Airfix Nimrod and Vallejo paint

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I have been building an Airfix Nimrod MR2 in 1/72. I have to say Airfix has really gotten its act together. This has been a great kit where just about everything fit (except the front glass, oh well).

Anyway, I got to where it was time to paint and my best judgement for an RAF subject said I probably should have used humbrol paints, but being in the US they are hard to come by. This meant my choices were Gunze or Vallejo. I hate the smell of Gunze, so I gave Vallejo a try.

Anyway, For the underside, I used regular Vallejo camoflage gray, thinned with Tamiya thinner. It went on ok, leveled beautifully and ended up looking pretty good… Except, I think it is a little too light.

For the topside I thought I had hit the jackpot Vallejo makes a modelair hemp color that I was told matched RAF hemp. It sprayed on beautifully but after 8 hours drying it looks like more of a faded olive drab than what I have grown to consider RAF hemp.

I know from experience seeing the occasional VC-10 or Tristar pass through the US, RAF aircraft look pretty rough so my question is: Was hemp originally fairly green and just faded fast or is it really closer to a tan and Vallejo missed the boat?

So any thoughts? I could probably paint another vallejo color over the “hemp” or should I go back to the drawing board and get humbrol hemp?

2

Hemp looks to be one of these colours that can vary quite a bit depending of how bright or dull the weather is & what camera settings are used. Here are a couple of pics, the first two show hemp as I would expect it to look, whereas the last pic shows a Canberra which would have been painted around about the same time as the first, but looks completely different - possibly to do with the lighting where it was photographed;

3

The bottom Canberra seems to be about what comes out of the Vallejo bottle only a hair lighter. If I get a chance tonight I will snap some pictures.

I guess I will chalk it up to variations in paint batches and lighting.

4

Where are you finding the Gunze paint? Last time I looked for Gunze i was told they no longer import it to USA for some odd labeling reason I believe.

5

My local hobby shop stocks it… Hill Country Hobby in San Antonio, TX.

It appears Greatmodels stocks it as well (www.greatmodels.com)

6

Just treated myself to that “Mighty Hunter”. Interested to see what you guys come up with. There’s a big bag of AM stuff available too. Any thoughts?

7

Just FYI:

Gunze’s “Hemp” is pretty close to Tamiya XF-57 Buff, but very slightly greyer.

8

I would say the interior PE is a total waste. You won’t be able to see it. Intake covers would be a good idea, but mine will be in flight so no covers for me.

I would kill for a set of decals, if the instrument panel is any indication the kit ones are horrible.

I may look into stinking up the garage, and giving myself a buzz with the gunze hemp.