Incorrectly specified paints

[FBS]

Hi All. I’ve just returned back to modelling after 30 years and im after some help please. I’ve just ordered my 2nd kit and on the airfix website 9 paints were required so I selected all and all were delivered. However when the model arrived another 6 colours are needed and 90 % of the model needs 1 of the colours that’s not listed. This was also the case with my 1st kit. Can anyone advise if this is always the case please. TIA

[Ratch]

Hi John, I'm afraid modelling is a bit more complex than painting by numbers. When your interest in a subject demands more accuracy, you'll find you need a multitude of paints to put the correct colours onto specific parts. You don't say which kit(s) you're building, but let me illustrate my point with a recent aircraft I built:

Humbrol Acrylic 78 Matt Cockpit Green = interior surfaces

Humbrol Acrylic 90 Matt Beige Green = highlights to interior surfaces

Vallejo Model Color 70871 147 Leather Brown = upholstery

Humbrol Acrylic 21 Gloss Black = control yoke, flap wheel, undercarriage, engines

Vallejo Model Color 70841 65 Andrea Blue = 250lb practice bombs

Humbrol Acrylic 56 Metallic Aluminium = undercarriage

Humbrol Acrylic 24 Matt Trainer Yellow = propeller tips

Humbrol Acrylic 29 Matt Dark Earth = upper surfaces

Humbrol Acrylic 30 Matt Dark Green = disruptive camouflage scheme

Pilot Sergeant 1940

Humbrol Acrylic 61 Matt Flesh = face

Vallejo Model Color 70845 20 Sunny Skintone = highlights to face

Humbrol Acrylic 65 Aircraft Blue = shirt

Pilot G-1 Grip Black Pen = tie

Humbrol Acrylic 96 Matt RAF Blue = uniform

Vallejo Model Color 70923 117 Japan Uniform WWII = Mae West lifejacket

Humbrol Acrylic 160 Matt German Camouflage Brown = flying helmet and gloves

Humbrol Acrylic 21 Gloss Black + 29 Matt Dark Earth = boots

Humbrol Acrylic 33 Matt Black = goggles

Humbrol Acrylic 11 Metallic Silver Fox = goggle lenses

These are the paints I used on the Airfix Blenheim. I use other brands as well as Humbrol and not all these colours are listed. It takes some research to discover the appropriate colours to use and it's part of the hobby, unless it doesn't bother you. All instructions from all manufacturers are somewhat simplified. It's up to us as modellers to decide how far we want to go.

Incidentally, I have over 300 different colours of paint in my collection.

[FBS]

Thanks for the reply Ratch.

I sort of thought that would be the case so I've managed to do some research and source the additional paints I required. just thought it was weird that the main 240 and 65 colours needed were not on the suggested paints list.

FYI my 1st build was the 1:72 Supermarine spitfire Mk.1a and the one ive just started is the 1:48 Junkers JU87B-2 Stukka.

I'm totally hooked again LOL

[Ratch]

Spitfire:

Humbrol Acrylic 61 Matt Flesh & Games Workshop 61-76 Flesh Wash = skin tones

Vallejo Model Air 71002 Yellow = propeller tips

Vallejo Model Air 71009 Duck Egg Green = cockpit interior, rudder pedal runners, under surfaces

Vallejo Model Air 71008 Pale Blue = rear airframe former

Vallejo Model Air 71039 Hull Red = seat

Vallejo Model Air 71062 Aluminium (Metallic) = undercarriage, wheels, rudder pedals, oxygen bottles, underwing aerial, interior of undercarriage doors

Vallejo Model Air 71072 Gun (Metallic) = armour plate, machine guns

Vallejo Model Air 71057 Black = engine block, spinner, instrument panel

Vallejo Model Color 179 70863 Gunmetal Grey = supercharger

Vallejo Model Air 71054 Dark Grey Blue = interior of wings, ammunition boxes, interior of radiator

Humbrol Acrylic 11 Metallic Silver Fox = engine parts, navigation light reflector

Humbrol Acrylic 33 Matt Black = control column grip, battery

Humbrol Acrylic 19 Gloss Bright Red = instrument, trigger

Humbrol Acrylic 12 Metallic Copper = instrument

Vallejo Model Color 169 70950 Black = gun sight, head rest

Humbrol Acrylic 90 Matt Beige Green = rear undercarriage strut, canopy interior framing

Humbrol Acrylic 30 Matt Dark Green = aft-spar

Vallejo Model Color 159 70991 Dark Sea Grey = fuselage floor

Vallejo Model Air 71069 Rust (Metallic) = exhaust pipes

Vallejo Model Air 71136 IJA Earth Brown = camouflage

Vallejo Model Air 71017 Russian Green = upper camouflage, canopy frame, aerial mast

Humbrol Acrylic 191 Metallic Chrome Silver = navigation lights

Vallejo Model Color 186 70934 Transparent Red = port navigation light

Vallejo Model Color 188 70936 Transparent Green = starboard navigation light

Vallejo Model Color 33 70926 Red = gun port flashes

Revell Aqua 361 99 Metallic Aluminium = paint chipping

Stuka:

Humbrol Acrylic 11 Metallic Silver Fox = oil cooler

Humbrol Acrylic 33 Matt Black = control column, back of instrument panel, magazines

