The Ship Model Forum

by **tincan sailor** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 11:20 am

The best paints I have run across is Colourcoats from White Ensign.
They have the following USN paints which is a greater range than Testors and one does not have to worry about them being discontinued ;
US 01 Prewar #5 STANDARD NAVY GRAY
US 02 Prewar #20 STANDARD DECK GRAY
US 03 Early 1941 5-L LIGHT GRAY
US 04 Early 1941 5-D DARK GRAY
US 05 Late 1941 5-H HAZE GRAY
US 06 Late 1941 5-O OCEAN GRAY
US 07 5-S SEA BLUE
US 08 5-N NAVY BLUE
US 09 5-B THAYER BLUE
US 10 1942 REVISED DECK BLUE 20-B
US 11 FLIGHT DECK STAIN 21
US 12 5-P PALE GRAY
US 13 1943 5-L LIGHT GRAY
US 14 NORFOLK 65A ANTI-FOULING RED
US 15 MAHOGANY FLIGHT DECK STAIN
US 16 20-G DECK GREEN
US 17 5-HG, HAZE GREEN
US 18 5-LIGHT GREEN REVISED
US 19 5-OG OCEAN GREEN
US 20 5-NG NAVY GREEN
US 21 5-PG PALE GREEN REVISED
US 22 #1 GREEN
US 23 #2 GREEN
US 24 #3 GREEN
US 25 #4 BROWN
US 26 MTB GREEN
US 27 NORFOLK 250-N FLIGHT DECK STAIN
US 28 LATE WWII #27 NEUTRAL HAZE GRAY
US 29 TROPICAL GREEN
US 30 USN BUFF - Used on upperworks of US ships from the 19th Century to the 1930's.

I have ordered from WhiteEnsign numerous times and the service is outstanding. I received the items faster from them than I do from most U.S. mail order sites.
This link will get you to a list of their paints;
http://www.whiteensignmodels.com/brochu ... rcoats.htm
The lists are up to date.

Bill

by **PetrOs** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:11 am

father&son wrote:Thanks PetrOs! And thanks for the link to aircraft colors, you guys have been a big help and I appreciate it! Now to see if I can actually find these colors..........

Gary

You are welcome! Its always great to see people coming back to this hobby, and bringing their kids to it, too! ;o)
I hope you and your son would have a long lasting fun in shipmodel building! ;o)

by **father&son** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:18 am

Thanks PetrOs! And thanks for the link to aircraft colors, you guys have been a big help and I appreciate it! Now to see if I can actually find these colors..........

Gary

by **PetrOs** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 5:21 am

father&son wrote:I realized that it would help if you knew what the colors are for. I also located a color chart for the MM marine acrylics:

http://www.testors.com/tes_cds/color_ch ... rylic).pdf

"A" is the main color, covers most of the hull and superstructure. From what I have learned so far, 5N Navy Blue (#4241) should cover that.

"B" & "C" are apparently not used if you are building the Enterprise version.

"D" is the deck color. Deck Blue 20B (#4243) should cover that.

"E" is the hull bottom. Anti-Fouling Red seems more brownish to me on the chart, would that be correct or should I use one of the other reds like maybe Navy Red (#4222) ?

"F" appears to be an interior wall and floor color. It is also an option for the interior of the launches. The Revell color chart show it as a dark gray color. Would Navy Dark Gray (#4220) work or would you reccomend another color?

"G" is the screw color. Since I plan on using acrylic on the ship, and can't seem to find anything in the MM arylics to match, would it be o.k. to paint them with an enamel bronze metallic?

"H" seems to only be used on the airplane propellers, a matt black. Would Tar (#4212) work for that?

"I" is a silver mettalic used for the searchlight lenses and airplane canopies. Could I just use an enamel silver metallic or do you have a better suggestion?

"J" is a light gray used on the underside of the planes (Dauntless). Would #5 Light Gray (#4236) be a good color for that?

"K" is the top color for the planes. Would Maritime Blue (#4219) be a good match for that?

"L" is just gloss black and is only used on the name plaque.

"M" is a gold metallic and is also only used on the plaque

"N" is an optional darker blue for the top of the planes

"O" is an optional color for the inside of the launches

Hopefully I will get this figured out soon and I won't have to bother you nice folks with it anymore.

G/I - yeah, its fine to use enamels for some parts, and acrylics for others
Just let the colors dry well, before using other one.

E- I would still think Anti-fouling red would be the more "right" color, but navy red also looks fine.

F- yeah, i think it'll do the job

H- yeah

J/K - according to http://aerofiles.com/USNcolors.html all USN aircraft were painted light gray overall until 43. So blue upper sides would be wrong.. #5 Light gray would be a kind of a good approximation for that as it seems to me.

by **Timmy C** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 12:52 am

Probably because there aren't enough of us ship guys buying them, so why produce something that don't generate income? It sucks, but crap happens =(

by **Jason M.** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 12:50 am

RNfanDan wrote:
[/quJust a word on Testor's Model Master Marine acrylics--these were based on Snyder & Short color references, very accurate and of good quality.

