Hello all, I’m brand new here and this is my first post.
First of all I’d like to say this is a great forum. I’m just getting back into modeling after a long time and I’m learning a lot just reading your posts.
Anyway I do have a question to ask if it’s OK?
I just bought the Trumpeter 1/32 scale TBM-3 Avenger kit and it looks like it’s going to be a great looking model, however there is one major omission in the documentation. There are paint numbers for the various parts such as “H-28, H-2, H-33 etc” but Trumpeter doesn’t even list what brand of paint they’re referring to let alone what color it’s supposed to be. I’m sure I can make an educated guess most of the time and be close but obviously it would be nice to know what colors the instruction sheet is referring to. If anyone has some sugestions on finding this information it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
Rockin’ John (John Yaworski)
First of all, [#welcome][#welcome] to the forum. Most of those numbers in the paint chart usually have the FS numbers after them or at least a name such as light ghost gray or gunmetal. These names frequently refer to the common name for the paint which “hopefully”, the paint manufacturers have used also. I am not sure but I think the “H” numbers refer to the Humbrol brand of paint. If there is no further explanation to the numbers, you could check another kit, preferably by the same manufacturer and see if that one gives the explanation.
Darwin[alien]
Trumpeter kits usually refer to Gunze sangyo paints. They all have codes like H-28 or H-33. If you don’t like using Gunze paints, go to one of the many paint coversion charts on the net and get an eqivilant to the Gunze colour in your preferred brand. Here’s one:
And, welcome to the forums.[#welcome]
Well its hard to say. the H could be for a couple of different manufactures.
Here is a site with some Humbrel paint chips, http://redfroghobbies.com/humbrol%20color%20chart.htm You can match up your colors needed for like a tire and see if it comes close to black on the chart.
It could be Gunze sangyo Mr color as well try this site http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/stuff_eng_colorcharts_mrcolor_map.htm anyways hope this helps, and some one soon will be along with the correct answer i’m sure.
AND WELCOME TO THE SHOW, it’s nice to have you.
Oops he posted while I was typing…O well. He’s f a s t-------.
Wow! That was quick.
Thanks a million for all the replies, well it looks like Trumpeter is refering to “Gunze Sangyo Mr Color” (it’s the white numbers in the black background). I checked and the colors make sense to me.
I usually use Tamiya paints and I seem to have all the colors needed for this project, the only one I might have trouble matching up is “H-340 Field Green”. I’ll have to research that one as it’s the color of the cockpit interior and I’d like to be somewhat accurate in this important area. Thanks again for all your help.
rcknjon
If that one is referring to the pilot half of the cockpit it is a bronze green, and if it refers to the back half of the cockpit it the interior green or zinc green. For a really good idea go to http://www.accurate-miniatures.com/builds/avenger/html/avenger002.htm
Good luck.
Skarpotchi,
Thanks for that referance. Thats just what I was looking for!
Kyle
You got that one right Skarpotchi it’s Bronze Green that I need. Thanks to the help I recieved I know now I need Gunze H-240, Tamiya XF-13 or Humbrol #75 for the forward part of the cockpit. I’m off to the Hobby shop now thanks to you Gents.
rcknjon
Since I’m up to my neck in Eduard builds lately, and they only reference the two “Hasegawa” brands of paint as does Trumpeter, I’ve decided to stop tearing my hair out and arrive at a solution. Because on top of the alien (to me) paint, Eduard makes constant mistakes even on those callouts they make, as well as typos in the numbers, wrong colors next to the numbers, anything to confuse the modeler. So, I printed the trusty chart linked above, clipped it to the selfsame IPMS Stockholm Humbrol Chart, and now I triple cross-check the colors with FS chips and Tamiya colors and arrive at an average (when I don’t have first hand references for the real colors so I can decide the color for myself, which is always preferable, but I can’t here because these are mostly WW I a/c builds with scant color research sources and of course no color photos except of restored or rebuilt a/c.
As for Bronze Green, the only one I know of is Humbrol’s, and so if their’s is too green for me on certain builds, as on many B-25’s and some Grumman planes from WW II, I mix my own. Since I have many contemporary and recent color photos (with modern film) of unrestored B-25 surfaces, I decided to mix my own, and did so using 70 percent MM Acryl Europe II Green with 30 percent Blue Angels Blue. Sounds outlandish, but what is often called bronze green (the color is supposed to mimic the patina on oxydized bronze) often has a very blue cast to it in most types of natural and incandescent light. You can put a few drops of OD in it just so you’ll feel more military. Who’s to know?
TOM
Thanks for the advice Tom. I read an article about assembling an Accurate Miniatures TBM Avenger and found this piece of advice using Tamiya paints.
Blue XF 17- 75% + Grey XF 54 25%
I was a bit sceptical as it’s mostly Blue however your post confirms the Blue aspect of the color. Anyway I have the necessary colors and I think perhaps I’ll give that a try. I’ll keep you posted on how it looks as the author claims it’s a real close match.
rcknjon
Kyle, rcknjon,
Anytime guys just passing on what the forum has taught me. Hope to see some Work In Process pics…If you dont mind?
You got it Skarpotchi I haven’t started the Avenger Yet I’m just finishing up a Tamiya 1/32 Zero (Weathering, Canopy, etc) now so I should start on my next project sometime next week.
By the way I checked out your profile and noticed you’re from Spring Texas are you anywhere near Big Spring Tx? Just curious as I’m a Singer/Musician by trade and I used to play out there a couple of years ago in a place called “Martha’s Hideaway”. Just wondering if you ever heard of the Gin Joint 
Thanks again for all your help Skarpotchi and I’ll keep you posted on the Avenger.
rcknjon
John
I fully agree with you in relation to this omission. I only worked this out because of my long associaion with trumpeter since they first stared producing models and my long term experience as a model builder. These are the numbers from Gunze Sangyo Mr Color Chart and the web site address is aTtached for your convenience. Enjoy
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/stuff_eng_colorcharts_mrcolor_map.htm
Hey thanks noelandjoy Much appreciated my friend.