@tcinla Funny you mention that, I have that kit sitting on my desk with a few extra goodies. My intention is to build a late 42/early 43 Zero (Nakajima built?) with field applied camouflage. I’ll have to check and see which IP best matches the Nakajima interior paint that I have

2 attached images. Click to enlarge.

@wkubacki - funny thing, I mixed a color to match the photoetch set, and got a green almost exactly what you are using on this kit. And looking at the color photos I took of the Planes of Fame Zero's cockpit, which according to Ed Maloney they matched the color in the cockpit when they started the initial restoration 42 years ago, since it was still in original paint, the color I got doing this matches that exactly. As best I know, the PoF Zero is most likely Nakajima-built, looking at the photos of it back in 1944 when it was captured on Saipan (the camo line swooping from wing trailing edge up to the horizontal stab leading edge). But here you are using this color on a Mitsubishi Zero, and you are the Kolourpolizei for Japanese aircraft here, so I am just going to use the color I got, that matches the color you used, that matches the color on the only "original" Zero left, and not worry about what or which may be what.. 🙂

then I started on painting the cowling. First I laid down some C8 silver, then hairspray and then C125 blue-black and did some minor chipping to the cowl.

6 attached images. Click to enlarge.

So I decided to experiment with some other paint mixes, particularly one I found on Aviation of Japan as an even mix of RLM02 C60 and Hemp C336. I wasn't able to get the Mr Color paints so I used AK paints, RLM02 (1938) RC 265 and RC301 Hemp and mixed them 50/50 and sprayed it on a spare wing from an A6M2-N kit. the paint on the spare wing are, from left to right: straight RC303, 50/50 RC265:RC301. I still found the resulting mix too yellow, and that's when I started to look at the AK paints vs the Mr Color paints.

AK has a second RLM02 (1941) which is darker, and when I compared the RLM01 1938 version to the Mr Color RLM02 C60 (luckily I found it locally), it was definitively lighter. C60 is more grey than RC265 but i think would be close to the 1941 version of RLM02 AK has (RC 266).

So I mixed up two more batches of paint, one 1:1 C60 to RC301 (darker) and another at a ratio of 3:2 C60 to RC301 (lighter) and sprayed the spare wing again. From left to right:

Straight RC303
3:2 C60 to RC301
1:1 C60 to RC301
1:1 RC265: RC301

So after much deliberation I decided upon the 3:2 C60 to RC301 mix (the 1:1 might be good for a Nakajima Zero). Just a word of caution here, this paint ratio will work for the paints I mentioned, but may be different when using MR Color Hemp C336

6 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Well, you have been away for a while, but what a re-entry you made, my friend @wkubacki!
Engine and cowling look superb, as is your final custom made shade.
Looking forward to the markings!

So, as Lebowski would say, new sh!t has come to light. Apparently AK changed their formula for J3 SP since I purchased my jar in 2020. It looks close to my mix, so perhaps a 9:1 mix with the new paint and white would work as well as my custom mix.

2 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Woody, @wkubacki
This is excellent progress and I think you are spot on with your color choices. Please keep it going !