Question about Thicko's b5n2_type97 pack.

[MaskRider]

Does anyone know what the default skin in Thicko's b5n2_type97 pack represents- what carrier, Kokutai, year, location?

The pack includes 4 extra skins all of which include a readme that gives this information but there is nothing in the aircraft.cfg file or the readme for the package that identifies the default skin.

And it doesn't match one of the extra skins.

This is what it looks like:

In Thicko's b5n1_type97 pack one of the 4 extra skins is the same as the default skin, so its identity not an issue.

Its no biggie. Just a stone I want to shake out of my shoe.

Thanks for any help!
MR

 

[Jaxon]

Good question, MR.

The plane was on Akagi

Akagi Kanjo Kogekikitai
(Akagi Carrier Level-Bomber Unit)

AI-301
Sou-Shikikan/Sou-Taicho Cdr Mitsuo Fuchida
Lt. Mitsuo Matsuzaki (pilot)
Norinobu Mizuki (observer)
Overall Leader 1st Wave PH Attack, 800kg AP bomb

Most of the AKAGI KATEs are shown in complete green upper, while by the end of 1940, they all still wore the bright factory paint.
And I still can`t believe, that especially the Commanders aircraft was painted in a rush or with purpose of a washy camouflage idea, while all others were painted completey green?

A few more of my stored notes regarding the unusual paint:

In the mid-1970s, Don Bratt interviewed Fuchida for more details to discover that AI-301 was kept 'gleaming'
during training to let his men know of his location in the air, yet en route to Hawaii AI-301 was camouflaged for the coming attack.
The commanding info on the vertical surfaces was retained to keep his aviators informed of his presence.
The plane was painted, IF WE BELIEVE FUCHIDA: 'en route to Hawaii' with SEMI-GLOSS green upper surface camouflage.
The TRAINING numbers on the wing's undersurface conform to PRE-war use were black and the undersurface is painted with the same GLOSS Gray-GREEN viewed on Akagi VALs.....and the painting of the plane was accomplished NOT 'enroute', but where the landing base paint shops sprayed the plane...with gray-GREEN, then the dark green upper surface.

 

[MaskRider]

Thanks Jaxon! Fascinating stuff.

One of the extra skins included in the pack is named the Fuchida skin and is called out in the readme as the livery Lt Cdr Fuchida, IJNS Akagi during the Pearl Harbor attack.

It looks like this:

From the tail markings I kinda suspected that the cammo skin above were Akagi and unit commander markings for Fuchida. But I couldn't place the when of it because when looking it up on line all I was able to come up with for the pearl harbor attack were the solid green liveries. I think I will just identify this one as a Fuchida No2. Sound like a plan?

Thanks again for the info. That is so cool that Fuchida was still around and gracious enough to being interviewed by Don Bratt.

Cheer,
MR

 

[Jaxon]

Yes, two interpretations of the same A/C.

I personally think, a good skin should reflect the green as field modification.
If they had just one can of green for the entire Kates, or enough paint (and time) to paint them all more thoroughly is beyond me.

But I have seen a number of profiles and models, that were painted either complete green or more in a a dazzle scheme, or at least with the original colour coming through especially at the corners, like this one.

In 1942 the VALs were also toned down in green.
And I think this skin is a good interpretation of how that would have looked like - and also a perfect example of my idea of AKAGIs PH KATEs:

 

[MaskRider]

Thanks, Jaxon.

Love the Val.

Is that a repaint of the stock or Akemi's or what?

MR

 

[Ravenna]

Love the Val.

Is that a repaint of the stock or Akemi's or what?

MR

MR, I seem to remember that Talos2005 did a series of green repaints for the Val some years ago. I can't remember whether they were for the stock Val or Akemi's model.

 

[MaskRider]

MR, I seem to remember that Talos2005 did a series of green repaints for the Val some years ago. I can't remember whether they were for the stock Val or Akemi's model.

Ravenna, you seem to remember correctly!

