Twenty-five years after building my last model, I thought I would give it another try and bought a Tamiya Wirbelwind. The instructions recommended a base coat of “dunkelgelb.” (Whatever happened to “yellow” or its cousin, “dark yellow”?) Not wanting to be arrested by the camoflage color police, I dutifully purchased a bottle of Model Master II Panzer Dunkelgelb 1943. However, the paint appears to have more olive in it than I anticipated, especially considering the box art shows a base coat of something like a cross between yellow and tan. I added some flat white to try to lighten the shade, but it is still more olive than yellow. Am I missing something here? Or did I buy the right paint? Does anyone have any suggestions for a more accurate base coat?
Thanks!
John
I’ve used this model master color several times and didn’t have any problems with it until my current project, a Tamiya Panzer IV J. I had the same problem as you did, the paint came out more greenish than dark yellow. The bottle was less than a month old. I tried mixing it with other colors to correct the problem, but ended up with a bigger mess than before. I finally stripped the paint and went with Humbrol 81. In addition to this color, I have had some problems with MM Gunmetal and Flat Black. I wish I knew what was wrong with their paints. If you can get them, try Humbrol, Polly Scale or Tamiya Acrylics.
Hi murrill,
I am not sure what went wrong there but I had done a Tamiya Mobelwagen which is somewhat similar to the Wirbelwind. I used Tamiya Dark Yellow as base coat and it worked just fine. If I remember it right, the plastic is of yellow color already so I needed only a light coat.
Adding more paint to your kit to catch the correct color may do more damage as you will drown some important details like panel lines, rivets, etc. If you don’t want to strip it, you may just try to compensate with a dark-brownish-weathering wash and dry brushing (with correct dark yellow color) to come close to the desired color schemes.
If you have the patience, you just as well strip the paint off.
Good luck.
I am a bit biased when it comes to paint. I rarely use enamel paint in my airbrush, but I know many modellers out there that swear by MM or Humbrol. IMO, Tamiya’s Dark Yellow is a very close match to Dunkelbelb. But remember, unlike other colors in the German RAL, the issued Dunkelgelb did not have an RAL number, thus there was not an exact color. I also get a nice dunkelgelb using Vallejo Model Air Dark Yellow.
I used to use modelmaster paints a lot. But lately I found that I prefer Tamiya.
I noticed a couple complaints about the MM dunklegelb being on the greenish side.
If you don’t mind trying acrylic paint and you need to shoot that color again you might want to give Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow a try. It shoots nicely.
I have an OLD Tiger II I painted years ago. I assume I used the Testor (possible Model Master) paint of the time. I recently went back and resprayed part of it with current Dunkelgelb, and it was an exact match. So, if Testor has the color wrong, it’s been wrong for at least 20 to 25 years.
Bill
I’ve used MM and it’s been on the green side also. I think it’s just their color. I like Tamiya’s dark yellow myself and definitely like using the acrylics better now that I’ve used Tamiy’s, for air brushing that is.
Eric
Thanks for the heads up guys, I have a panzer two that recommends that color! I’ll go with Tamiya on this one
John-
Ultimately…make yourself happy! That’s all that really matters.
Glenn