Thread: Japanese Observation Seaplane (Type-0)

This is probably correct. It is matching the Japanese finish referred to as AOTAKE. I am most certainly not well versed in the variations and shades of aotake used by different manufacturers at different times as Japanese aircraft are a bit of a mystery to me, but it is usually described as a green/blue or blue /green. It seems to have been a tinted varnish so not a dense colour.
Steve

Please see the reference below, seems to drive even the experts mad.

Under the Cowl: Apr-Jun 2009 : The Flying Heritage Collection

Flip Hendrickx Tamiya 1/32 A6M5 Zero

I have a bottle of Tamiya Metallic Blue X-13 and it looks to me more like a deep petrol blue.

Based on the reference photo, if I were copying the colour I would start by using the Tamiya Sky Blue X-14 mixed in with some gloss varnish. Derek

I mentioned this to a colleague who knows more about japanese aircraft than me (not difficult!) and whilst not considereing himself an expert he thought that Aotake would be found in the same areas as ,say,zinc chromate yellow on U.S.aircraft as it was really an anti-corrosion primer. He reckons cockpits were painted in various blues/greys/greens depending on time frame and service. Sorry to add confusion!
Steve

Hi

Aotake is usually light/ medium blue

which is what you want for your aircraft -

this is definately the correct colour

but sometimes the correct colour for inside a cockpit

is light tan brown eg The Ki-61 Tony or

light green depending on the Aircraft

or manufacturer of the aircraft eg Nakajima produced licence built

Mitsubishi Zero's so didn't paint them light blue but

their own colour of light/ medium green .

You will also have to paint the wheel wells the same aotake blue

- regards

David

PS If anyone else wants to know the correct colour of some

other Japanese Aircraft

go to J-aircraft.com

Main Page

and see the colour reference section

very well referenced site by experts in that field of aviation

sometimes some aircraft were unknown what they had

painted inside the cockpit - to this day eg Ki-44

Thanks for the links. Another colleague reckons Tamiya got the colour call correct. Apparently this interior colour is called Aodake Iro and is indeed a metallic blue/green finish.
These Japanese aircraft colours are as big a minefield as the Luftwaffe!
Steve