The weather is slowly warming up here in New England, so I’m gonna tackle my Has Bf109 Hahn to get back in the modeling groove for the spring/summer. Yay! Looks like a relatively painless build.
So–this being my first German and WWII A/C build ever, I have a couple of questions about color (sorry if this thread should go in the Painting/Airbrushing forum).
I typically use MM enamels, but see that the Mess calls for RLM colors. What’s everyone’s favorite RLM brand? Is Floquil OK? I don’t have much experience airbrushing acrylics, but don’t mind trying something new.
When finished, should the Mess have a dead flat finish, or semi-gloss?
As far as brand goes I think it’s more personal perference and what’s easy for you to obtain in your area. I use MM acrlyic mainly becasue I like the easy clean up and quick dry time. Many modelers do not like acrlyic paint and have lot of problems with it. I know MM carries a full line of RLM colors in both enamel and acrlyic. The finish on early new luftwaffe aircraft was a semi gloss up to F early G 109’s. Later in the war even factory new was a flat (but not a dead flat)finish. Paint back then was not very good and weathered very quickly, espcially in combat conditions. Finally I think as far as luftwaffe aircaft are concerned it more important to get the contrast right between the camo colors and molt more then the actual shade of the color in question. As long as the color is close and you have the dark and light’s correct places who’s to say it’s worng.
I use Model Master enamels. Here’s the list I used on my shopping trip to fill my stocks. http://www.xs4all.nl/~rhorta/jgrlm.htm. If you sit there and look at all the bottles you will think “God, all these greys, greens and browns look the same.” There are very minute shades that some aircraft will call for like Grauviolett RLM 75. It looks like a different shade of grey, I can’t see a touch of violet in it anywhere but when you spray it on your model over another grey you will see a big difference. All the ones I have used dry to a flat or matte finish…Look around the boards for preference of flat vs. semi-gloss finishes. There are MANY more qualified opinions than mine out there !!![:D]
Here is another great site for RLM colors. They give the RLM #, FS #, and MM and other brand equivalents. Unfortunately, they haven’t filled in the numbers for MM enamels but they do exist. Hope it helps! [tup]
Because I’m familiar with MM enamels, I’ll stick with them and use their RLM equivalents, per the very handy link you provided, BostonBruins. The instructions for the Mess call for RLM71 dark green, RLM70 black green, RLM02 gray, RLM04 yellow, RLM23 red, RLM65 light blue, and RLM66 black gray.
As for the final finish, guess I’ll go flat, with a little bit of weathering (also something new for me).
Making my shopping list for the 109. Yay! However, I’m having a hard time finding MM enamel FS equivalents for two of the RLM colors:
–RLM70 - Black Green
–RLM65 - Light Blue
And of course, both colors figure prominently in the paint scheme (camo and underside).
Using the charts that BostonBruins and Daywalker provided and cross-referencing the FS colors, I either can’t find the FS colors on the Testors web site, or the alternatives don’t seem right (ie, not enough contrast in the camo scheme).
What MM enamels might you guys use for Black Green and Light Blue?
I live by those charts whenever I’m working on Luftwaffe projects. It was way cool for someone to take the time and actually compile all that info. Great stuff!
But I still don’t have MM color matches for RLM Black Green and Light Blue.
Hm.
PB
PS–Ah, after more Web sleuthing, I see that RLM Black Green equivalent is Marine Corps Green…so what colors do you guys use for the bottom of your 109s? MM light gray?
I have both bottles for the RLM 70 schwarzgrun and RLM 65/78 hellblau. You will notice a few variants of the same damn color!!! The lichtblau (light blue) RLM 76 actually does a better job as an under wing and fuselage color and some kits go with this… The hellblau is a bit darker. Testor/Model Master’s site has them listed as item #'s 2080 (schwarzgrun) and 2087 hellblau or 2078 hellblau (go figure…they are both semi-gloss) 2086 is the lichtblau. I have the full upc code if you still need it!! Happy hunting.
Oh! Thanks! I didn’t realize I could search the Testor’s site using the German names. So I guess I’ll use the Lichtblau, if that’s the better under-wing color. Then I’ll use Marine Corps Green (as a substitute for RLM Black Green) and Dark Green for the camo. Apparently, the prop blades are also Marine Corps Green (ie, Black Green).
I know I’m late in showing up for the game, and I’d hate to compound the issue even more, but I myself have always been a big fan of acrylics, especially brands like Gunze and Tamiya. As far as ease of use and cleanup, I don’t know how it could get better. Buy you some big bottles of 91% isopropyl alcohol, and you’re all done–it works for thinner, cleaner, whatever. It dries pretty much on contact as well.
I know that Model Master Acryl stuff is pretty good as well, and they do have the full range of colors. For some, thinning with distilled water works fine, but it always seems to dry too slow for me. Tamiya and Gunze seem to have discontinued some of the RLM colors (much to my chagrin,) but you can still find some here and there on ebay. Not long ago I bought a whole batch of RLM off of ebay. Sometimes they pop up.
Here’s one of mine done in Gunze RLM 02/71/65. Prop is 70. Interior is 66:
and a closer look:
I’ll search around a little bit and see if I can find you some paint!
Thanks for the info, Drummy, and no need to go rummaging around your garage! Because I already own a majority of the colors needed for this kit in MM enamels, and it’s such a small kit, I’ll stick with enamels for now. Of course I’m open to trying acrylics for future kits, as I’m still a novice and in the trying-everything-to-see-what-works-for-me stage. I’m going to my LHS tomorrow–if they don’t have the RLM enamels, I’ll just order them online.
Acrylic vs enamel–another one of those Religious Wars that will never end.
PB
PS–Nice 109! One day I’ll be able to do mottled camo like that…maybe.
I know. It’s a war that won’t ever end. And I’m ok with that-- leaves more acrylic paints for me to buy up!! [}:)]
Just as far as I’m concerned, enamels have always been problematic for me. They take awhile to dry, stink to high heaven, and have to be cleaned up with something else that stinks to high heaven. You can’t use an oil based wash over them (unless you throw down an acrylic overcoat first.) It’s been years since I’ve used them, and honestly have no desire to ever go back. I still use the stuff for detail painting, as its longer drying time allows you to brush paint a bit smoother, in my opinion.
I’ve got some feelers out to some of my old buddies. I’ll see if I can drum up some acrylics–maybe for next time! Give those enamels a try. I’m in no way saying that you can’t get amazing results with them. Like you mentioned, do try different things before you settle!
And thanks for the kind words on the 109. The smooth finishes I get from Gunze acrylics are one reason that I’m completely sold on the stuff!!
OK, made a successful trip to my LHS, and got all the RLM colors along with CA glue, putty, micro set and micro sol, Tamiya tape, and dullcote. Hobby and computer stores are bad for my wallet.
Only thing I don’t have is a color for the tires. I didn’t see a rubber or tire color in the MM enamels. So maybe I’ll just use a flat black or dark gray.
I wouldn’t recommend the testors “rubber” color…I tried it and it looks too brown, almost like cheap licorice. Took forever to dry and just wasn’t very durable. I second that about hobby and computer stores being bad for the wallet…Everytime I turn around I’m bringing home a bigger hard drive (750GB) or more ram (who says 4 gigs are too much???) or whatever…At least the wife has no idea because it’s hidden inside the computer and not taking up space in the closet where she can spot it!!! [;)]
