I managed to get started on my A5M3 Zero today. I found a research paper that concluded the correct colors for the Zero’s after all these years, it appears the grey green color is a myth and they were all either dark green camo or a medium tan color. I found the paper here… http://modelingmadness.com/earlya6mcolors.htm It is a fantastic read and wonderful resource with color photos of the real deal so there are no more questions or arguments about what color they were.
In the light of this new information I will be honoring that color with an cocktail mix of my own to get it as close as I can. Fortunately the author gave Tamiya codes and ratios so I should be good. I also found that the “metallic blue” the Japanese used is not the same color Tamiya calls for and most people use. I mixed my own today using the reference photo and I am pleased with the result.
In this shot you can see my interior color metallic blue is quite a bit darker than you may have seen before. This, again, is due to the reference panel I listed earlier. Open that link to see the colors. The cockpit was painted similar to an interior green but I went with a black base with a cockpit green over that. I will detail it out and wash it with Flory wash and that will darken the whole thing up close to the photo of the Zero’s cockpit I found.
I painted the engine Alclad Aluminum and I will be adding push rods and ignition harness as well to detail it out. More to come. Happy new year!!!
Cliff put me in with the tachikawa Ki-55 fujimi 1/72 for the badge, also will resume the kurogane staff car ,the rufe and the Kate just for the wip but IMHO don’t count for the badge
Brandon, very good start, and thanks for that link on the colours of early Zeros. Any idea on the date the article was published? When and if I have a Zero on the bench, I think I would also try a home brew mix to match.
Yeah, the whole Zero color thing is a true mess. I was convinced to use the caramel color, but the Tamiya grey-green I had intended to use is surly out now. I’m leaning away from any greens, but the light color has me perplexed. I need to study some more B&W photos and try to get a sense of tone on this things. I’ll just have to make a best guess and live with it. Spruesome definitely has the advantage of years of research on the matter.
I gathered all my stuff together to start on my Ki-45. Using the Nichimo kit, True Details wheels, Aeromaster decals and a cockpit and wheel wells from Lone Star Models.
