Official Nakajima J1N1 Gekko Painting Thread

[Dak21]

Here is a flight of Imperial Japanese Navy J1N1 Type 11 Night Fighters. These guys were armed with two 20mm Oerlikon Mark 2 cannons firing at an oblique angle upwards for attacking aircraft and two more firing down for ground and shipping attacks. There is not much variation in paint schemes for these. They were mostly all dark green. Some of the early production models had the medium grey underside. All of these were painted by airbrush with Mr Color paints. They are AIM models with Misc Mini decals with the exception of the tail codes. Most of these were done with various numbers from whatever I could find.

This plane was with the 202nd Naval Fighter Group flying from Borneo Island in January of 1944;


This aircraft is from the 153rd Kokutai, 812 Hikotai, Clark Field, Luzon. It was found abandoned when US forces reoccupied the area in February of 1945.


This aircraft flew with the 251st Kokutai out of Rabaul. The unit was formed on the remains of the famous Tainan Kokutai which was nearly completely destroyed during the Solomons campaign. This one has the standard high visibility national markings and the grey underside. This is the early paint scheme.


Lastly is an aircraft flying with the 302nd Kokutai. This famous unit flew just about every type of IJN fighter throughout the course of the war.


The pictures gave me a lot of problems. I am trying to get used to my new iPhone which seems to be blurring the edges of the wings.

[flash]

Very nice Dave

[malachi]

They look awesome, Dave. My oblique REP guns are jammed.

[Dan-Sam]

I shot REP instead of you, Chris

[OldGuy59]

Now... Stats?

In the Unofficial Stats file, there is a J1N-C-S, that might be this version. However, I can't find this version with forward firing light machine guns. Only upward and downward firing 20mm cannons?

Maneuver Deck 'M' with 20 damage on a Heavy Fighter base.

[Guntruck]

Very nice work Dave.

[Teaticket]

Beauties Dave. Chris, my obliques work fine.

[flash]

.. I can't find this version with forward firing light machine guns. Only upward and downward firing 20mm cannons?

That sounds right - looks like only the prototype had forward firing guns
https://www.militaryfactory.com/airc...ircraft_id=542

[Flying Helmut]

Super paint jobs!

Rep gun jammed

[milcoll73]

nice!

[OldGuy59]

Proofreaders, please:

[Dak21]

That looks fantastic Mike! The stats make sense. The Tamiya model I have of this version has the upward and downward firing oblique guns only. Thank you!

[Dak21]

Thank you all for the kind words. It is much appreciated!

[OldGuy59]

That looks fantastic Mike! The stats make sense. The Tamiya model I have of this version has the upward and downward firing oblique guns only. Thank you!

Do you want the lower firing arc, too? I didn't put it in, as my reference said it wasn't effective, and not much used, then removed in the field.

But, I can put it in for you.

[Dak21]

Hey Mike,

I read it was intended for ground/shipping attack missions. To be technically correct, and give a little mission flexibility in the game, I would add it with a note it is for ground ground/shipping only. I haven’t found any such missions recorded, but it might be fun to play out someday.

Thanks!
Dave

[OldGuy59]

Ventral weapon version:



I didn't put a note on the ventral gun, as it could be used to shoot at anything below it. Planes or ground targets. IIRC, the guns were removed as they weren't effective against bombers?