[lanslide]

There is one small error on this model that was not known a few years ago. All of the fabric control surfaces were painted with a semi-gloss "dove gray" color. So the ailerons, elevators, and rudder were painted separately from the airframe. Also, I should not refer to this color scheme as a camouflage scheme. It was simply a protective neutral color applied to the plane. Camouflage was applied in the field and later in the factory as a "dark green" top color with this same "pale olive" color on the bottom which is also misinterpreted by many as "light gray".

[leeG]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

That is the same color as the one restored in the NMUSAF.

This one?

[rdenham]

leeG, how recent were you at the USAF Museum?

[djjeffhall]

That is a really beautiful job on the Marushin. Thanks for posting the pictures.

[leeG]

Originally Posted by rdenham

leeG, how recent were you at the USAF Museum?

Saturday, a week ago.

[lanslide]

Thanks for all the compliments guys - I appreciate it. This is the finest model of my collection and I enjoy sharing it with you.

[lanslide]

Hey look at this...my father gave us a plug!

http://www.j-aircraft.org/smf/index.php?topic=4548.0

[hworth18]

Very cool!!!!

[lanslide]

Originally Posted by hworth18

Great pics Lanslide!!! Makes me want to repaint one just for accuracy sakes..

Hworth, please also notice that the red "no walk" wing warning stripes are not fully boxed in as all decals depict for the Zero. This is a very common mistake and Marushin made it too. They should be open to the wing tips like my model shows.

[Black 6]

I just finished reading an article in the latest Flight Journal special issue, WWII Air Combat. In the article called "First Blood," Pacific ace Jim Swett details a battle he had with a formation of Japanese Aichi D3-A "Val" dive bombers. Detailing his attack on a formation of Vals, he describes them as being "painted in a dirty olive drab" color. Would this be the color represented by the museum zero and the wonderful model that Lanslide has?

If that's the case, and the paint isn't all that unusual, why do you think we don't see more of it on the die cast Japanese aircraft models that are available? In an earlier posting it sounds like the color is becoming more accepted by the modeling and die cast collecting community, so is the industry just slow to change as more evidence of this being a valid color emerges?