A whif, or not? A purple Nakajima A6M2-N 'Rufe'

Dizzyfugu · July 28, 2017, 01:04:08 AM

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Some background:
The Nakajima A6M2-N (Navy Type 2 Interceptor/Fighter-Bomber) was a single-crew floatplane. The Allied reporting name for the aircraft was 'Rufe'.

The A6M2-N floatplane was developed mainly to support amphibious operations and defend remote bases. It was based on the Mitsubishi A6M-2 Model 11 fuselage, with a modified tail and added floats. Despite the large central float and wing pontoons, the A6M2-N was aerodynamically a very clean aircraft: compared with its land-based A6M2 cousin, its performance degraded only by about 20%, and for a contemporary single engine floatplane its performance was outstanding.

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The aircraft was deployed in 1942, referred to as the "Suisen 2" ("Hydro fighter type 2"), and intended for interceptor, fighter-bomber, and short reconnaissance support for amphibious landings, among other uses. However, when confronted with the first generation of Allied fighters, the A6M2-N was no match in aerial combat and rather employed in supportive roles.

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Effectively, the A6M2-N was mostly utilized in defensive actions in the Aleutians and Solomon Islands operations. They were used with good efficiency against Allied positions: marking patrol elements, aiding warship guns, engaging convoys, and reconnoitering areas over-the-horizon.
The A6M2-Ns were also effective in harassing American PT boats at night, and they could drop flares to illuminate the PTs which were vulnerable to destroyer gunfire, and depended on cover of darkness. However, when Allied fighter coverage became more numerous and effective, the value of the A6M2-N dwindled and losses began to naturally mount.

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

In the Aleutian Campaign this fighter engaged with RCAF Curtiss P-40, Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers, but the A6M2-N inventory suffered a severe setback when, on August 7th, 1942, a seaplane base was destroyed by Allied fighter-bombers, taking with it most of the available A6M2-Ns stationed there.

The seaplane also served in defense of fueling depots in Balikpapan and Avon Bases (Dutch East Indies) and reinforced the Shumushu base (North Kuriles) in the same period.
Beyond their use from dispersed and improvised bases, A6M2-N fighters also served aboard seaplane carriers Kamikawa Maru in the Solomons and Kuriles areas and aboard Japanese raiders Hokoku Maru and Aikoku Maru in Indian Ocean raids.

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Later in the conflict the Otsu Air Group utilized the A6M2-N as an interceptor alongside Kawanishi N1K1 Kyofu ('Rex') aircraft based in Biwa lake in the Honshū area, defending the Japanese home land against Allied raids.

A total of 327 were built, including the original prototype, before being halted in September 1943.
The last A6M2-N in military service was a single example recovered by the French forces in Indochina after the end of World War II. It crashed shortly after being overhauled, though.

General characteristics:
Crew: 1 (Pilot)
Length: 10.10 m (33ft 1⅝ in)
Wingspan: 12.00 m (39 ft 4⅜ in)
Height: 4.30 m (14ft 1⅜ in)
Wing area: 22.44 m² (251.4 sq ft)
Empty weight: 1,912 kg (4,235 lb)
Loaded weight: 2,460 kg (5,423 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 2,880 kg (6,349 lb)

Powerplant:
1× Nakajima NK1C Sakae 12 air cooled 14 cylinder radial engine, delivering 950 hp (709 kW) at 4,200 m (13,800 ft)

Performance:
Maximum speed: 436 km/h (235 knots, 270.5 mph) at 5,000 m (16,400 ft)
Cruise speed: 296 km/h (160 knots, 184 mph)
Range: 1,782 km (963 nmi, 1,107 mi)
Service ceiling: 10,000 m (32,800 ft)
Climb rate: 6 min 43 s to 5,000 m (16,400 ft)

Armament:
2 × 7.7 mm Type 97 machine guns in forward fuselage
2 ×20 mm Type 99 cannons in outer wings
Underwing hardpoints for 2× 60 kg (132 lb) bombs

The kit and its assembly:
This is intended as a real world model, but the purple A6M2-N is subject of much controversy among modelesr and historians alike, and current consensus is that it never existed and is just a misinterpretation of original IJN colors under dubiosu light. Anyway, I built this model as a dedicated for the Arawasi Wiel Eagles blog's "Japanese Aircraft Online Model Contest 005 - Japanese Seaplanes & Flying Boats" contest in summer 2017. Even though whifs were allowed to enter, I used the opportunity to build a kit I had originally bought for a few bucks and stashed away in the donor bank: a vintage LS Model Nakajima A6M2-N. The purple 'Rufe' would be a worthy, controversial entry.

