Saburo Sakai's A6M2 V-103 colours?

[Sturmovik]

I'm building Tamiya's 48th A6M2 Type 21, not the best kit, part of one wing was short shot and the cowling has little to no contact points, so it glues where it touches. I also sanded away by accident part of the raised detail while trying to remove CA on the fuselage.

What I wanted to know is if I could paint the aircraft in RLM 02 to simulate the Ame Iro, or just play stupid and paint it in light grey as shown in the coloured poster of the kit.

My objective is to paint it as Saburo Sakai's V-103 A6M2 Type 21.

I'm not trying to be super accurate, I want something passable.

Thanks!

Edited March 3, 2019 by Sturmovik

[fubar57]

http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/lansd-77.htm

[Sturmovik]

Seems that I can get away with olive green then. Thanks!

[Sturmovik]

Seems that I can get away with olive green then. Thanks!

[72modeler]

Sturmovik,

 

Your best source of accurate colors for Sakai's A6M or any Nakajima or Mitsubishi-built Zero would be Nick Millman's monograph on Zero Colors in the Combat Colours series. There appears to be a difference in the color used by each of the two factories that built A6M's. There was an article on the J-Aircraft website and notes I have from Greg Springer and James Landsdale, both of whom have a great deal of knowledge on the subject, for a mix, using Modelmaster enamels, for Sakai's Zero. Ten parts Modelmaster SAC Bomber Tan , FS34201 to six parts Modelmaster white. That should get you in the ballpark, which is what you said was all you wanted. You should end up with something very close to FS16350, which they stated matched recovered Zero artifacts. I'm not an IJN/IJA authority, but hopefully this mix will get you in the ballpark. You can also visit the J-Aircraft website to read all of the research they have on Japanese aircraft colors.

Mike

[Sturmovik]

Thanks for giving me the FS code, I looked it up and my Revell 45 Light Olive looks similar to one of the shades shown. Many thanks. Tomorrow I'll add the decals.

[Troy Smith]

7 hours ago, Sturmovik said:

I looked it up and my Revell 45 Light Olive looks similar to one of the shades shown

 

 

On 07/01/2011 at 10:59, Nick Millman said:

Humbrol 45 is matched to RAL 7003 Moosgrau (Moss Grey) which is closest to 5 out of 6 samples of RLM 02 measured.

 

Humbrol 45 good match for RLM02, but going to be a bit dark for Zero grey,  you might want too add some white.

 

Tamiya XF-76 is a good match for weathered IJN Grey 

On 23/04/2013 at 00:58, Nick Millman said:

Tamiya XF-76 (IJN Grey-Green) best represents the colour on a moderately weathered aircraft and therefore tends towards slightly too greyish.

 

see 

 

[m0bs]

What about tamiya XF-12? I'm building probably the same kit as the OP and the instructions call for XF-12 (labeled as JN Grey) for this color scheme. To my eye the color looks just about right but I noticed this particular Tamiya color is barely talked about in Zero related discussions online, most people mention custom mixes or the likes.

[Troy Smith]

12 hours ago, m0bs said:

What about tamiya XF-12? I'm building probably the same kit as the OP and the instructions call for XF-12 (labeled as JN Grey) for this color scheme. To my eye the color looks just about right but I noticed this particular Tamiya color is barely talked about in Zero related discussions online, most people mention custom mixes or the likes.

 

The painting instructions and paints quoted date from the 1970's.   A lot more research has been done since! 

 

Tamiya make a new colour specifically fro their 1/32nd Zero, XF-76, which is OK for a faded colour from post by Nick Millman,  mentioned above as author of the Zero colours monograph.

 

XF-12 is grey, and lacks the subtle amber tint which is what makes the correct colour so elusive.

 

HTH