Humbrol Acrylic 34 Matt White = instruments

Humbrol Acrylic 24 Matt Trainer Yellow = instruments, C250 bomb stripes

Humbrol Acrylic 25 Matt Blue = instruments

Humbrol Acrylic 26 Matt Khaki = coaming

Humbrol Acrylic 53 Metallic Gun Metal = MG17s

Humbrol Acrylic 54 Metallic Brass = Vallejo Model Color 174 70801 Brass = pipes

Humbrol Acrylic 174 Matt Signal Red = instruments, C50 incendiary markings

56 = Vallejo Model Color 177 70865 Oily Steel = pipes

65 = Vallejo Model Air 71008 Pale Blue RLM65 = under surfaces

74 = Vallejo Model Color 13 70858 Ice Yellow = control column gaiter

78 = Humbrol Acrylic AB0240 RLM02 Matt Grau / Vallejo Model Color 101 70886 Green Grey RLM02 = cockpit floor, cockpit interior

79 = Humbrol Acrylic AB0245 RLM74 Matt Graugrun / Vallejo Model Air 71054 Dark Grey Blue RLM74 = radio sets, instrument panel, engine

Humbrol Enamel Wash AV204 Dark Grey = interior wash

91 = Humbrol Acrylic AB0241 RLM70 Schwartzgrun = 500kg bomb, propeller blades, spinner

Vallejo Acrylic 74600 White Polyurethane Surface Primer = under surfaces

Vallejo Acrylic 74604 German Dark Yellow RAL7028 Polyurethane Surface Primer = upper surfaces

Vallejo Acrylic 74602 Black Polyurethane Surface Primer = pre-shading

Vallejo Model Air 71020 German Green RLM71 / Humbrol Acrylic AB0242 RLM71 Dunkelgrun = splinter camouflage

Vallejo Model Air 71021 Black Green RLM70 / Humbrol Acrylic AB0241 RLM70 Schwartzgrun = splinter camouflage

[FBS]

Amazing help gents! Thank you very much. Wish me luck 🤞🏻

[Ratch]

Good luck indeed. Keep us posted on your build(s).

[FBS]

A Bit more advice please.

When i am adding different washing details, is this always done after coating with a gloss varnish coat or before?

Also when i am adding details for worn paint, like stippling effects where pilots climb on wings and stone chips etc, i saw a video using hairspray some jagged sponge and a cocktail stick, but it didn't explain if this should be done on wet or dry paint and before or after i add any varnish coats.

My Stukka i'm building now is being painted in Acrylic paint if that makes any difference to any techniques used.

Once again TIA

[Ratch]

A Bit more advice please.

When i am adding different washing details, is this always done after coating with a gloss varnish coat or before?

Also when i am adding details for worn paint, like stippling effects where pilots climb on wings and stone chips etc, i saw a video using hairspray some jagged sponge and a cocktail stick, but it didn't explain if this should be done on wet or dry paint and before or after i add any varnish coats.

My Stukka i'm building now is being painted in Acrylic paint if that makes any difference to any techniques used.

Once again TIA

 

 

Why not look in the Humbrol (Techniques, Tips and Craft) forum, further down the page.

You'll find lots of useful advice!

[FBS]

Cheers RodC. I’ve bought the £8.99 spitfire kit which I’ve just glued together the airframe on and I’m going to use it as a test piece to try a few different techniques I’ve seen on YouTube before I try it out on the more expensive kit. I’m hand painting everything so I’ll take note on your varnish tip and see how it goes.

[peebeep]

When i am adding different washing details, is this always done after coating with a gloss varnish coat or before?

Also when i am adding details for worn paint, like stippling effects where pilots climb on wings and stone chips etc, i saw a video using hairspray some jagged sponge and a cocktail stick, but it didn't explain if this should be done on wet or dry paint and before or after i add any varnish coats.

 

 

Washes are best applied over a gloss coat, this enables you to remove excess wash without leaving any staining.

 

 

Hairspray - this is used for heavy weathering effects, typically metal areas under painted areas. Lay down the metal colour as a base coat. Apply hair spray. Lay down top coat (in acrylic), before it hardens fully use a stiff-ish brush with water to scrub off the top coat to reveal the metal under. Or a cocktail stick to scratch it away.

 

 

Sponge - for chipping effects apply a small amount of paint to the sponge, wipe off excess, then dab the sponge randomly for chipping.

 

 

There is a really good oil wash video on David Damek's Plasmo Youtube channel, he also describes using Tamiya Panel Line Accents, but you can use the same techniques with Humbrol Enamel Washes:

[Ratch]

Every modeller has their own criteria for making models. Each will decide upon how they want their model to look, and if they're satisfied with the build they will have achieved a result.

I've been modelling for something like 60 years. I've never built the perfect model, but I keep striving. I'm open to new information and techniques. I've been doing this long enough to realise that what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for me (and vice versa). I suppose that the day I do make that perfect build will be the day to pack it all in because I won't be able to get any better.

We can all see the errors in our own builds. They stand out like a sore thumb. But to the casual observer they may not be noticeable. We're our own worst critics. I happily show my inferior builds because we're not all Master Modelmakers. People have to start from somewhere and it's a learning process. We should encourage our fellow modellers.

[Frederick Kullas]

Hi All. I’ve just returned back to modelling after 30 years and im after some help please. I’ve just ordered my 2nd kit and on the airfix website 9 paints were required so I selected all and all were delivered. However when the model arrived another 6 colours are needed and 90 % of the model needs 1 of the colours that’s not listed. This was also the case with my 1st kit. Can anyone advise if this is always the case please. TIA

 

 

What I think has happened; in the past Airfix used to list all of the paints which were needed. Then if a certain paint was out of stock it was marked up as 'out of stock' but still in the list. With the removal of the enamels from the Airfix website and only acrylics available only the acrylics which are needed for the kit are listed, The acrylics range does not have all the same colours as the enamels range. But the enamels are still listed and their prices are against the kit.

imo it all needs sorting out to clean up the listings