I recently have purchased a few (25) new aircraft. All are different makes, all are 1:48 scale. A lot of the boxes I’ve opened, the instructions have been printed in what I’m thinking is Japanese or some other Asian writing. (sorry for my ignorance in not exactly knowing what it is.) Here’s my dilema. I can figure out from the pictures how to assemble and build the models But, I’m not sure what colors to paint said parts. I know thorough research will help the most but I really don’t know what to call some of the colors other than what I’m told they are in the instructions. Plus I just think I’m missing some important message on assembeling some things. Is there any one or any place I can get them translated. Sorry for ranting but I wanted to start on something because the SR-71 I’m doing now is really getting me miffed. I wanted to know not every kit is as bad as this one and needed a change. Now I’m really getting frustrated because I need to learn another language, Spanish was hard enough in high school. HELP!!!
It depends on the brand, but some Japanese manufacturers, particularly Hasegawa and Fujimi (and Dragon, though they’re not Japanese) have standardised on Gunze Sangyo paint colours.
They generally give two paint call-outs, the “black on a white background” number being the acrylic colour and the “white on black” number being the “Mr Color” (lacquer based) number.
It depends on what aircraft your doing, and what nationality is the plane flown by, like the SR-71 is flown by the US and the US has the FS standards, the German WWII Luftwaffe uses the RLM standards, the British has the US & their own standards, as with the WWII Imperial Japanese, so it does help on what country flys the type of plane and go from there, also try IPMS Stockholm website and it’ll give you loads of info
Thanks for the replys fellas. Sorry it’s took so long for me to get back. The kids are sick and I haven’t had time to get on the puter. However, I did get a chance to figure some things out.
1.) the kits that are in question are Academy and Hasegawa. From one of the prior posts the Academy kits are in Korean and I’m guessing Hasegawa is most likely Japanese. Again sorry for the ignorance.
2.) I tried to use the link that was also mentioned earlier and I THINK I MAY have figured out some of the colors by matching up symbols in what I ASSume are the other languages. Again Ignorance is bliss.
3.) If any one is planning on doing the Testors SR-71, DON’T It really does have horrible fit and gap problems along with bad ejector marks and flashing. Yardbird if your reading: I envy your skill with this kit. Man am I butchering this one. This is the second build for me after a long layoff and It has humbled me badly. I feel like I’m 11 again.
CUDA : The kits I bought are all U.S. aircraft some modern but most WWII. Thanks for the website. Ill give that a try also.
And unfortunately I don’t have a camera or a scanner to post pics. I may be able to do it with my camera phone though. I’ll have to read the manual on that though. Again any further help would be appreciated guys. Thanks again!
Don’t know if this answers your question, but White Ensign Models has released a set of Japanese colors for WWII (about 16 tinlets). I’m using them on the Hasegawa 1/48 scale “Kate.” These are enamels - not acrylic or lacquers. I’m from the old school - I like enamels as I’m not verry good with acrylics. I do use lacquers, too - mainly Floquil Old Silver - for natural metal finishes. But, I airbrush the lacquers FIRST, then airbruch enamels over the lacquer with no problems. Anyway, I digress - you can get these new enamels from Meteor, and Great Models webstore. Happy modelling!
Maybe this will help, english followed by the Kanji writing, you browser may need to support Japanese character sets. If it shows up as garabage, let me know and I’ll take a screen shot and repost as a picture file.