Ok, I know this has probably been asked before but I wanted to know what color the dark F-15E Strike Eagle is. Here’s a pic of the one i’m talking about.
Thanks for the help.
Medicman,
You are looking for Gunship Grey. Polyscale by Testors has it in acrylic. I think the nose cone is the same color maybe lightened due to fading.
Hope this helps. I hae a 1/72 kit from Academy in the stash. Great plane.
Travis
Yeah, Gunship Grey. The FS# is 36118
All my references say overall FS118, but when I examined several dozen photos, almost everyone the nose was a different color than the body of the plane. The odd thing was, that some were lighter and some were darker! And even if you look at the photo you provided, the plane has a bit more of a dark blue-ish tint to me than the nose. I guess a little artistic freedom is in order here.
Also, that color is available in Testors MM enamels if that is your choice.
That’s what I though it might be but I wanted an expert opinion. Thanks again…gotta go get some paint.
The nose of the F-15E is similar to that of the F-16, in that it is a slightly different material than the rest of the airframe. That being said it does fade or darken depending on the area it is in service. Not sure what the material difference is, but I am sure it has to with the radar being there.
Travis
Same reply as STFD ; the nose cover is not metal but a kind of resin and this stuff behaves differently on sun. Jake Melampy explains in Reed Air book on the F 16 (must verify if he does in the F 15 book ) that nose fades until it is replaced ( I bet it is not due to cosmetic but to mechanical reasons ) so you can find different hues on a same line of F 16 .
I kind of figured it had to be the material of the radar dome. This is something I’ll have to keep in mind though when I ever get around to doing one of the two F-15E kits I have on the shelf.
As with being a different material, the radome is also replaced quite frequently for repair. It would be impossible to match the color of the faded airframe.
All Production F-15Es were and are overall Gunship Gray 36118. The nose cones are painted in the same shade but will fade faster than the rest of plane. In cases where you see the nose cone is darker is a good indication that it was recently replaced or repainted. Check out photographs of the particular bird you are building and adjust accordingly. Anyway, good luck and have fun.
I agree with this post. Sincethe material is not metal and hollow for the instruments inside, the color is dependent on how it absorbs or reflects light which explains the variation in color
Has anyone ever used Tamyia paint? What colors would you have to mix together to get gunship grey?
Fly-in-hi,
I wouldn’t. It would be pretty difficult to get that exact color. Testors makes it in acrylic, if that is the issue. I use acrylics almost exclusively (except for metalizers). You can actually order right off the testors site. Cost is about $4 for 1/2 oz I think. Good luck.
Travis
Yes. I’ve used Testors Model Master acryllics on several models and I really don’t like it. That’s why I’d like to know what the Tamiya equivalent of Gunship Grey is. Model Master has a really bad habit of peeling off with masking tape applied to it. Tamiya holds on to the the model way better. I also really like Aqueous Hobby Color/Mr. Color acryllics. The only advantage MM has is the color selection is really good…but I don’t mind mixing Tamiya paints to get the colors I want.
Tamiya > Model Master.
Actually, I just remembered that the Tamiya Gunship Grey mixture is on their F-16CJ instructions.
That works out great with the Tamiya instructions. I looked I my paint and it is the Poly S from Testors. I haven’t run into the problem with the peeling…yet! I hope I don’t. The only time I have had issues is when I don’t give the paint enough time to dry (usually when I am on a roll).
I love the Gunze Aqueous Paints too. I have a place in Orlando that still has themin stock. I usually stock up when I am there! I have no idea where they get them.
The Mr. Color I had problems with. They say they are acrylic, but I can’t get the paint off with water! It smelled like enamel paint. Know anything about that? It’s a bummer cause they have a bunch I nice colors.
Travis/STFD 637
The “Mr Color” paints are “lacquer” based. They’re not water based, and as far as I know, aren’t affected by regular enamel thinners.I
rather suspect that they are an acrylic formula using a high-alcohol content “lacquer thinner” as a reducer. Remember that “acrylic” doesn’t necessarily mean “water based”.
I figured that out a little late. I usually use windex or rubbing alcohol to thin the paint. I used acohol in this case and the paint turned into “gum” instantly! I figured that it was similar to the old Gunze Sangyo paint…nope! Although it is still advertised on Ebay as Acrylic. The odor was the other factor…really…really strong! I will stick to my aeromaster, Poly S, MM, and Tamiya. Water and Windex is my friend![blkeye]
Travis/STFD637
I am not sure of Tamiya but for Gunze. You can try aircraft flat light grey added with little flat black to achieve the desire dark grey.
I will rate Gunze better than Tamiya paint.
I don’t know. I thought that Mr. Color was the same as Aqueous Hobby Color…just renamed.
Gunze Sangyo/GSI Creos have run the two lines side by side in some countries for many years. “Mr Color” is lacquer based and “Aqueous Hobby Color” are “water” (alcohol) based.
The Aqueous range are in squat round jars similar to the Tamiya 10ml “Mini” jars and have a “H-” prefix on the paint code/number. Thin with GSI Creos :Hobby Color" (aqua/green label) aquesous thinner or Tamiya X-20A acrylic thinner.
The “Mr Color” range come in round jars with a cap which tapers into a flat “paddle blade” shape and the paint codes/numvers have no prefix. Thin with Mr Color (blue label) or Tamiya lacquer thinners or a compatible hardware store generic lacquer thinner.