Mr. Color - tmavě zelená (Kawasaki)

The third variant of the Japanese green

The camouflage green of Japanese aircraft exists in several versions according to the works that built them. This one corresponds to the color used by Kawasaki and differs in shade and saturation from the green of Mitsubishi or Nakajima production. A modeler building a particular type can therefore tell from the name whether it is the paint for his machine or for an aircraft from another factory.

Properties and thinning

The binder remains a lacquer on an organic solvent, so water-based products are of no use here. The only suitable way to thin it is with the maker's own thinner, according to how the paint passes through the nozzle. The package holds ten milliliters and the dried coat stays tough and free of graininess.

Building recommendation

• Find out which works built the machine, because there is a visible difference between the variants of the green
• Combine it with a light underside and with the dark color of the engine cowling
• Worn areas at the walkway are among the most conspicuous signs of wear
• Use one stirred batch for one model

The shades varied even between individual production batches from the same works, so a slight deviation from a color chart is not a mistake. What matters is consistency within one model.

Practical notes

• The green looks darker on a model than in the bottle, which is worth weighing up on small areas
• Modulating the upper surfaces with a lightened tone gives a model depth
• The dried coat takes oil techniques and enamel washes

On Japanese machines it often pays to suggest the paint chipped away above the wing roots, where the ground crew walked. It is a documented phenomenon and it gives a model credibility faster than any other wear.