Nakajima B5N Part 3

Nakajima B5N "Kate" Pt 3

Posted By: Stephen <mailto:stephenprior@ntlworld.com?subject=Kate Wingfold>
Date: Tuesday, 29 January 2002, at 10:58 a.m.

I've ordered the CE Kate Wingfold but I've no idea what colour it should be!can anyone help me with the colours for the folds?

Re: Kate Wingfold

Posted By: Grant Goodale <mailto:grant.goodale@sympatico.ca?subject=Re: Kate Wingfold>
Date: Tuesday, 29 January 2002, at 3:42 p.m.

In Response To: Kate Wingfold (Stephen)

Natural metal would be OK but I think that aotake would be more likely. The Hasegawa folding wing B6N2 (kit JT 61) says to paint it aotake. The Hasegawa folding wing B7A2 (kit CH 41) says to paint it interior colout (yellow green) but the box top photo of the built up model shows it in aotake.

Posted By: Tom Matlosz <mailto:slayer14@bellsouth.net?subject=Re: Tomonaga'a Kate>
Date: Sunday, 20 January 2002, at 6:02 p.m.

In Response To: Tomonaga'a Kate (Artur)

As for widely accepted colors, I would use hairyokushoku (gray-green) for the under surface color and dark green for all upper surfaces. Some attest to the brown mottling, while others, myself included, believe the perceived mottling seen in photos, to be varying density in the application of the dark green over the upper surface gray-green. (See Greg Springer's work on the Pearl Harbor Hospital Kate in the research section.)

As for fuselage stripes, yes, two blue stripes would be appropriate for an airframe coded BII-310. I just happened to again read John Lundstrom's First Team account of Midway yesterday. Evidence points towards Jimmy Thach (VF-3) shooting down Tomonaga. In the First Team, page 507, "Thach later noted that his victim had very colorful tail markings. As the personal aircraft of the Hiryu hikotaicho, Tomanaga's BI-310 bore on its vertical tail surfaces the three broad yellow stripes denoting his command rank."

In correspondence to me, John Lundstrom indicated that Tomonaga's code, BI-310, as it appears in the book, was a publisher's error and should have been BII-310. We have hashed the 2nd Carrier Division's switching flagship and codes, just prior to Midway, many times here at j-aircraft before and I will not reopen that dabate again.

I am currently also building Tomonaga's Kate. I intend to code it as BII-310 with three yellow command stripes on the vertical stabilizer.

Torpedo B5N's

Posted By: Ed Cat Date: Wednesday, 16 January 2002, at 7:20 p.m.

First of all, I would like to say this is a great board and site! My question is, where could I find some pictures of Torpedo carrying B5N's. Almost all the ones I see are in the bobmer role, including in the photo section here. I am in the process of building a torpedo armed version, and would like to know how these were painted. Thanks!

Re: Torpedo B5N's

Posted By: Tom Matlosz <mailto:slayer14@bellsouth.net?subject=Re: Torpedo B5N's> Date: Thursday, 17 January 2002, at 7:23 a.m.

In Response To: Torpedo B5N's (Ed Cat)

Ed,
As far as we all can tell, the "Thunderfish" torpedo was natural metal finish, with a black warhead. In the photo recently posted by Jim Lansdale, the wood fin extensions appear to be the same color as the torpedo body. Aluminum color has been suggested for the wood fin extensions.
Tom Matlosz

Re: Torpedo B5N's

Posted By: Grant Goodale <mailto:grant.goodale@sympatico.ca?subject=Re: Torpedo B5N's> Date: Wednesday, 16 January 2002, at 7:27 p.m.

In Response To: Torpedo B5N's (Ed Cat)

Ed -
If you can get a copy of the December 2001 issue of Military History, there is a great article by David Aiken entitled "Torpedoing Pearl Harbor". There are photos in there as well as great text about the attack.
HTH
- Grant