Japanese Zero cowl color

 I have been trying to find the correct color of black for the Zero cowl.  From the various sorts on the web The Mitsubishi Zero is a black and the Nakajima is a Dark blue black.   MSP make the Mitsubishi cowl black. But no hobby shop in the US has the color in stock.   I decided to email the owner of the Aviation of Japan blog. It the pass I have purchase Pearl Harbor Zero color guide.   What Nick has wrote below, I found out that the area behind the the cockpit seat is not black.  But a very dark blue black that is similar to RAF night black.  Now for Nock's email reply.

Dear Gary

Thank you for your email.

Unfortunately I have only just moved home and all my hard copy references and notes are still unpacked.

The question of differences between the Mitsubishi and Nakajima cowling colours is a long running debate and recent Japanese references assert that the Nakajima paint was a 'pure' black. In the context of 1940s paint technology that assertion is a bold one and I am not aware of any evidence beyond a subjective perception of colour and/or tone. Ryan Toews has suggested a match of FS 27038 (successor to ANA 514) for the Nakajima cowling black. Having said that the formal pigment composition of the 27038 chip is rutile titanium dioxide (white), carbazole violet, benzimidazolone yellow and blue shade carbon black! 'Pure' black is therefore somewhat relative!

Regardless of any difference the official IJN anti-glare paint colour was a very dark blue-black made from carbon black and ultramarine pigments in similar ratio to the RAF colour 'Night', described as a 'serviceable blue-black'. Please also see:-

http://www.aviationofjapan.com/2008/07/zero-anti-glare-colours.html

Whilst it seems that the Nakajima cowling colour may have been 'blacker' in appearance than the Mitsubishi the reasons for that are unknown and might relate to the type of carbon black and ultramarine pigments used by the company.

For paints Hasegawa suggest Gunze 33 (Flat Black) for Nakajima cowlings and 125 (Cowling Color) for Mitsubishi. Tamiya instructions call for X-18 Semi-Gloss Black for both Mitsubishi and Nakajima cowlings.

I'm sorry that I cannot be more help at this time.

Kind regards

Nick

A4 Skyhawk photo

 Hope everyone enjoys the photos,