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G-those wheel wells look amazing in NMF/YZC--I think they are spot on a -10. Really appreciate the decanting run down--best, Erwin

G, incredible work--really enjoyed catching up--the cockpit is stellar and the work you did on the airbrakes is solid. Like many on here, you inspired me to take the plunge and buy an FM F-4 to join my Hasegawa F-4s--taking notes--Bravo! Erwin

@dogsbody “Did the Kate have any compressed air systems? Could those bottles be for that?”—I do not have a definitive answer to that question—based on my understanding of IJN/IJAAF fighters’ use of compressed air to operate systems, I believe it is reasonable to assume Nakajima’s B5N2 did as well—great question I wish I had the answer too—best, Erwin

@opus999 & @giemme--thank you for the comments--cant wait to use some of the pre-shading techniques from Opus & Johnny--Johnny @The Spadgent--I think you will like this cockpit update & @billn53, humbling you would consider using my build as a future source. Again, I apologize for my glacial pace, but I am embracing the "flow" of the hobby So given the paucity of interior equipment information about B5N2 Kate development/variants, I decided to go with Airfix's layout minimally un-modified as I do trust their research and relationship with @Nick Millman--the biggest back and forth for me was whether or not install the bottles in the rear of the crew compartment inbetween the gunner/radio operator and navigator--what are they? After posing this question on the military aircraft modeling by era forum, I came to the inferred conclusion based on info from @Graham Boak & @Denford that these side fuselage bottles were likely not part of an O2 system and likely supported on board equipment--based off info on A6M2 bottles, I decided to go with the general consensus of those who have paint them metallic aluminum--I believe O2 for the crew would have been black based on info from period pictures of captured A6M interiors before they were test flown by the allies. (Wings of The Rising Sun by Mark Chambers is a fabulous resource chocked full of period interior photos of Japanese aircraft undergoing exploitation) I would be interested to know if there is more info out there on the systems color for IJN aircraft (were there standard colors for O2, fuel, etc). For what it is worth, one of the items I found interesting on this build is Airfix is usually very good at discussing their research on a subject, but I had difficulty on finding this info for both the Wildcat and the Kate--given the bench of talent on the forum, maybe there are some folks who could shed light on this--my build query questions are posted below. I think it is worth nothing CMK and Hasegawa do not include these bottles--in the back of my head I am still wondering if these might be better placed on a late war Kate outfitted with a radar rather than early war aircraft, but I talked myself into pressing forward with installing the bottles since early war A6M2s used compressed air for operating their systems. Enough research &n on to building--1st up figures! I purchased Hasegawa's 1/72 IJN aircrew set and it was a good move. I painted the figures with Tamiya paints based on call outs from their spectacular 1/32 A6M2 kit. Once complete, I used Tamiya panel wash--I have to say I found the difference in flight equipment stunning compared to western aircrew and I am glad I purchased this set--I also have great crew figures for another IJN build--those Tamiya Zeros are getting restless. I also tried out the Red Box figures which seemed good, though more appropriate for a Betty and not as posable as Hasegawa's--that said, Red Box's figures are a major improvement over Airfix's generic western 1940s period aircrew figures. Figures with Tamiya paints used With black & brown Tamiya panel line With the figures complete, it was time to assemble the crew areas with the best info I had and the Eduard set--everything fit together with no issues. I decided to keep the overall Mr Color 127 (Cockpit Color (Nakajima) as I feel historical references indicate this is the most likely color (granted its an inference)-- I used Tamiya brown and black highlight to build depth and were touched high use areas with Tamiya's weathering pigments. One other build note, if you use the Eduard PE set, then make sure you dry fit the radio with the fuselage--as molded, the radio will not fit with the kit base--I followed @Greenshirt's/ @Marco1965's builds & Eduard's instructions to offset this this radio tower closer (but not fully )to the centerline (I also looked at CMK's 1/48 cockpit instructions which seem to have this assembly more on the centerline as well--again not fully) Finally, given the tight tolerances, I will build my crew into the Kate, vice installing them later. & finally, the best instrument panel shot I could get for Johnny @The Spadgent and the rest of the forum Next up will be building up the fuselage. Overall, I am happy with the outcome, although I wish I had spotted some of the mold marks--that said, I doubt they will be noticable in situ, so I am going to press forward--the overall color scheme is going to be worth the effort! Thank you to all have both built my knowledge of plastic modeling and greatly increased my knowledge of Imperial Japanese Naval Aviation--I am far from an expert and I look forward to learning more--please don't hesitate to let me know if you have thoughts on what is going right and on what I missed to help others and I on future Kate builds--it really is an fascinating aircraft the more you get into it--best, Erwin

Bill amazing work—will be really interested in how you create the linen—and to think that when I build this right of passage kit years ago I thought the mold marks on the radiator were actually meant to be therebest, Erwin

Johnny, amazing—will use your technique for the UC inner door scuff plate—do you remember what darker metal shade you used? Best, Erwin

Those crew stations are amazing—really enjoying how you are sorting everything out—much to learn here—best, Erwin

This really is fabulous build—I don’t know much about the P-38, although I am starting to research for a future build—but clearly the work and finish on the wells and cockpit is amazing. Out of curiosity, do you thin your Mission Models Paints more than recommended—I am growing to be a big fan, however, all I have seen is how to spray them in the manufacture’s ratio focused on coverage vice letting pre shades etc show through—sorry if I missed it—well done! Best, Erwin

