Need help with colors for Tamiya Wildcat

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I want to do this aircraft in either the the basic two colors or the 3 color scheme used in 1943 and beyond.

I know the basic two colors for the early war years are blue gray and sky gray. I want to use a spray as opposed to airbrush. Can you tell me what colors to use based upon either Tamiya or Testors sprays? Names and FS numbers would be great. I am going with sprays since I have not yet gotten an airbrush.

For the 1943 color scheme, it is intermediate blue, insignia white and sea blue. Need the same info on these colors. I found both a Tamiya intermed. blue and a Testors Model Master Intermediate Blue as well as a Testors MM Deep Sea Blue. Will these be accurate? Can I use a basic flat white for the Insignia white?

Thanks, Heavyweight

2

Hi Heavyweight… You are limited by what is available in rattle-cans, naturally. Your flat white should be fine…the intermediate blue also. The deep blue might be too dark, I cannot say. Spray some on a test piece and make a judgement.

If that is too dark…try finding a ‘royal blue’…or ‘true blue’ and check that. With rattle cans, things can look various shades lighter or darker depending on what you are painting.

3

From the color chips on the Squadron site, the Testors colors should work.

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Wayne, thanks. Can you think of a Testors or Tamiya Gray that would approximate Sky Gray/Blue Gray which the early Wildcats were painted with? Heavyweight

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Thanks for the advice on this. Heavyweight

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Tamiya does not make Navy Blue Gray, and Testors does not put it in a spray can, according to Squadron, Roll Models, and Testors web site.

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I’m currently building a Wildcat…not to the painting stage yet (I WILL be airbrushing), because I also can’t find a suitable match for the early “blue/gray”. Have an FS#, but no manufacturers appear to make that color.

What does the Tamiya Wildcat instruction sheet say for mixing ratios using their own paint?

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Thanks. I do seem to remember a mixing ratio…maybe this will be the kit to get me into airbrushing!!! I will let you know. Heavyweight

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Gee, Marc,…years ago Polly S made the non-spec(NS) sea blue, NS sea grey and Dark Gull grey that all fit the F-4-F at various times depending on scheme. I believe there are similar colors out there. If you don’t get any better responses…I can look up the exact colors and help you track them down.

Those old Polly S were acrylics

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OK. The question was for rattle cans. No one makes rattle cans in blue gray. Testors puts FS 36440, light gray, gull gray, the bottom color for the blue gray/light gray scheme in a rattle can. Both Testors and Polly Scale make Navy blue gray. Whether you think it is a match for authenic blue gray is your decision. The Monogram guide does not give an ANA or FS number for the color. There is an FS number floating around. Most well equipped on-line stores should have one or both of the manufacturers. It wiill have to be brushed or airbrushed. I also have a formula for blue gray, but it is with the old Pactra paints, and it will have to be brushed or airbrushed, if you can find equivalent colors.