…This has gotten to of be a serious thorn in my side. I’ve been trying for a while now to get certain colors correct on my FW-190D and (hopefully) soon to start my BF-109s.
My problem is RLM 74 or maybe it’s RLM 75 (can’t remember right now), I think its “greenish gray”. Anyway when you open the paint bottle (in my case) Acryl, Polly scale, Gunze Sangyo, it does not look anything like greenish gray it just looks like “gray” I don’t see any green in it at all. To make things more confusing my Osprey book (samples) shows RLM 74 and 75 looking pretty much like what the aforementioned colors look like, HOWEVER; in the same book when they show the actual model the “greenish gray” (rlm 74) they use looks “greenish gray”. And it’s not just in Osprey it’s everywhere else, the greenish gray looks like greenish gray.
Anyway I’d appreciate the help, also please bare in mind that I’m not sure if it was 74 or 75, but it was definitely one of them.
RLM 74 is definitely darker than 75, which is more of a purple-gray.
Remember that when you open a bottle, the color you see wet is not necessarily the color you get when the paint dries. In the case of Acryl, look at an unshaken bottle, you’ll see purple pigment on the bottom that looks more like a car color than Luftwaffe.
Paint is also subjective. There is no one specific, perfect shade for German colors. Yes, there’s a standard, even 1929 Munsell codes that specifically outline hue, value, and chroma.
But the truth of the matter is, especially in late 1944 and early 1945, that German aircraft were painted with whatever was available at the time.
They key when painting a 74/75/76 scheme (or any other for that matter) is to be consistent in the brand of paint you use. Chances are that the colors are not perfect matches to the actual colors, but the contrast between corresponding colors is probably ok. When I spray Acryl 74/75/76, it looks like 74/75/76 when it dries…same with Gunze. Comparing two models using two different brands might not compare, but the level of contrast does.
Try to avoid using Gunze 74, Acryl 75, and Polly Scale 76 all on the same model…does this make any sense?
And PS: There’s only a couple of Luftwaffe color experts that I know of, and none of them hang around here!! There are however, a lot of knowledgable folks in our midst.
Jeff
Thanks Jeff, that makes perfect sense. And as a matter of fact thats exactly what I had done. I used Polly scael 76, acryl 75…
Thanks for the info!
This problem came up in a previous thread, someone had used RLM 78/79/80 on a desert 109. The problem was that he didn’t think the colors contrasted well, in fact, he was using different brands of paint. Once he repainted the underside color with a corresponding brand, the contrast changed and things “appeared” to be within acceptable limits to him.
Again, and I can’t stress it enough, no one will ever be able to produce the definitive RLM colors. There were color standards, but since paints were produced in numerous locations, and once applied to aircraft, subject to all sorts of environmental variables, the range of subtle differences between colors will always be there.
You also have to factor in scale effect (argh, yes, I said it), and take into consideration your lighting (in your shop) and your very own eyes. We all see colors differently and therefore have our own perceptions of what shades are correct or incorrect.
Jeff
Hey Goondman
Try using the Model Masters 2 line of Luftwaffe colors. I have used thier paints for years and they seem to match pretty well.
Partly, I think, the problems come form the names of the paints. RLM74 Graugrun isn’t very green, and RLM75 Grauviolett isn’t very violet.
As has been said, the best advice is to choose a range and stick to it. The relative values of the colours will be right. I use Xtracolor for WW2 German colours, but would be just as happy to use Poly Scale, Colourcoats, Model Master or Lifecolor.
Cheers,
Chris.
Check this web site: http://www.rlm.at/start.htm
Gumiflex