Mitsubishi's Ki-15 Babs

 

Topics:

Ki-15 Babs Interior Info

Ki-15 Babs Colors

 

Ki-15 Babs Interior Info

 

Posted By: Rob Graham - the ReiShikiSenGuy

Date: Monday, 13 May 2002, at 8:53 p.m.

 

I'm looking for any Ki-15 / Kamikaze / C5M interior detail info. It's tough to find, though I think there's an old Maru out there. Does anyone have this or any other pics?

 

Re: Ki-15 Babs Interior Info

 

Posted By: Nick Millman

Date: Monday, 13 May 2002, at 11:46 p.m.

 

In Response To: Ki-15 Babs Interior Info (Rob Graham - the ReiShikiSenGuy)

 

Some while back Aeroplane Monthly published interior schematics for the Karigane - reproduced, I think, from the original Aeroplane when "Kamikaze" visited Croydon. I shall dig them out, scan them and send to you if interested?

 

The Mania kit had quite a good interior too - but I could not vouch for the accuracy - three dimensional reference material!

 

Ki-15 Babs Colors

 

Posted By: Dave C. <dvdcl@hotmail.com>

Date: Saturday, 3 August 2002, at 12:16 a.m.

 

I am building a the LS/ARII model of the Ki-15-I Babs. I would like to know what are the colors for the interior and what the overall gray color is, IJA or IJN gray.

 

Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors

 

Posted By: Nick Millman

Date: Saturday, 3 August 2002, at 1:31 a.m.

 

In Response To: Ki-15 Babs Colors (Dave C.)

 

The interior was a very pale green colour.

 

The exterior was probably the same colour as the early Zero, hairyokushoku, a pale grey-green colour, with a blue-black cowling (check other references on this site for colour matches). Many Babs in China received a "cloud" camouflage scheme of reddish brown and olive green; in some cases completely covering the upper surfaces - in others leaving segments of the hairyokushoku as part of the scheme.

 

I don't know whether any of the earliest versions of Babs were completed in the aluminium pigmented pale grey of other 1930's Japanese types - but it is a possibility.

 

I am also still trying to discover whether the "ochre" base colour used in the tri-colour "China" schemes was actually hairyokushoku and appeared "pale green" - giving rise to the two greens and one brown version or "ochre" - giving rise to the two browns and one green version - or both!

 

Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors

 

Posted By: Nick Millman

Date: Saturday, 3 August 2002, at 3:45 p.m.

 

In Response To: Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors (Nick Millman)

 

BTW here are the translated colour instructions for the first Hasegawa issue of the Babs which may also be of interest:

 

Pilot's seat - red brown

Observer's seat - buff

Cockpit floor - wood brown

Cockpit walls and bulkheads - green bamboo colour

Instrument panel - matt black

 

Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors

 

Posted By: Dave C. <dvdcl@hotmail.com>

Date: Saturday, 3 August 2002, at 9:54 p.m.

 

In Response To: Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors (Nick Millman)

 

Thank you very much for your help. Do you think the seat should be overall red brown in your opinion? I know on other Hasagawa kits (such as the Ki-45 Nick)specify an interior green seat with a red brown seat cushion. Should I paint the the seat the green bamboo color (Mitsubishi interior green)and the seat cushion red brown? Also the observers seat color specified in the latest Hasagawa Babs instructions is for a color only available in the Mr.Color line of paint. It is 53 Light Khaki and it is'nt in the current Mr.Color catalog. Is light Khaki the same as Buff? Should I use Tamiya Buff instead of regular Khaki. I bought Tamiya Khaki for the observers seat. I got to go back to the hobby shop anyways to buy the wood brown color for the cockpit floor, so I can easily pick up some Tamiya Buff. I sure am glad Tamiya paint now comes in smaller Aqueous Hobby Color size bottles.

 

Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors

 

Posted By: Nick Millman

Date: Saturday, 3 August 2002, at 11:50 p.m.

 

In Response To: Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors (Dave C.)

 

both the old and new Hasegawa instructions specify red brown for the whole seat. I'm guessing (and it is a guess) that perhaps the seat was finished with primer - a not un-common JAAF 1930's interior colour.

