advice on paint shades

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Hiya all

I’ve discovered that finding the correct shades of paint for Russian aircraft can be quite difficult, at least in my neck of the woods.

I’m currently piecing together an Academy Su27 and need a bit of input re the following:

referring to the shades of blue/grey indicated, I would like to know if there is a mistake.

according to my (relative noob) understanding, Humbrol 89(9)+34(1) means mix 9 parts middle blue with 1 part white.

and

Humbrol 89(7)+34(3) means mix 7 parts middle blue with 3 parts white.

My question is why does the less ‘diluted’ shade appear lighter in the graphic? Logic dictates the more white involved, the lighter the resulting mix, not so? Should I just swap those 2 around? This could be a totally irrelevant and unimportant question, but it would be nice to begin painting and not realise halfway in that I’ve made a mistake. I’ve stripped the paint once already and don’ want to do this again…

[:)]

2

Looks to me as if there has been an error made in the instruction sheet (the two formulas have been switched during printing) - I would try taking the two formulas and use drops in place of parts and mix a small amount of each color and see what the results are.

3

that’s what I thought. Thanks.

4

I wonder if the ratios are right but the paint numbers themselves have been transposed…

eg:

1 part (89) blue to 9 parts (34) white for the first,

and

3 parts (89) blue to 7 parts (34) white for the second

EDIT: Oops - never mind - Brain fade moment… [xx(]