[hworth18]

Originally Posted by lanslide

The gray control surfaces are a close match to FS26357. Look at this thread:
Will The Real Brown-Tailed KAGA Kate Please Stand Up? *PICS*

Very similar to the pics I posted.. BTW, I just noticed that the second pic I posted is of a NON-standard zero.. The Engine cowl isn't all black!! The cowl is painted the same color as the fuselage with only the anti-glare strip painted (very interesting)..

[Ara1]

^^^ I believe the non-standard cowl painting is due to this being a training aircraft. Lanslide? Agree?

[lanslide]

Agree...some think that the airframe was painted orange too.

[lanslide]

Originally Posted by hworth18

I will Ara1, I just bought a Marushin Zero for repainting purposes and bought a cheap Tamiya Zero kit for the parts to modify the cockpit.. Unfortunately, I have 3-4 other projects to finish up before I start this one, but when I do, I will keep the progress posted..

hworth - I can't wait to see your re-painted version of this. I wish the control surfaces on mine were medium gray. What markings do you plan to use?

[hworth18]

Originally Posted by lanslide

hworth - I can't wait to see your re-painted version of this. I wish the control surfaces on mine were medium gray. What markings do you plan to use?

I picked up a set of the Pearl Harbor Shokoku decals and will probably paint the zero and a kate in those schemes.

[lanslide]

That sounds great! When! Can my father or I be of any assistance to you?

[hworth18]

Originally Posted by lanslide

That sounds great! When! Can my father or I be of any assistance to you?

If he has good pics of PH Kates with the mottled upper scheme, that would be fantastic!!

[lanslide]

If anyone does - he does! PM him or I will ask him for you.

[Cruver Collecter]

I purchased a copy of the Aero Details issue that covers the Zero and it just came in today. It had some really interesting information in regards to the early paint schemes of the A6M2s. The description reads as follows: Japanese navel fighter's standard color scheme was overall silver until the Type 96 Carrier Fighter, but the Zero was overall gray color scheme from the first prototype. The reason of the change was that the silver paint could not resist corrossion by sea spray. The gray paint was IJN Official Paint No. "J3" which was a rather dark tone, an equivalent of FS No.36251. In real useage, varnish for surface protection was applied over this gray, giving somewhat brownish gloss tone. From this impression this coloring was called unofficially "Ame-iro" (Color of caramel). All A6M2s except the first thirty assigned to the 12th NAG were completed in this "Amer-iro" color scheme. Definitely supports correction in color for the early Zero models.

[lanslide]

Originally Posted by hworth18

I will Ara1, I just bought a Marushin Zero for repainting purposes and bought a cheap Tamiya Zero kit for the parts to modify the cockpit.. Unfortunately, I have 3-4 other projects to finish up before I start this one, but when I do, I will keep the progress posted..

hworth - I can't wait to see your re-paint! I recently bought a FOV Zero and a can of Model Master S.A.C. Bomber Tan so that I can do the same thing.