Japanese a/c prototype color`

MichelC · February 21, 2016, 12:48:14 PM

Apparently WW II Japanese a/c prototypes and trainer were painted a yellow/orange color. After Googling the subject, looking for what paint to use, I feel I know less than when I started. Any help on this would be appreciated, especially advise on what hobby paint to use.

M

zenrat · February 22, 2016, 12:42:34 AM

Can't help you but I know how you feel.

Green Dragon · February 22, 2016, 02:40:56 AM

Think Aeromaster used to do it but they're gone now. Pretty sure Gunze Sangyo, Tamiya (X-13?) and Xtracolour do it, colour designation is N.18 Red Orange.

Paul Harrison

Dork the kit slayer · February 22, 2016, 03:00:27 AM

Nick Millman offered a very good picture essay pdf file all about the colours used. Not too expensive either. http://www.aviationofjapan.com/

If you cant download one Ill give it a squint later and see if I can fully answer your enquiry. From what I remember the Tamiya colour needed just a little more orange.

edited to correct Tamiya code.

MichelC · February 22, 2016, 10:24:36 AM

Thank you all for the replies.

Green Dragon and Dork, I'm not sure what you mean with x-13. Tamiya X-13 is blue!

Dork, I sent an email requesting a copy of the PDF file. I'm not sure how long it'll take till I hear back.

M

Dizzyfugu · February 23, 2016, 06:20:30 AM

"N.18" was the official color name. The tone is rumored to be FS31400. Gunze has the authentic tone (H24 Orange Yellow), and Testor's/ModelMaster's "Grabber Orange" (actually a Ford car paint from the 1970ies!) is supposed to be a very good approximation, too.
As a side note, towards the end of WWII it was not used anymore -prototypes tended to be painted in standard camouflage (green and grey).

MichelC · February 23, 2016, 02:05:57 PM

Thanks Dizzyfugu! I just bought some Gunze H24 today so I was rather pleased when I saw your reply. I also bought some Gunze Red and Yellow to play around with. Another modeler used 95% Yellow and 5% Red and the result looked awesome!

And FYI, as the war continued into 1946 the yellow/orange was reinstated for all prototypes!

M

zenrat · February 23, 2016, 11:59:00 PM

Any truth in the rumour that as the war progressed into the 1980's they continued painting them orange but added a large 01 on the side and a confederate flag on top of the canopy?

MichelC · February 24, 2016, 03:03:36 AM

Quote from: zenrat on February 23, 2016, 11:59:00 PM
Any truth in the rumour that as the war progressed into the 1980's they continued painting them orange but added a large 01 on the side and a confederate flag on top of the canopy?

Dunno. Doesn't say anything about it in the Man In The High Castle.

M

Dizzyfugu · February 24, 2016, 06:57:05 AM

AFAIK, Japan is still at war with Russia... there's never been an official peace agreement.

PR19_Kit · February 24, 2016, 07:36:03 AM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on February 24, 2016, 06:57:05 AM
AFAIK, Japan is still at war with Russia...

Isn't everyone?

Rheged · February 24, 2016, 12:05:41 PM

Until recently, Berwick on Tweed had (allegedly) been at war with Russia since the Crimea. A few years ago, the mayor of Berwick and Russian consul from Edinburgh signed a (supposed) armistice.

PR19_Kit · February 24, 2016, 02:16:20 PM

OK, so that's everyone EXCEPT Berwick-on-Tweed.

NARSES2 · February 25, 2016, 12:54:19 AM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on February 24, 2016, 06:57:05 AM
AFAIK, Japan is still at war with Russia... there's never been an official peace agreement.

I have a feeling that Andora is still at war with Imperial Germany having never signed the Treaty of Versailles ? One of the tiny European nations that had declared war was absent from Versailles and never signed, although they might have signed in the last few years.

Mind you bearing in mind there were 4 ? other Treaties (Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey ?) you might find a few people are still at war with a few others

I'm digging this out from my "O" Level history memory banks which have been stored for some 38 years so please forgive me if I'm in error