An Outstanding result.
There are a few Tamiya 1/32 kits on my list and this is one of them. I need to lower my stash a bit and see what AM is actually available so I can make a plan.
Generally I do prefer Kabuki tape masks (Maketar) to vinyl masks, but sometimes you have no choice depending on what you want to do, although Maketar do have a custom order facility on their website if they don’t have a ready to purchase set available. You just need to do some research and use a conversion site so you can choose your type of mask and size and media.
I am very careful when it comes to paint. AK’s “Real Colour” is not as real as people think it is as the company uses “Scale Conversion” which is lighter than the original chipset. When they first released the range I aquired the RAL 7028 Dunkelgelb to compare with the real thing which I purchase for my restored Panzers from a company in Germany who makes it from their archive and compares it to their batch samples and original chipsets before sending it to me.
I was suprised to see that on testing, none of the AK Real Colors RAL 7028 Dunkelgelb matched the chipset or variants or the 3 batch samples I have and use which are original and match chipsets etc. In fact they were way out in shade and hue and look like what they used was ficticious or had been out in the sunshine and weather for a very long time.
Now I do know that Vallejo do not have this policy and their paints are Chipset accurate and I bet if you compared AK’s Ocean Grey to Vallejo Ocean Grey you will find AK’s much lighter than Vallejo’s.
MRP’s RAF insignia paints are chipset correct as I have no doubt you noticed and are nice to work with. I am considering getting a few of their paints and colour testing to see if their paints are shade different for camouflage etc.
I do Use AK paints when I have to and their Xtreme Metal range sits alongside Vallejo’s Metal Color range and although there is a “Crossover” in colour names, the shades are slightly different which gives me a greater tonal value as well as some metal colours which are not available in one range are available in the other. I have and do use both side by side on projects frequently.
My current Hellcat builds are all Vallejo apart from the metalwork on the engines of which the Cylinders are Xtreme stainless steel, the intake pipes Vallejo steel and the exhaust Xtreme burnt metal. Vallejo steel is just a tiny bit darker than Xtreme metal steel and therefore is a better contrast against the Stainless Steel which has a sligh barely noticable blueish tinge.
Paint is a preference and some paints are more accurate colourwise than others and some are better quality than others. It is up to modellers to spend time working out which is good for them.
Still. I am aware how good Tamiya’s recent prep aircraft are and are on my list to build and paint. An outstanding job done there and you should be proud of it!
