Ki-15 in Malaya

This small photograph, taken in Malaya at the end of the war, shows a derelict Ki-15 'Babs' reconnaissance aeroplane in an unusual camouflage scheme. The BBC identified it as a "Mitsubishi Zero"!

Image credit: ©BBC 2008

J3 & I3

Japanese researcher Katsushi Owaki made the following illuminating comment at the Fuku BBS forum (translated):-

This is something that I posted on j-aircraft.com several years ago.

I polished the exterior of a piece of a Zero model 22 (Mitsubishi serial #3353) that I happened to have with a cloth. As a result, an inner paint that is shown on the bottom left appeared. From my past experience, I have no doubt that the color that appeared was 'I3' (the 3 indicated as a subset) of IJN Kariki 117. Of course, the top coat gray is still there.

It hasn't been so long since 'Ameiro' disappeared in comments abroad, and I'm afraid that there will be another uproar saying, "The Zero's color is I3!!!"

Researcher James F Lansdale maintains that the grey top coat is a matt "chalking" caused by exposure/weathering and may be rubbed through to reveal the original exterior colour of I3. Some of the artifacts in his collection which are said not to be weathered show an original glossy colour similar to the appearance of the I3 chip in the Kariki 117 document.   

A difficulty arises because the nearest standard Munsell value for these artifacts, Munsell 5 Y 5/2, is actually very close to the nearest standard Munsell value for J3, Munsell 7.5 Y 5/2. The DE2000 difference between them is only 1.71 (2.0 or less = a close match). However when one compares the very precise fractional Munsell values of the chips from the original colour standards Kariki 117 and the 1945 8609 document the differences are much more pronounced with measurements of 10.7 (early J3 to I3) and 7.76 (late J3/2-6 to I3) respectively.

Given the known effects of age darkening and ambering of the original paint it is perhaps misleading to insist that the current appearance of the relics evidences a topcoat of I3 'Tsuchi iro' (earth or clay colour) rather than J3 'Hai iro' (ash colour), especially as the Zero technical manual refers to 'Hai nezumi iro' (grey rat colour) and the YoKu Report No.0266 of February 1942 describes the paint colour of current Zeros as "J3 (grey) (but) leaning slightly towards ameiro (amber or candy colour)". In other words the colour was a slightly brownish or warm grey. J3 changed to a warmer colour over time and the effects of age on the paint have exacerbated the similarity between the colours.

J3 has a little more green and may have originally been more grey in appearance. The use of plant resins as binder may have made the colour more amber over time and this appearance has been increased with age. 

More Royal Thai Air Force Type 97 Pics

More images of the Type 97 Nakajima Ki-27 in Royal Thai Air Force Service. This camouflaged example has the red, white and blue rudder stripes combined with the white elephant wing insignia. See also 25 March 2008 posting for another image.

The model is by Gary Wenko, leader of the Japanese Aviation SIG of IPMS (UK) and is built from the Hasegawa (formerly Mania) kit in 1/48th scale.

Image credits: © Phakphum Tangkijjarak via Wings 2008; ©Gary Wenko 2008

The Zero Colour Conundrum Part 1

In the instruction manual for the A6M2 Type 0 fighter, the Kaigun Kokuo Honbu (Naval Air Headquarters) specified the following painting procedure:

"Toryou wa kouzou naibu ni tomei toryou (tan ao iro) wo mochii gaimen wa keikinzokuyou tokushu toryou (hai nezumi iro) wo hodokoshi hyoumen wa migaki shiage nari."

Which translates as:

"The paints to be used are transparent paint (light blue colour) for the interior and special paint for light metals (grey rat colour) for the exterior, and the surface is to have a polished finish."

2,000 copies of this manual were published and distributed to the commands of all air related units for use by pilots and ground crew.

Noted Japanese researcher Katsushi Owaki advises that the early Zero was generally painted with a midcoat of colour I3 'Tsuchi iro' (earth or clay colour) and a topcoat of J3 'Hai iro' (ash or grey colour). He cites a Munsell colour value of 7.5 Y 5.5/1.5 for the J3 chip in the IJN colour standards document Kariki 117 and notes that this is identical to the later 2-6 chip in the 1945 8609 document which rationalised Army and Navy colours.

