colors are not the most accurate of the brand. I prefer Aeromaster’s now discontinued Mitsubishi Green or a line of new colors from White Ensign Models in the U.K… I recently ordered some White Ensign colors and was very impressed with them! They make an excellent Aotake Primer and a very accurate, IMO, Mitsubishi Zero Gray-Green. Using the artifacts from downed Japanese aircraft at Pearl Harbor, a lot of new ideas about this color have emerged. The color White Ensign has produced really looks the part. I didn’t get their Green but I suspect its quite accurate too.

Joe Youngerman

5

Thank’s for the tips and links guys!

6

You might want to look at Gunze acrylics as well.

I haven’t used their IJN colours, but the Luftwaffe colours are great, and give a slight sheen after spraying.

They also do the Aotake primer.

Karl

7

The Japanese Navy (and Army) Greens depended on who manufacturered the planes. Each major manufacturer had their own shade of green. White Engsign has very good Japanese colors, but unfortunately for you they are all enamel paints, and it looks like you are an acrylics user.

I would tend to say that Polly Scale’s IJN Green looks most like Kawanishi Green so it would be good on the George, but not on the Zero. It is too much on the blue end of green. Polly Scale IJA green is close enough to be used as the early war zero color or for Nakajima interior green, but it doesn’t look close to any of the IJA greens.

The Tamiya Mitsubishi interior green XF-71 seems to be a little too light and too much on the pastel side.

8

I like the Tamiya, it looks great!