Found them. They are repaints of Akemi's Val- along with repaints of Akemi's A6M3, E13A "Jake", A6M2N "Rufe" and F1M2 "Pete"!

Thanks!
MR

 

[MaskRider]

Having fun with Thickos Kates!

Found a three-pack of skins for Thicko's B5N2 "Kate"s- made by Morton. One each for the heavy bomber group leaders (I think) from the carriers Akagi, Soryu and Zuikaku on Dec 7th 1941.

Here a few screenshots of each taken aboard their respective carriers.

Matsusaki - Akagi

\

Yonekura - Soryu

Kawada - Zuikaku

Cheers,
MR

 

[tarepy]

Hi, everyone,

IJN filmed Fuchida’s AI-301 on April 5, 1942 (Akagi, Battle of Ceylon). It was the same air frame flew over Pearl Harbor. Heavy duty for four months changed its green painting into camouflage-like dazzle painting.

 

[MaskRider]

Hi, everyone,

IJN filmed Fuchida’s AI-301 on April 5, 1942 (Akagi, Battle of Ceylon). It was the same air frame flew over Pearl Harbor. Heavy duty for four months changed its green painting into camouflage-like dazzle painting.

Hiya tarepy,

Thanks for that very interesting little nugget. The skin I was going to name Fuchida2 I will now call Fuchida Ceylon APR42

It matches up very nicely with the unidentified default skin included in Thickos pack

Here is the Fuchida Pearl Harbor skin

Cheers and thanks again!
MR

 

[Jaxon]

Top information, tarepy: Mistery solved!

And a nice idea to use the skin in 1942!

 

[MaskRider]

Ravenna & Jaxon,

I've been having some fun with Talos2005's skins for Akemi's Aichi D3A1 "Val".

Thanks for bringing them to my attention!

MR

 

[Roxane-21]

Here is the same AI-301 made by UncleTgt for the overhauled stock B5N2 Kate.

December 1941:

April 1942:

 

[dvslats]

Here is the same AI-301 made by UncleTgt for the overhauled stock B5N2 Kate.

December 1941:


April 1942:

I must have missed the one. It's a fine example of the hastily applied green paint at that time.
Thanks for the reminder Roxane-21.

 

[The B24 Guy]

Thanks Roxane-21. I have got to get those skins.

Regards,
B24Guy

 

[MaskRider]

Yes, thank Roxane-21,

A couple of shots of B24 Guys overhauled Val with UTs skins.

Cheers,
MR

 

[MaskRider]

Here is the same AI-301 made by UncleTgt for the overhauled stock B5N2 Kate.

December 1941:

April 1942:

Hi Roxane-21,

You've git me tearing out what little hair I have left! My B24Guy-OH'd B5N2 mdl file is not shined. I mean not even a whisper of a shine does it have. Can you direct me to whatever version of B24-Guys OH Kate you are using? Thanks!

MR

 

[Roxane-21]

Hi Roxane-21,

You've git me tearing out what little hair I have left! My B24Guy-OH'd B5N2 mdl file is not shined. I mean not even a whisper of a shine does it have. Can you direct me to whatever version of B24-Guys OH Kate you are using? Thanks!

MR

Ask UncleTgt. These are his screenshots.

 

[dvslats]

Hi Roxane-21,

You've git me tearing out what little hair I have left! My B24Guy-OH'd B5N2 mdl file is not shined. I mean not even a whisper of a shine does it have. Can you direct me to whatever version of B24-Guys OH Kate you are using? Thanks!

MR

Hey Chris, It's been a while.

I've been messing around in the Win 10 environment and have just D/L'ed Allen's " DOSMdlc 2.0". My hope is to use it to get Ivan's MDLC running again in 10.
Give me a little time to learn it's nuances and there could be hope for shining up this bird.

Take Care, Dave

 

[UncleTgt]

Dave

Great to see you back. Allens DOSmdl is an excellent tool , but IIRC the answer of the "shiny B5N2 Kate" is simpler - I downloaded OBIO's shined OH models from SOH http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=17&id=876