I have displayed a rendered chip of this colour. The closest standard Munsell colour value is 7.5 Y 5/2 @ 2.7 (too brown). The closest FS 595b comparison is 16350 @ 4.79 (too dark) and the closest RAL is 7034 Gelbgrau (Yellow grey) @ 3.33 (too light). In comparing the DE2000 differences a calculation of 2.0 less = a close match.

FS 16350 is a value often cited for the early Zero, based on the current appearance of extant artifacts, but it is a little too dark. A model version should be lightened.

Munsell 5 Y 5/2/FS 34201 is also cited for some extant Zero & Rufe artifacts and is very close to RAL 7002 'Olivgrau' (Olive grey) @ 1.37.  Revell paint colour 32145 Helloliv (Light Olive) is supposed to be the equivalent to RAL 7003 but is closer in appearance to 7002. Again the colour is a little too dark for a model and should be lightened.

Mitsubishi and Nakajima built Zeros demonstrate variations in the colour applied which will be explored further on specific airframes. For modellers please bear in mind that all extant samples are probably darker and more yellowed (browner) than the originals, including the paint chips. 

All these greys might be legitimately described as "grey rat colour".

With gratitude to IM for translation and appreciation to Ken Glass for assistance in calculating Munsell fractional notations.

Royal Thai Air Force Oscars

Prolific Japanese researcher Summer recently posted this image of a Ki-43 Hayabusa in Thai markings that gives us, perhaps for the first time, a clear impression of the camouflage pattern. Back in 1970, Richard Ward's profile in the Aircam Aviation Series No.13 'Nakajima Ki.43 Hayabusa I-III in Japanese Army Air Force - RTAF - CAF - IPSF Service' (Osprey Publications Ltd) depicted the aircraft in a stylised "herringbone" pattern that has been copied in many representations, including models, ever since.

Revell's 1967 box art for the Thai issue of their Hayabusa kit also reflected this idea, although quite anachronistic for the Ki-43 I represented by the kit (of which more anon). The photograph shows a much more random pattern of at least two colours, sprayed at close range over the natural metal. Some depictions represent the glimpses of the natural metal surface as deliberately applied swirls of light grey but I don't believe that to be the case.

At the end of the war the camouflage was stripped from some Oscars and the pre-war Thai roundels and rudder stripes were applied. On these aircraft the fabric covered control surfaces remained in their original camouflage finish. When L A Manwaring of the Royal Corps of Signals visited Don Muang airfield in 1945 he described the Ki-43s as "Natural metal overall with Thai Air Force markings" although noting that "some of these fighters still wore their Japanese green finish". A photograph taken by Manwaring (and reproduced here) shows a Ki-43 II late production Hayabusa, apparently crudely stripped of paint to leave a dull, stained finish. The ailerons and elevators appear to retain their former camouflaged mottle. The entire rudder is painted in Thai colours and the aircraft has large Thai roundels on the upper surfaces of the wings. A small black (?) number 17 (or perhaps a Thai character) is painted on the fin. The Hayabusa retains its aerial mast which appears to be painted black and white.

Image credits: ©Summer 2008; © Osprey Publications Ltd 1970; ©Revell Inc 1967; ©L A Manwaring 1969; ©RTAF Museum 2003 

9th Sentai Ki-84 Hayate

Carl Molesworth, author of the latest book in the Osprey 'Duel' series 'P-40 Warhawk vs Ki-43 Oscar' and several other authoritative CBI related titles, has very kindly sent to me and given me permission to post here this revealing photograph of Ki-84 Hayate of the 9th Sentai, probably taken at Nanking, China at the end of the war. In the background may be seen Ki-44 Shoki aircraft possibly from the same unit.

For years the design of the 9th Sentai tail marking has been questioned, despite being depicted in profiles and artwork, because of the apparent absence of photographic evidence. According to Minoru Akimoto the marking was representative of the historical spear of warrior Kiyomasa Kato during Japan's invasion of Korea around 1596 and the character 'na' from the name of the Sentai's first commander Lt Col Seisaku Namba. A simpler explanation is that the marking represents the Kanji character for '9' (with thanks to Katsushi Owaki).

The distinctive dark stain on the undercarriage cover was caused by the lowest sets of the ejector exhausts each side of the cowling but has been incorrectly interpreted as a painted marking in some profiles.

Image credit: ©Carl Molesworth 2008