UNFORTUNATELY, Testor's is discontinuing their MMM Line of acrylics. They are still available from remaining stocks however, and I've had good luck acquiring most of their product range, recently.

ote]

WHAT!!!???? NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I love these paints, and its the only ones I use!!

WHY DO THE SHIP GUYS GET SCREWED ALL THE TIME!!? I guarantee they aren't discontinuing any AIRCRAFT colors!

by **father&son** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:42 pm

O.K. the link to the color chart didn't work. If you go here:

http://www.testors.com/brand_category.asp?brandNbr=4

And then click on the link at the top for MM marine acrylics it should bring up a pdf file of the color chart.

by **father&son** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:18 pm

I realized that it would help if you knew what the colors are for. I also located a color chart for the MM marine acrylics:

http://www.testors.com/tes_cds/color_ch ... rylic).pdf

"A" is the main color, covers most of the hull and superstructure. From what I have learned so far, 5N Navy Blue (#4241) should cover that.

"B" & "C" are apparently not used if you are building the Enterprise version.

"D" is the deck color. Deck Blue 20B (#4243) should cover that.

"E" is the hull bottom. Anti-Fouling Red seems more brownish to me on the chart, would that be correct or should I use one of the other reds like maybe Navy Red (#4222) ?

"F" appears to be an interior wall and floor color. It is also an option for the interior of the launches. The Revell color chart show it as a dark gray color. Would Navy Dark Gray (#4220) work or would you reccomend another color?

"G" is the screw color. Since I plan on using acrylic on the ship, and can't seem to find anything in the MM arylics to match, would it be o.k. to paint them with an enamel bronze metallic?

"H" seems to only be used on the airplane propellers, a matt black. Would Tar (#4212) work for that?

"I" is a silver mettalic used for the searchlight lenses and airplane canopies. Could I just use an enamel silver metallic or do you have a better suggestion?

"J" is a light gray used on the underside of the planes (Dauntless). Would #5 Light Gray (#4236) be a good color for that?

"K" is the top color for the planes. Would Maritime Blue (#4219) be a good match for that?

"L" is just gloss black and is only used on the name plaque.

"M" is a gold metallic and is also only used on the plaque

"N" is an optional darker blue for the top of the planes

"O" is an optional color for the inside of the launches

Hopefully I will get this figured out soon and I won't have to bother you nice folks with it anymore.

by **PetrOs** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:05 am

I think G is for the ships screws, a darker kind of bronze. Any bronze color would do the job i think. I use tamiya acrylics for that, but testors, floqul, and i think every company would have it in range.

E - Hull red can be for example Testors 4228 Anti-Fouling red

K is the grey-blue for the aircraft. I think wildcats were painted dark blue, but dauntlesses and devastators carried the light blue grey coating

by **Bill Waldorf** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:02 am

father&son wrote:Okay, this is the list of colors I am looking at:

http://www.testors.com/catalog_browse.asp?ictNbr=45

I found 5-N navy blue (item #4241) and Deck blue 20B (item#4243). Not sure about the rest. I looked through the instructions to see where K was used and found out that it is the color of the top of the planes, so I'm guessing that would be an aircraft color? I really appreciate everyones help! As you can tell, I'm pretty much clueless on the colors. I'm just trying to compile a shopping list for this weekend!

Top of the aircraft is dark blue. I use Floquil model RR paint for this. Enamel based. Color is Dark Blue-F 110050. You can add a little black to it, not much, a few drops.

by **father&son** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:55 pm

Okay, this is the list of colors I am looking at:

http://www.testors.com/catalog_browse.asp?ictNbr=45

I found 5-N navy blue (item #4241) and Deck blue 20B (item#4243). Not sure about the rest. I looked through the instructions to see where K was used and found out that it is the color of the top of the planes, so I'm guessing that would be an aircraft color? I really appreciate everyones help! As you can tell, I'm pretty much clueless on the colors. I'm just trying to compile a shopping list for this weekend!

by **Avery Boyer** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:47 pm

Enterprise carried MS-21 overall US Navy blue. 5N overall, with deck blue 20B decks at the time of the battle of Midway.

So anything that goes on the hull=5N. Decks=20B.

E would be Hull red, G would be gun metal, don't know about the others.

by **father&son** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:44 pm

UNFORTUNATELY, Testor's is discontinuing their MMM Line of acrylics. They are still available from remaining stocks however, and I've had good luck acquiring most of their product range, recently.

