Can someone explain or define the Japanese cowling color? I've seen instructions call for Semi-Gloss Black for cowlings on Zero's. I'm more interested in the color that was used as an anti-glare coat. I've seen a couple pictures of models that seem to show a bluish ting like a dark blue base with a light black on top?

Mr. Hobby and K4 have a color called "Cowling Color," and that looks like semi-gloss black.

Input?

Mike

There are two different cowling colours for the Zero, depending on whether the airframe was made by Mitsubishi or Nakajima.


One is a straight black and the other is a blue/black.

Thanks Matt. The Zero was an example...however, it does make sense that Mit and Nak would have different colors. Debating whether or not to buy a "Cowling Color" or try to see if there is a mix.

Mike

Just as a thought Mike that the cowling colour would fade and weather so it might appear to be a blue black or brown black depending on the base used. So it's open to interpretation but so far I've used NATO black and tyre colour from Gunze as cowling colours as they are not truly a black. the Tamiya NATO black is an extremely dark green to be almost black which works well with IJN green by Tamiya. And Tyre black for some of the 1/72 scale builds I've done which is a black grey.

Hi, AK Interactive has a 'anti glare' which is a mix of blue and black. I purchased it as being with a set of Japanese Colours. Looks extremely good to my personal opinion.

Regards,

Robert Jan

Hi Mike,

You might be interested in obtaining this book if you plan to do a lot of IJNAF models: Painting the Early Zero-Sen, A Primer for Modellers and Artists

As far as the original question, the others have answered well.

I did not know this. I much prefer their paint over Mr. Hobby/Color.

Thank you RJ

Mike

Fred, thank you for that link. I'm not sure that I'll do more than one or two more Japanese AC, but I do like reference materials.

Mike