I’m currently developing a little program to create paint inventory and cross referencing.
For the cross referencing I’m not using paint chips comparison but just official cross reference chart from each manufacturers that I will include in the database.
For example (the reference numbers I use here are not real) let say that Model Master says that their 1717 is basically the same color than Tamiya’s XF-34. Vallejo is saying that their 71087 is the same than Tamiya’s XF-34. Therefore Model Master 1717 should be very close to Vallejo 71087.
I also want to include an inventory system that says which paint I have so that I can compare it with its equivalent. Because of cross referencing I came to the realization that some of the colors I had in different brands were actually the same color.
One thing I want to do too is cross referencing with different standards (FS, ANA, RLM, RAL, and BS) and not use paint chips either. For example my references say that for my airplane, I need FS35042 but Model Master does not offer this color in Acrylic. With my software I would know that Vallejo 71087 is about the same or that I could also use Model Master 4686 which is FS15042 so same color but gloss which doesn’t really matter because I will put a gloss finish for decals and after a flat finish.
So I was just wondering if my ideas interest anybody (would you use it) or if I’m just wasting my time?
I am aware of it and use it but I have no idea how the cross-reference was built because they do not match what the manufacturers are saying. But I do want to create something similar but were we can use the data more effectively.
I am a software developer and have dabbed into this area before, just for kicks. Very quickly I realized the scope of this project was getting out of hand. So it got shelved.
Your idea can be a great tool for all of us, but a huge undertaking. Obviously it would have to be an improvement over whats already out and available. Phil mentioned paint4models which is good but not great. You also have ipmsstockholm’s paint charts, which are great but not that user friendly; too time consuming. Your monitor settings come into play as well (it actually shows the color on the screen)
One of your biggest obstacles is going to be the manufacture’s standards on paint information; there isn’t any. The verbiage and descriptions do not match and that fact that “red” here is not the same as “red” there, will leave you with the same problem the others have. That is applying the best-guess cross reference possible. That leaves it open to interpretation and debate (just like with the others). Either way its a great starting point in my opinion! Focus on usability and the editing. You have to allow for user-edits on your data.
Long story short… Great idea! It will not only help modelers but your programming skills (you are going to need them for this).
Thank you so much for your answer. I’m aware of ipmsstockholm as well as paint4models because there are the two databases I’m using for my models.
I’m aware that no matter what, the result will have mistake. As for official sources there is some available, for example for Model Master I have a book published by them called the “Modeler’s Technical Guide” which have a bunch of cross reference table. If you go on Vallejo’s website you have a bunch of cross reference table available as well and so is Humbrol (So far I haven’t got any further).
My goal was to take all those cross reference tables, put them all in database format and link them all together. Not to do any guesses on what color from one brand match which FS number or other brand.
Just taking the different tables available and linking them together to be able to compare everything at once.
I’m not planning to include any paint chips because they differ so much from one place to another. For example in my MM book I have paint chips for all the MM enamels but the paint chips for the same product on Testor website are totally different.
Like I said earlier there will be mistakes. For example in another post in the aircraft forum somebody asked what is the MM acryl and Tamiya for FS36118. For MM it is easy a quick search on Testor’s website will bring you Gunship Gray #4752 which have believe is accurate. Tamiya doesn’t have any equivalent but in my MM book it does says that MM Enamel 1723 which is the same as 4752 or FS36118 equal to Tamiya XF50 Field Blue. As Phil H pointed out in the post this is not correct but that is what MM officially said in their book.
Finally, because of the lack of response I got on this forum I doubt there is a real interest in this tool so I will certainly spend more time modeling than developing that tool.
I think it is a good idea. I did the same sort of thing using Microsoft Access. I have all the tables I could find loaded and I put in a check box so I will know if I have the paint. All tables are cross linked so I can do a lookup query on any of the paints n the database. Works good for me and is close enough…only drawback is that I am bad about keeping it up to date with what I have.
Something I’ve wanted to do…and may do in like 40 years when I have the time…is create my own paint chips out of all the various paints I have, scan them into the computer, and then convert the color values to hex codes. Do the same with the various FS, RLM, AMT, ANA, etc color standards. Then be able to compare and contrast, determine closest matches, etc.
I’ve got an iPhone app, iModelKit, that includes a nifty little paint mixer feature…but the colors are limited to web samples from the major paint brands. A tool like that, combined with the ability to scan your own chips, etc, would be perfect.
Doogs, the reason that I’m not going to work with paint sample is that the one provided by website are totally innacurate and to do something correct you would need to have every colors from every manufacturer, paint the chip at the same time and scan all of them at the same time. (at least in my opinion that would be how to get something very accurate)
It would be almost impossible to do and very costly. But if it’s something you want to do go for it. At first it was kinda my original idea but when I discover all of the different interpretation of colors available everywhere on the web it got me dizzy.
Deafpanzer, I will look if I can find info about life color. That is why I started this thread in the first place to figure out what people want. Not sure if I will do it but it is good to have different ideas