Color to airbrush F-15E seats?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

What color do you people airbrush the seats in modern fighter aircraft such as the F-15E?
I am building the 1/48 Revell F-15E kit and I used Model Master flat black for the sides of the seat as well as the instrument panel and the color of the flat black is just too dark and does not look real. This flat black looks more like charcoal or midnight black. Would a real dark gray look better?
Suggestions?

Thanks

Mike

2

Here are some of the painting instructions for modern ejection seats that True Details includes with their resin cockpit interiors:

Seat frame - Gray FS 36492 or Black FS 37038
Seat cushions - Khaki FS 34088 or Black FS 37038
Headrest - Red FS 31302, Black FS 37038, Gray FS 36373, or
Khaki Green FS 34082
Drogue chute (on top) - Khaki Drab FS 34201
Oxygen bottle (under lower part of the seat back cushion) - Apple Green FS 14187
Survival kit (under forward seat frame) - Metalic Blue, no FS#
Sequencing and separation mechanisms - Steel, no FS#
Ejection handles - Stripes, Yellow FS 33636, Black FS 37038
Release handle - Stripes, Yellow FS 33636

They also add the following: “Due to the complexity of seats, it is best study reference material on the seat you are modeling to find out the exact colors needed.”

I hope this doesn’t cause any confusion. [:I]

Pete

3

Thanks Pete.

I guess a little experimenting is in order. I think I’ll start with white and keep adding drops of black until I get to the color I want. The straight flat black looks too fake for me. [:D]

Mike

4

http://www.ejectionsite.com/frame_sg.htm The F-15 version of the ACES II is Black btw.

5

Wow! Cool site Sven. Thanks. [:D]

Mike