Japanese army air force anti glare panels.

[lyric1]

For the skinners I thought you would like this info on Japanese army air force anti glare panels. A number of the profiles I have posted of late show blue anti glare panels & in mostly older books  Why?



























From what I have read they used three colours  black & olive green & the blue/black in the photos from the link. It seems to me the modern profiles of Japanese aircraft the artists have forgotten the blue/black panels.


This link at Jaircraft shows a part of a KI-61 engine cowling & it is blue.

http://www.j-aircraft.org/smf/index.php?topic=6475.0

[Devil 505]

I'm of the opinion that these anti-glare areas are black. Like one poster stated, even if the black was mixed with some ultramarine blue, the result is very close to RAF "Night Black." Which is, without a doubt, black. I cant say with any degree of certainty what the reaction of the paint is to extensive exposure to sun, heat, and humidity is, but as far as I'm concerned, any color on artwork that is not very close to pure black is incorrect - and will be made black should I skin that particular scheme.

[lyric1]

I'm of the opinion that these anti-glare areas are black. Like one poster stated, even if the black was mixed with some ultramarine blue, the result is very close to RAF "Night Black." Which is, without a doubt, black. I cant say with any degree of certainty what the reaction of the paint is to extensive exposure to sun, heat, and humidity is, but as far as I'm concerned, any color on artwork that is not very close to pure black is incorrect - and will be made black should I skin that particular scheme.

Depends on time frame with regards to Dark Blue anti glare panels versus Blue/Black or Olive drab. You are right there is change with oxidation & exposure. Its about choices if a Skinner wants to do a weather beaten aged aircraft & there is a profile showing that a certain air frame had an oxidized anti glare panel that is blue/black go with the aged blue look. They prefer a newer looking plane go with black Prior to 1942 however?
Dark Blue seems to be the factory finish of the day though.



Here is an example of Blue/Black that has oxidized note the spinners they have that purple look to them as described above. There is a great colour video of a parked Ki-61 that has been captured & the spinner is the same purple I just cant find it right now.

[bustr]

Looks like the props turned purple also.

[Devil 505]

Looks like the props turned purple also.

That may be the color balance being off in the photo. Props were usually painted in a dark reddish brown. If you look at the white numbers on the tail, you'll see that they have a purplish tint as well - meaning that the whole picture is both too red and too blue.