The mould dates back to 1963(!), and the kit was re-issued several times, also under the ARII label. You get a tiny box, with only two sprues moulded in a pale baby blue, and the number of parts is minimal. It's truly vintage and pretty toylike at first sight. Consequently, you have to face some real old-school issues, e. g. moulded markings for the roundels on the wings, general mediocre fit of anything and lots of sinkholes and flash. Then there are toylike solutions like the single-piece propeller or separate, moveable ailerons with bulging joints.

The cockpit interior is non-existent, too: there's just a blank place for a dashboard (to be cut out from the printed BW instructions!), and a spindly pilot figure which is held in mid air by some pins. Furthermore, the kit was designed to take a small electric motor in the nose (sold separately) to drive the propeller. Wires, as well as respective internal ducts, and an AA battery holder are included.

Sounds scary? Well, maybe, if you just build it OOB. But all these flaws should not keep the ambitious modeler away because the LS Model kit is (still) a sound basis to start from, even though and by today's standards, it is certainly not a match-winner for a rivet counter-esque competition.

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

For its age and the typical solutions of its time, it is actually surprisingly good: you get very fine engraved surface details (more delicate than many contemporary moulds!), a pretty thin, three-piece clear (yet blurry) canopy and, as a bonus to the elevons, separate flaps – a unique detail I have never come across before! Proportions are IMHO good, even though the cowling looks a bit fishy and the engravings are rather soft and shallow. Anyway, on the exterior, there's anything you can ask for to be found, and as another bonus the kit comes with a beaching trolley, which makes display and diorama fitting easier.

Thanks to the kit's simplicity, the build in itself was pretty straightforward and simple. Cleaning the parts and checking fit was the biggest issue. Upon gluing the old styrene showed signs of serious reaction to the dissolving effect of modern glue: it took ages for the material to cure and become hard again for further work!? Weird...

The many sinkholes and overall displacements were corrected with some NC putty/PSR, the protruding elevon/flap joints sanded away as good as possible, and due to the wobbly nature of the kit's styrene I added blobs of 2C putty inside of the wing halves as stabilizers.

Some mods and improvements were made, though. After cleaning the OOB propeller from tons of flash the piece turned out to be pretty usable, and it was put on a metal axis. A styrene tube adapter was added behind the relatively flat engine dummy, so that the prop can spin freely – for the later beauty pics, because no CG effect beats IMHO the real thing.

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

A cockpit interior was created from scratch and donor parts, using the new Airfix A6M model's cockpit as benchmark. It's not an exact replica, because not much would later be visible, but I wanted, as a minimum, "something" inside. A better pilot figure was used, too, and strapped to the new seat with thin strips of adhesive masking tape as seatbelts.

Under the wings, the hardpoints were simulated with some bits of styrene and wire as shackles, but left empty Under the stabilizer fin I added a lug(?), made from thin wire, too.

The elevons were fixed in place, the seams to the wings filled with white glue in order to conceal the gaps as good as possible. The movable flaps remained, though, adding life to the model. The dolly was also taken more or less OOB, since it fits well. I just improved it with some sinkhole fillings and some other details, including cushions on the float stabilizers, made from paper tissue soaked with thinned white glue, and a towing bar.

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Painting and markings:
The reason why I settled for an A6M2-N is mostly the weird paint scheme which can be applied, while still being a real world model: a lilac livery!
As far as I could find out, the A6M2-Ns initially carried an all-over IJN Grey livery, which was later, in late 1942, modified with dark green upper sides for a better concealment on the ground, and the Hinomaru received white edges for better contrast.
Anyway, during the Aleutian campaign and more or less in between these two major standards, several aircraft must have received a special camouflage with lilac upper surfaces, and this model depicts such a machine, based on various profiles but no color picture as reliable reference.

