The application of 'Aotake' in Japanese aircraft in WW2 is a minefield the Japanese were very good at keeping secrets and destroying evidence but as more people have investigated the Zero and other aircraft be it wreaks or one of the few surviving examples more information is becoming available.
The use of 'Aotake' as the war progressed to its conclusion diminished as its availability became more hard to obtain so in late models the coating would only be used on area's constantly exposed to the elements like wheel wells in comparison the early versions would have been dripping in the stuff almost all or nearly all the internal surfaces had a coat.
The use of undercoat on Naval versions also is important as any weathering would show the red oxide coming through the top coats. The use of gloss or semi gloss finishing coats is also a surprise but its another way of preserving the outer skin from the attack of the elements as it is more hard wearing and has the ability to let moisture run off where as the rough finish of matt paint tends to grab any moisture due to its more porous quality's as for the use of the clear coat called 'Nisu' there are very few mentions of this coating but it has been compared to a streamlining type coating that flattened out any blemishes and thus aiding its aerodynamics . Hopefully this will be helpful to all those Zero builders out there and if I got something wrong my appolagy's, I am not an expert im just trying to get as much information in one place to help other builders
regards
Andy
Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
US