Echo Johnny—Wowza—mike drop—best, Erwin

G, the cockpit looks 1st rate—looking forward to how you will sort out the wheel wells—I am confident it will be awe inspiring—best, Erwin

Will be following with interest—i know this will be a work of art—cheers, Erwin

Now starts the B5N2 portion of this build--as discussed earlier I will use the Airfix decals in combination with Dead Design stencils for the national markings to build an interpretation LT Tomonga's B5N2, BI-310 from the Hiryu. I have made the decision to paint the national markings/grey walk ways/white aiming stripes (I think this is what the white lines on the nose/tail are) instead of using the decals given the amount of masking and weathering I intend for this aircraft--that said, I understand renowned Japanese aircraft historian Nick Millman @Nick Millman supported the development of these markings, so I trust Airfix's research for the remainder of the markings. I am very grateful for the work of individuals like him in building our understanding of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy aviation establishments--it makes color selection easy but difficult. The other upgrade for this build will be Eduard's PE set for the Kate. I believe it is fair to say the IJN aircraft that faced the new F4F-4s at Midway were well maintained, superbly operated and well used. As this is my first Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft since establishing myself on Britmodeler, I decided to reach out to the forum to learn as much as I could. I created the link below and learned quite a lot! In particular, I would like to thank @dov, @Blimpyboy, @Greenshirt, @serial modeler, @Marco1965, @Graham Boak, @Denford for their help--this team really got me interested in building Japanese aircraft--I wont lie, they have made this genre of frequently difficult aircraft to research fun! I apologize that it took me this long to get started My research did not reveal a picture of BI-310 at Midway, but there is a lot of photographic evidence of early war IJN Kates, but detail photos are hard to come by. For airframe detail work, I have decided to leverage colors applicable to early Nakijima build A6M2 Zeros--that said, I am reminded by @The Spadgent that once you think you have a detail figured out, info will appear sending you the other way, so you might as well enjoy the journey. I will use the Sakae engine colors outlined by Millman in his Scale Aircraft Modeling No 9--the Mitsubishi Zero Type 0--along with reference photos below. Here are a few of the reference photos I will use: http://www.enginehistory.org/Piston/Japanese/Mawhinney/nasm_research_1.shtml https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sakae-21.jpg https://japanese-aviation.forumotion.com/t19-43-coral-sea-battle-may-7-and-8-1942 https://japanese-aviation.forumotion.com/t17-45-midway-islands-battle-june-4-1942 https://japanese-aviation.forumotion.com/t40-22-pearl-harbor-raid-hiryu-s-high-level-bombers https://japanese-aviation.forumotion.com/t23-39-rabaul-attack-january-20-to-23-1942 https://www.pwm.org.pl/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=83555 https://imodeler.com/2019/04/japanese-a6m-zero-colors-part-1/ Armed with these photos, and research on Nakijima built Zeros, I turned to Britmodeler/internet to review some out standing builds--here are a few: http://greenshirt-modeler.blogspot.com/2017/03/low-and-slow.html. @Greenshirt--thanks for sharing & amazing work @Marco1965--thanks for sharing and amazing work! Based on the builds, I decided to crew my Kate with Hasegawa's IJN aircrew--Airfix's are much too western--also the middle chap missing half his face is a detractor! So, it is finally time to just build--I have been looking longlingly at some awesome builds- @giemme's F-4G and @billn53 A-10 come quickly too mind. First up, is defining the overall colors based on the above research ( the Kate will be painted "factory" Nakajima Grey-Green with shipboard IJN D1 I have decided to use Mr Color 127 (Cockpit Color (Nakajima)) for the cockpit, Atoke will follow Tamiya's guide of X-13 Metallic Blue and X-25 Clear Green (over aluminum base)--based off of Color Coates interpretations I will use Mission Model's MMP-110 Grey Japanese Zero & MMP-112 D1 Deep Green--that said, I imagine all will play a roll to create a well used appearance. I am already thinking about how to use the cammo stencils I purchased to do a green under coat similar to what @opus999 has used on his builds. My hope is to create an overall feel like @Greenshirt's remarkable build of the same subject. Following advice from many of the usual suspects, I pre-shaded the cockpit are black, then spray painted the areas in the wings/fuselage to be Atoke Tamiya silver and then put top coats--will be using Tamiya brown highlight and AK washes to build up wear: The eagle eyed among you will note that there are a few ejector pin markings I missed--ugh. That said, I do not think they will be very visible through the Kate's small cockpit openings--it seems to be a trend with Airfix that I have seem Johnny @The Spadgent discuss in his Airfix Bristol Blenheim build--which is a shame as I believe nearly everything else about this kit is spectacular. Thank you all for looking, to the team that helped me research--all comments and perspectives on how to improve/sustain what I am doing are appreciated and always willing to learn more about the B5N2--best, Erwin

This IP coaming is amazing--hard to believe this is 1/72d--best, Erwin

Great job!

Opus my man, I totally get the dry spells--it seems to happen to me more than I like but I remind myself if you are not doing this for fun, it ain't a hobby right I really like how you are sorting out the national markings--these are going to look sharp! Best, Erwin