The sources I consulted, as well as pictures of finished A6M2-N models, show a wide variety of shades and paint scheme layouts, though. Upper colors range from pale pink through more or less bright shades of purple to a pale, rusty-reddish brown (maybe primer?), while the undersides show a wide range of greys or even light blue. Some depictions of Aleutian A6M2-Ns as profile or model even show a uniform wraparound scheme! Choice is yours, obviously...

Because of the corny information basis, I did my personal interpretation of the subject. I based my livery more or less on a profile by Michele Marsan, published in Aerei Modelismo Anno XII (March 1991). The unit information was taken from there, too – the only source that would provide such a reference.

My idea behind the livery and the eventual finish was that the machine once was fully painted in IJN Grey. Then, the violet upper color was added in the field (for whatever reason?), resulting in a slightly shaggy look and with the light grey shining through here and there in areas of higher wear, e. g. at the leading edges, cockpit area and some seams.

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Painting started with an initial coat of aluminum under the floats, around the cockpit and on the leading edges. Then the undersides and some areas of the upper surfaces were painted with IJN grey. The latter is an individual mix of Humbrol 90 (Beige Green/RAF Sky) and a bit of 155 (Olive Drab, FS 34087). On top of that I added a thin primer layer of mauve (mix of ModelMaster's Napoleonic Violet and Neutral Grey, Humbrol 176) on the still vacant upper surfaces – both as a preparation for the later weathering treatments (see below).

The following, basic lilac tone comes from Humbrol's long-gone "Authentics" enamel line. The tin is probably 30 years old, but the content is still alive (and still has a distinctive, sour stench...)! I cannot identify the tone anymore with certainty, but I guess that it is 'HJ 4: Mauve N 9', one of the line's Japanese WWII tones which was later not carried over to the standard tones, still available today.

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Anyway, the color is a dull, rather greyish violet, relatively dark (a bit like RAF Ocean Grey), and it fits well as a camouflage tone on this specific model. Since there's no better alternative I could think of except for an individual mix or garish, off-the-rack pop art tones, I went with it.

After overall basic painting was done and thoroughly cured, weathering started with a careful wet sand paper treatment, removing the salt grain masks and revealing some of the lower IJN Grey and aluminum layers. While this appears messy, I found that the result looks more realistic than artificial weathering applied as paint effects on top of the basic paint.

The engine cowling was painted separately, with a mix of black and a little dark blue. The propeller received an aluminum spinner (Humbrol's Matt Aluminum Metallizer), while the blades received aluminum front sides (Revell acrylics), and red brown (Humbrol 160) back sides. Two thin, red stripes decorate the propeller tips (Decals, left over from an AZ Model Ki-78, IIRC).

As a standard procedure, the kit received a light wash with thinned black ink, revealing the engraved panel lines, plus some post-shading in order to emphasize panels and add visual contrast and 'drama'.

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Decals and markings were improvised and come from the spares box, since I did not trust the vintage OOB decals - even though they are in so far nice that the sheet contains any major marking as well as a full set of letter so that an individual tail code could be created. Anyway, the model's real world benchmark did not carry any numeric or letter code, just Hinomaru in standard positions and a horizontal, white-and-red stripe on the fin.

The roundels actually belong to a JSDAF F-4EJ, some stencils come from a leftover Hobby Boss A6M sheet. The fin decoration was created with generic decal sheet material (TL Modellbau). Similar stuff was also used for the markings on the central float, as well as for the yellow ID markings on the inner wings' leading edges. I am just not certain whether the real aircraft carried them at all? But they were introduced with the new green upper surfaces in late 1942, so that they appear at least plausible. Another argument in this marking's favor is that it simply adds even more color to the model!

The cockpit interior was painted in a light khaki tone (a mix of Humbrol 159 and 94), while the flaps' interior was painted with Aodake Iro (an individual mix of acrylic aluminum and translucent teal paint). Lacking good reference material, the beaching trolley became IJA Green, with some good weathering with dry-brushed silver on the edges and traces of rust here and there (the latter created with artist acrylics.

