Wall

In researching A6M coloration I dug into Japanese language resources and discussed with Japanese model builders over SNS to learn that most of what is "common knowledge" of A6M coloration in the Anglosphere is mostly wrong according to post-2020 research done here in Japan. The biggest example is the myth that Mitsubishi and Nakajima used different colors. The colors were all standardized by the IJN. There's no difference in cockpit color, dark green (actual designation D2), or gray (actual designation J3). What there is a difference in is the paint mixture used by the companies, leading to differing levels of discoloration 20+ years after the war when model companies analyzed what few aircraft remained for their paint manufacturing. Essentially this idea that Mitsubishi and Nakajima used different colors was caused by model paint companies not accounting for decades of deterioration and damage. However the cowling color does have a slight difference, with Mitsubishi's being more blueish.

In summary, there are only 3 coloration differences between Mitsubishi and Nakajima production A6Ms:
1. Cowling color: Mitsubishi has a blueish hue, Nakajima is more black
2. D2/J3 demarcation: Nakajima has J3 on the fuselage below the horizontal stabs, Mitsubishi does not
3. Aotake locations: Nakajima puts Aotake in the wheel wells and gear door interior while Mitsubishi paints those in J3