I am new to the FSM forum and need little help as I have got myself thoroughly confused looking at threads both here and other sites trying to find the correct colors for my new Eurofighter model.
I intend to build it as per the Jagdgeschwader 73 ”General Steinhoff”, Laage, Germany, July 2009 scheme. Instructions show 2 main colors:
A = 25% 301, white silky matt / 45% 374, grey silky matt and 30% 55, light green matt
D = 371 light grey silky matt
I have always used Tamia paints as I find them easiest to get locally, but am strugglig to find the Tamiya equivalent (I seem to get conflicting stories from different sources?!?!)
From what I have determined I think:
A = XF19 or 20 (FS35237) but bought the XF20 and doesn’t look right
D = XF 66
Is there anyone out there who has used Tamiya paints and found the right ones and can quickly help me out. I’ve literally spent hours trying to figure this out and it’s driving me mad [:@] (Looked in the shop tody at some of the AS spray cans to use for color A as this is for 95% of the external color (I hand paint and have not yet progressed to spray guns…will need a lot more experience before I try moving to that).
Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to give me
Might not be an exact match available. I have found at times It can be hard to match tamiya colors to non tamiya kits. Going to throw XF-80 as a potential match for the lighter grey based on my color chart and the google image of your paint scheme selection.
Hmmm… most likely RAF colors. I, too, hate it when they list x% mixed with y% to get the color you need.
If it’s listed with a FS number, well that makes it all a different story. I use to www.paint4models.com as my conversion chart. Screw the percentages when mixing paint.
D - 371 would be Model Master 4765 Light Grey (Tamiya XF66 or XF14)
A - Medium Grey sounds right for FS 35237 Although Tamiya and other brands do show different shades for this color of FS number. Model Master 4746 is Medium Grey. I would use Model Master Medium Grey.
You might also consider XF-25 Light Sea Grey as a possible candidate for the “A” colour. It has that slight bluish-green tinge that can be seen in many pics of Luftwaffe Typhoons.
XF-66 may be too dark for “D”, assuming that’s the colour for the radome and other lighter areas. XF-12 J.N. Grey or XF-19 Sky Grey perhaps?
I find Tamiya paint to be hard to match to anything other than Japanese subjects, plus the basics. An example is Olive Drab, no where as good a match as Model Master.
% mixing is the best way to go, and eyeball it.
Try a more directed web search. Often that will lead you to a special interest group about say German modern aircraft.
If the aircraft is Modern Luftwaffe, it will be in RAL standard colors most likely. Try some web searching in that direction. It may be something along the lines of the NORM 82 schemes worn on ICE F-4Fs.
Thanks to all below for your kind and useful info and suggestions. I have (after further searches based on the below advise) decided to use Hobby Color H337 (Greyish Blue FS35237) for the body and then XF-80 (Royal Light Grey) for leading edges etc. Again, thanks for all the help…you guys rock !! Steve