Close to the (literal) finish line, some soot and oil stains were added with graphite and Tamiya's 'Smoke', and the kit finally received a coat of matt acrylic varnish (Italeri); to the varnish on the engine cover a bit of gloss varnish was added, for a sheen finish.

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Nakajima A6M2-N ('Rufe') of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Air Service, 81st Kokutai; Aleutian Islands, 1943 (modified LS Model kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

In the end, quite a challenging build. Not a contest winner, but ...different. Concerning the LS Model kit as such, I must say that - despite its age of more than 50 years now - the A6M2-N model is still a worthwhile offer, if you invest some effort. Sure, there are certainly better 1:72 options available (e. g. the Hasegawa kit, its mould was created in 1995 and should be light years ahead concerning detail and fit. Not certain about the Revell/Frog and Jo-Han alternatives, though), but tackling this simple, vintage kit was fun in itself. And, based on what you get out of the little box, the result is not bad at all!

Beyond the technical aspects, I am also pleased with the visual result of the build. At first glance, this antiquity looks pretty convincing. And the disputable, strange lilac tone really makes this A6M2-N model ...outstanding. Even though I still wonder what might have been the rationale behind this tone? The only thing I could imagine is a dedicated scheme for missions at dusk/dawn, similar to the pink RAF recce Spitfires in early WWII? It would be plausible, though, since the A6M2-Ns were tasked with nocturnal reconnoitre and ground attack missions.

zenrat · July 28, 2017, 01:22:12 AM

That's a great colour. Right on the cusp od grey and mauve (according to my eyes and monitor anyway).
Obviously I, reading about a purple Rufe, would have gone straight to the sort of colour Prince sang about.

Good job.

PR19_Kit · July 28, 2017, 01:46:29 AM

A superb job there Thomas.

I've always liked the Rufe for some reason, I'm not really a fan of WWII Japanese aircraft generally, but the Rufe is intriguing, and I built the Jo-Han kit some years back. It's a pretty good kit, but mine doesn't look as good as yours.

It's good that LS provide the beaching trolley too, I had to buy a white metal one for my Rufe, but yours looks better too.

NARSES2 · July 28, 2017, 07:27:29 AM

Quote from: zenrat on July 28, 2017, 01:22:12 AM
That's a great colour. Right on the cusp od grey and mauve (according to my eyes and monitor anyway).

Very much so. Great model and having been to that part of the world I would have thought it would have been a very effective colour scheme at certain times of the year/day

Dizzyfugu · July 28, 2017, 09:47:01 AM

Thank you very much, glad you like it. The color is weird - and, as mentioned above - it is an ancient enamel from Humbrol's long-gone Authentic line. Fictional or not, the tone is really nice, and appears to be pretty effective in some of the beauty shots. A colorful project!

Doug K · July 28, 2017, 10:34:08 AM

Dunno, you never know about the purple, allegedly one of the seaplane tenders, possibly Kimikawa Maru was repainted in Singapore with Royal Navy grey and a purple camo, before heading to the Aleutians.... allegedly

jcf · July 28, 2017, 04:36:53 PM

Nice diz.

Although I did already see it on George's blog.

Two of the leading theories are (1), as you stated, the misinterpretation of colour due to low sun
angles and atmospheric distortion common up there, (2) extreme wear revealing the red oxide
primer through/below the topcoat. the first is the most plausible, especially due to the known
metamerism, colour shifting, of the "grey" paint used by the IJN, which can appear anywhere
from a tannish light olive-green, to grey-green to light-grey depending on light source.
Many electrons have died in service of arguments about the shade and nature of the paint.

Dizzyfugu · July 29, 2017, 02:33:55 AM

OMG, thanks a lot for the Whiffies nomination!!!

NARSES2 · July 29, 2017, 02:49:01 AM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on July 28, 2017, 09:47:01 AM
Thank you very much, glad you like it. The color is weird - and, as mentioned above - it is an ancient enamel from Humbrol's long-gone Authentic line.

Still got a fair few of those myself, and all still usable

Some of the ancients and Napoleonic's colours are very useful