My only problem now is what colour to paint 'scout 4'. For most Japanese planes at Midway there are reasonably clear answers. However for Jakes there is some doubt. Some say gray, some say green, some gray-green!

Here is one answer - from http://www.j-aircraft.com/faq/E13.htm

Dc-'41 - Black Cowl with gray fuselage on the same order as the Zero's
Ju-'42 - Capitol Ship-borne [Same as above]
Ju-'42 - Tender-based = Black Cowl with dark green fuselage and these were mixed, that is, some aircraft had the gray fuselage also.
Ag-'42 - By now, most were of the dark green variety, but there were still some that had the earlier paint scheme.

The June '42 details seem to make sense.

However Tone and Chikuma are sometimes reported as having 3 Jakes each at the time of Pearl Harbour - which were gray. Does that mean that 'scout 4' was added later?

Add to the mix the decals from Print scale, and this adds a little more 'smoke and mirrors'!

Any clues?

1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

Here's a thought I had about the color choice: It seems that the planes were painted just as you stated above. Either overall gray, or green over gray. You could paint it gray, and no one could really fault you. If they did, simply say it was just "Before" Midway... Who could prove you wrong ? Honestly it's your plane and ultimately your choice. Build it to suit your own tastes and conclusions.

I'm very pleased that the resin engine looks that nice. I'll try to get one for my E-13 too. It will definitely enhance the looks of the kit supplied "engine", and is a great upgrade.

Yes I really like the new Hasegawa E8N1. Apparently they are offering a later E8N2 now as well. I need to get the photo etch rigging that Hasegawa has available for them. I think it includes a new instrument panel too.

Here's a picture of my kit. I still have not opened the shrink wrap.

Since it has not been opened, I really don't have a first hand look at the contents. But I have found two online reviews from other websites. Here are a few links that will show you what's inside the box.

http://modelingmadness.com/scott/preww2/previews/hasegawa/19197.htm

This one is a build review...

https://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/builds/has/build_has_19197.shtml

followed by a few other Japanese float planes from my stash that were recently released by Hasegawa maybe a year or so ago ?

This one is a limited edition F1M2 "Pete" Float plane in 1/48 scale. Kit number 07408. It too is still sealed.

and another 1/48 Hasegawa "Pete". This is kit number JT-96 or 19196 and it's open.

It would be neat to see if any of these were used at Midway... If they were there at Midway, I don't know how long the boxes would remain sealed...

Hope this helps to answer some of your questions.

I really like what you're doing with your "Jake". Please keep us posted.

Thanks my friend.

That's very interesting indeed Louis, thank you for sharing - apart from being another part of the Midway bigger picture, I guess it gives me the option to paint the Jake green, as there is some suggestion that Tender planes were probably at least a mixture of green and gray aircraft.

I imagine of course, you have seen this:

http://www.j-aircraft.com/faq/midway.htm

which is where a great deal of my info and leads come from. It has plenty on Daves and Petes too.

Now that was cool !

That engine is looking really good Paul. Looking forward to seeing the Jake finished.

The interesting thing about the overall gray/green uppers and gray lowers is that supposedly the official mandate for the change to green uppers wasn't 'til after the battle. I think that was early in '43, but I could be wrong. At least one of the Aleutian Rufes had green uppers, going by a photo of the wrecked one taken after we captured Kiska. Thinking this was done as a field fix, and then became official once its usefullness was realized.

Paul incredible job on the engine, well done.

With the Anniversary creeping closer a brief update. I have made the trailer the floatplane would have been moved around on beachside - whether this carries any relevance to Midway is doubtful - it was fun to weather, I haven't tried to depict rust before! Hats off to those who build armour/distressed vehicles!

I have painted the spinner - alclad gloss black primer under alclad airframe aluminium.

The cockpit I am attempting to shoehorn into the 'space' to be found in the Nichimo Jake has also been painted and is being shaped and fitted very gradually.

I have prepped other major parts. Dry fitting seems to go together quite well, so hopefully there will be a growth spurt!

8 attached images. Click to enlarge.