 

Light khaki and buff are to all intents and purposes the same because the original instructions also quote paint number 53! "Khaki" has come to mean any military colour from a light sand to an olive green. It derives from an Indian word for "dust" and was first used as a military term to describe white tropical uniforms dyed with tea (and/or curry powder). I haven't seen Tamiya khaki but guess it might be a more olive colour (?).

 

Also, I forgot to mention, that part of the external fuselage beneath the windscreen and canopy was painted a dark blueish-grey.

 

I also checked the old Mania kit instructions but could find no discernable colour references.

 

Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors

 

Posted By: Dave C. <dvdcl@hotmail.com>

Date: Sunday, 4 August 2002, at 1:56 p.m.

 

In Response To: Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors (Nick Millman)

 

Thanks for your help.What would be good match for the dark blueish-gray color using Tamiya or Gunze Sangyo paints? That's good information about that color, as the instructions say to use Mitsubishi interioir green for the exterior under the canopy. Also what color should I use for the rudder peddals, the small square the control stick attaches to, and the small console on the cockpit floor?

 

Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors

 

Posted By: Nick Millman

Date: Sunday, 4 August 2002, at 11:45 p.m.

 

In Response To: Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors (Dave C.)

 

I think the Mitsubishi cockpit colour is most unlikely for this use. Most cockpit coamings, etc., used the blueish-grey. For Gunze Sangyo paints a mix of 50% H56, 45% H308 and 5% H54 is recommended. For Tamiya paints XF18 would be suitable. I use an ancient tin of Humbrol Authentics French Air Force HF4 Gris bleu clair (Lt Blue-grey) for scale - it's going to run out one day!

 

I don't know the exact colours of the other details you mention but suggest dull metal for the rudder pedals and control stick mounting and black for the console.

 

Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors

 

Posted By: Dave C. <dvdcl@hotmail.com>

Date: Monday, 5 August 2002, at 8:12 p.m.

 

In Response To: Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors (Nick Millman)

 

Thank you for all of your help Nick. I am currently builing a an LS Ki-15I,Ki-15II, and a C5M2.For the Ki-15II in a green topside/gray underside should I use the same interior colors?

 

I would like to do a C5M1, but I am unable to find any pictures or decals for a C5M1. By the way,I am combining the Mania/Hasagawa kit interior and a few other parts with the LS/ARII kits. Overall externally the LS kit is more accurate.

 

Do you know anything about the C5M1/2 aircraft? I need some help with the colors and other details also. Should I use the same interior colors? I the fuel tank the same a that used on the Zero. If so I would use the drop tank from Hasagawa's kit.

 

Last but not least where can I find some more references on these aircraft?

 

Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors

 

Posted By: Nick Millman

Date: Tuesday, 6 August 2002, at 12:27 a.m.

 

In Response To: Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors (Dave C.)

 

quite a collection you are putting together there! I don't see why the interior colours for the other versions should be appreciably different but I don't believe anyone knows for sure - you may wish to introduce some variety - perhaps natural metal seats.

 

One of the biggest problems with the Mania/Hasegawa kit is the canopy. The lower frames are too deep, making the clear panels too small and the whole canopy appear too shallow.

 

References for Babs are slim. She never received the attention of Maru Mechanic, Profile or FAOW. The Kantosha "Aireview" book curiously does not cover the Ki-15 at all in the English version, only having a section on the C5M! There is a section on the Ki-15 in Francillon's "Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War" - probably the most accessible English-language reference on the type. I have some good quality photographs which I can scan and send you, together with two "Aeroplane" drawings of the interior of the Karigane "Kamikaze" which visited Croydon in 1937.

 

The C5M1/2 were fitted with Navy radio and camera equipment. Only 20 C5M1 were produced in 1938 and 30 C5M2 in 1940. I'm afraid I don't know the answer about the drop tank.

 

It's a fascinating aircraft and I'm surprised it has not received more attention.

 

Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors

 

Posted By: Dave C. <dvdcl@hotmail.com>

Date: Tuesday, 6 August 2002, at 8:14 a.m.

 

In Response To: Re: Ki-15 Babs Colors (Nick Millman)

 

Thanks for your help. I can get some pictures off the web on the Warbird Pictures web site. The LS/ARII canopy seems to be more accurate. The tail cone on the LS (where the fuselage meets the rudder) is more correct than the Mania kit. Also the tailwheel location is correct on the LS kit also.I like the cutout for the landing light on the LS kit also.

 

 

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