IJN aircraft colour stripes

[nukem duke]

Quite a long time ago, I tried to have information on the mysterious colour
stripes applied to the landing gear legs on IJN planes.
I was gessing it could be an oleo pressure code, a 'mission type code', a
pilot's rank code (not likely as planes were used on availability basis) etc
..
Can anyone help me on that subject ?

Yann

[nukem duke]

To be precise, the colour stripes painted on the gear doors, not on the
struts.
Example : the A6M5 of the NASM red yellow blue (top to bottom)
Sakai's A6M2 model kit Hasegawa red large blue
Hasegawa's J2M : red white blue, J2M on books red blue etc.
Hasegawa's N1K2-J : red yellow black

Thanks for your help
Do not reply on my mail adress, it's a fake 'cause I already have enough
viagra :-)

> Quite a long time ago, I tried to have information on the mysterious
colour
> stripes applied to the landing gear legs on IJN planes.
> I was gessing it could be an oleo pressure code, a 'mission type code', a
> pilot's rank code (not likely as planes were used on availability basis)
etc

[Cub Driver]

>Quite a long time ago, I tried to have information on the mysterious colour
>stripes applied to the landing gear legs on IJN planes.
>I was gessing it could be an oleo pressure code, a 'mission type code', a
>pilot's rank code (not likely as planes were used on availability basis) etc

Evidently they are load-indicating bars. When the landing-gear strut
sinks far enough that the upper part of the wheel cover touches the
red band, the aircraft is overloaded. See Aero Detail 7, page 37.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! blog www.vivabush.org

[Cub Driver]

On Sun, 4 Apr 2004 20:08:38 +0200, "nukem duke" >
wrote:

>To be precise, the colour stripes painted on the gear doors, not on the
>struts.

Same answer: load-bearing bars.

Though the cover (I wouldn't call it a door) is distinct from the
oleo, it moves with it.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! blog www.vivabush.org

[nukem duke]

> Same answer: load-bearing bars.
>
> Though the cover (I wouldn't call it a door) is distinct from the
> oleo, it moves with it.

Alright, so, how do you explain that the colours could be different on a
same type ?
My sources : Bunrindo #61 J2M Raiden page 7 different Raidens, all J2M3 same
subtype with red/blue or red/yellow/blue markings, same problem on page 8
with J2M6.
Regards

[Cub Driver]

>Alright, so, how do you explain that the colours could be different on a
>same type ?

Assuming your question is asked with good intentions, it is evidently
only the red band that has any meaning, since that is on top.

If there are other colors (sometimes only red is shown), they can be
in various orders, which seem to have no meaning.

It does take time to answer questions like this, so thanks would be in
order rather than a wise-ass "alright, so, how do you explain..."

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! blog www.vivabush.org

[nukem duke]

> Assuming your question is asked with good intentions,
it is !
>
> It does take time to answer questions like this, so thanks would be in
> order rather than a wise-ass "alright, so, how do you explain..."

You are right there and there was no intention of being unpleasant, please
just consider the fact that I am not a natural english speaker.
Even if I try to do my best when writing, I now realise you could have felt
upset reading this.
I appreciate your remarks and enjoy that people like you bring on-topic
knowledge to the group in the middle of all those crosspost trash.
Thanks again for your answers.
However, apart from the red one, I still wonder why those other colour
stripes could be different ! There must be an answer somewhere.

Yann

[Cub Driver]

On Mon, 5 Apr 2004 20:45:26 +0200, "nukem duke" >
wrote:

>However, apart from the red one, I still wonder why those other colour
>stripes could be different ! There must be an answer somewhere.

There is no indication in Aero Detail 7, and I suspect that the
authors simply didn't know. The color possibilities are one of these:

red-yellow-blue

red-blue-yellow

red (only)

Again, page 37 of Aero Detail 7. This is of course only for the Zero;
the colors may have been different on other airplanes. Interestingly,
in one photo (page 31) the colors are red-blue-red, but likely that
was a mistake on the part of the restorer (at Kyoto Arashiyama
Museum).

I apologize for seeing something in your tone that wasn't there, and
I'm glad I could help.


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! blog www.vivabush.org

[Gernot Hassenpflug]

Cub Driver > writes:

> On Mon, 5 Apr 2004 20:45:26 +0200, "nukem duke" >
> wrote:
>
>>However, apart from the red one, I still wonder why those other colour
>>stripes could be different ! There must be an answer somewhere.
>
> There is no indication in Aero Detail 7, and I suspect that the
> authors simply didn't know. The color possibilities are one of these:

Dear Yann and Dan,

I haven't been involved in modeling lately, due to work
commitments, but have a model club meeting coming up this month. So
you have given me a good question to ask the friendly local experts
here in Kyoto.

Best regards,
--
G Hassenpflug * IJN & JMSDF equipment/history fan