I’m assuming it’s IJN Green and tone down the gloss? With a IJN gray belly? I have IJ Army green as well but I’m positive that’s the wrong color. I’m not going for 100% authenticity, but I don’t want to go with the wrong color. I’m using MM enamels.
I just completed a Tamiya Zero (older kit, $10) and it turned out pretty nice, and I’m ready to paint the George (ARII kit), so I’ll post some pictures either in the next few days.
Take a look at this blog site:
http://www.straggleresearch.com/2010/02/shiden-kai-shiden-kyofu-colours-part.html
It’s a very good entry on the George, with lots of detailed info.
Hope this helps,
Frank
I finished an N1K2 last year, and I used IJN green. IJN green is has a more ‘intense’ green hue than IJA. But frankly, if you are going to weather your plane or model your plane as one that’s been exposed to the pacific sun for a few months, I don’t think it’s going to make that much of a difference. But that’s just my personal opinion.
^That’s kind of what I was thinking. I might put the Army green on it just to see what it looks like and so it’s a little different than the Zero. If I don’t like it I can always take it off or paint over it.
After lots of websearches on the same question, it looks like there were several shades of green used by different Japanese aircraft manufacturers during WWII. Kawanishi used a lighter brighter green than Nakajima or Mitsubishi on their IJN aircraft. Humbrol Brunswick Green is supposed to be a close match out of the tin. As far as lower surfaces go either IJN gray or natural metal would work depending on time of manufacture with bare metal being more likely for spring/summer 1945.
I think I might make it a theoretical George that some how survived the war after coming in 1943 so it’ll be faded. I was going to use IJN on the belly, it’s a perfect color for it. IJA green is a bit lighter and seems to be flat so I’ll experiment with that first.
I’ll check into Brunswick too, if it’s not readily available I might just screw around with it. $10 kit, so I’m not overly concerned. Trying some new stuff on it anyway.
Oh and welcome Winds. That’s a great site you posted, I really appreciate it.
I see you’re building the Arii kit. It is of the early model George, so the gray bottom would definitely be in order. I built a Hasegawa kit of the later model last year and did mine in green over gray. One very good looking fighter!
Check out this site for more info on Japanese aircraft
It’s my favorite Japanese aircraft of WW2, that big engine, four cannon, stocky fuselage… just a burly looking bird. I saw it sitting on the shelf and the local Hobbytown for $10 and couldn’t resist.
Thanks for all the info, I love this forum.
I finished the George this evening, here are some pics along with 15-20 year old Tamiya Zero, Zeke. Unit markings on the Zero are a mismash, I liked the looked is all.
The George was not exactly a fun build, pretty ill fitting, horrid instructions all in Japanese and I’m pretty sure I mixed the fuselage meatballs up with the wing meatballs. I used Pro Modeller Dirt on the Zero, you can’t really see it, and black on the George. I was trying to make the George look a little worn out and tired.
The Tamiya kit, even older, was a joy and very easy to put together. The George took 3-4 times and long. Plus I had a cat-astrophe (can’t help but love bad puns) when the cat decided to ambush me right after I had sprayed the George… brush up against it leaving orange fur everywhere, I didn’t even hear him. So I had to fix that problem… ugh, I’m happy with the result overall though. Far from perfect put I’m starting to improve at least.
Sorry for the crappy pics, that is in fact my washer with a canvas kind of backing it [:)]
Oh and that is IJA green on the George and IJN (obviously) on the Zero. IJN Gray on both bottoms, which aren’t shown. Not much to see really.
Very nice…I like the in-flight pose!
Sharp looking models! Thanks for posting the photos, I was hoping to see how the N1K1 would come out, great looking A6M too. [Y]
Very nice, I like the inflight pose, you don’t see that too often anymore.
I built my in 1/48 and that was fiddly also, but it was the Hasegawa ‘skeleton’ kit with photoetch for interior ribbing -man was that a royal pain to put together. But worth the effort.
In anycase, I like the nice faded green finish on yours.
Fair bit of dull coat on it. I also spent an entire evening sanding so I could have the gear up on the George. It seems it was never designed to be displayed that way.
They’re in flight because they’re easier for me to display. I’m thinking of moving on to the Korean War but I still want to do a Mig-3.
Thanks guys.
I noticed a few places to fix and touch up in the photos too, I needed to see them in a different way I guess.
waikon
I saw your George in the FSM magazine spread a while back. Fantastic super detailing job.
Hun Hunter
Great looking Zero and George. Check out Prop Blurs, they are really cool and realistic looking. If you like the George, try the Hasegawa offerings. They are a delight to build. All parts fall in place like magic.