Mr. Color - barva vrtule

The Shade of Japanese Aircraft Propeller Blades

A reddish-brown tone used to paint the propeller blades of Japanese Second World War aircraft. The color differs noticeably from the metallic shade of European and American propellers, and it is one of the details that lets you recognize a Japanese model at a glance.

Paint properties

This is a solvent-based lacquer from the Mr. Color line, not an acrylic, supplied in a 10 ml bottle. Cut it with thinner from the same brand, in a ratio of roughly one to two parts thinner for each part of paint. The dried film is hard and smooth, so it withstands handling during further assembly.

Tips for working with it

• Spray the propeller mounted on a skewer or wire — touching fresh paint is not worth the risk
• The leading edges of the blades tended to be worn; light dry-brushing with a metallic shade will suggest this
• Mask the warning stripes at the blade tips only after the paint has fully dried
• Mix the paint, as the pigment settles at the bottom

The shade varied between aircraft manufacturers and even between individual aircraft, so there is no need to hunt for a single correct tone.

Additional advice

• The propeller hub is often a different color than the blades — mask it separately
• Warning stripes at the blade tips are applied last
• Worn leading edges can be suggested with light dry-brushing in a metallic shade

The shade varied between aircraft manufacturers and even between individual aircraft, so there is no need to hunt for a single correct tone. What matters more is consistency within a single model.