That figures! I was looking at the Testors site and was kinda leaning towards using the MM acrylics since they seem to have a pretty good selection of marine colors to choose from. I might just have to make a trip to the nearest hobby shop and see what they have. Anyone have some conversion suggestions from Revell to Model masters? I have suggestions above for the mixed colors A,B,C & D. How about for E,G & K? They don't have to be perfectly accurate, I just want something close. My son will be still be happy.

by **RNfanDan** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:04 pm

mike mccabe wrote:On the Testors site there is a range of acrylic paints made for naval models, but I haven't looked through them all to see which they have in the enamel range. Best thing is always to try your local model shop if you are lucky enough to have one, otherwise there are plenty of on-line shops you can mail order from if you get stuck.

Mike

Just a word on Testor's Model Master Marine acrylics--these were based on Snyder & Short color references, very accurate and of good quality.

UNFORTUNATELY, Testor's is discontinuing their MMM Line of acrylics. They are still available from remaining stocks however, and I've had good luck acquiring most of their product range, recently.

Another source for USN colors is PollyScale brand paint, which I have obtained from Tower Hobbies, from whom I have always received excellent service. I understand Walthers also carry PollyScale, but I don't know if they have the military colors in stock.

In any case, I have had good results with both MMM and PollyScale, regardless of the vendor. Nice to see that the hobby is being passed along to a younger generation (we need more like them) !

by **largeallan** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 7:50 pm

I came across this 'mixing' colours on my Revell QM2.....what a load of ole pants IMO......I mixed up their 'suggested' deck colour to their exact recipe, and guess what?.....It doesnt even look remotely correct to my eye.....and in fact, while I'm on a rant......If they cant spend the time making a decent model for the illustrations on their boxes, then whats the chances of them sweating over the right colour of paint mixtures?...not much I'll bet.

do what looks right to your own eye is my opinion on this

by **mike mccabe** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 7:11 pm

Gary
I just had a quick look at http://www.testors.com and they have a long list of paints. Avery is probably right I think in what he says about the colours which are the main ones needed for the camoflage scheme. On the Testors site there is a range of acrylic paints made for naval models, but I haven't looked through them all to see which they have in the enamel range. Best thing is always to try your local model shop if you are lucky enough to have one, otherwise there are plenty of on-line shops you can mail order from if you get stuck.

Mike

by **father&son** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 6:47 pm

Sorry! I didn't know the numbers were important. Here is the corrected list:

"A"=25% white matt5 + 70%greyish blue matt79 + 5%blue matt56
"B"=67%grey matt57 + 33%greyish blue matt79
"C"=grey matt57
"D"=90%tank grey matt78 + 10%blue matt56
"E"=75% fiery red, silky-matt330 + 25% rust matt83
"F"=dust grey matt77
"G"=80%brass metallic92 + 20%black matt8
"H"=black matt8
"I"=silver metallic90
"J"=light grey matt76
"K"=80%grey matt57 + 20%greyish blue matt79
"L"=black gloss7
"M"=gold metallic94
"N"=blue matt56
"O"=ochre brown matt88

We are going to be building the Enterprise version. What would be the colors for that? I haven't researched this too much so I will have to see what Testors has. I would be surprised to find that they didn't have marine colors though.

Thanks again for all the responses!

Gary

by **Avery Boyer** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:36 pm

A probably refers to US Navy Seablue 5S. B would be Ocean Grey 5O, C would be Haze Grey 5H, D would be Deck Blue 20B. I am going under the assumption that this would be Yorktown at the battle of Midway, as depicted on the box. If that's what your going for, than these would be the colors to get. Does Testors have a line of marine colors in enamel?? Sorry I can't help there, I only use acrylics. It may not matter much in this case, unless your practicing accuracy as well as skill building

by **PetrOs** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:35 pm

father&son wrote:
"A"=25% white matt + 70%greyish blue matt + 5%blue matt
"B"=67%grey matt + 33%greyish blue matt
"C"=grey matt
"D"=90%tank grey matt + 10%blue matt
"E"=75% fiery red, silky-matt + 25% rust matt
"F"=dust grey matt
"G"=80%brass metallic + 20%black matt
"H"=black matt
"I"=silver metallic
"J"=light grey matt
"K"=80%grey matt + 20%greyish blue matt
"L"=black gloss
"M"=gold metallic
"N"=blue matt
"O"=ochre brown matt
Granted, only 6 out of the 15 colors need to be mixed, but I would rather not have to mix any of them. But at least now I know what brand of paint they are referring to!

Can you also add numbers of the colors, makes it easier a bit ;o)
I mean, in instructions it is usually written like
"H"=black matt, 8
and in all conversion tables noone has color names, but only numbers ;o)

by **father&son** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:10 pm

Thanks for the replies! Yes, I am in the U.S. and, to show how out of the loop I am, I didn't even know Revell had a line of paint. Testors is a popular brand of enamel paint, in fact that is what we used on the U.S.S. Missouri kit we did previously. With the kit that I have now, colors are indicated in the instructions by a small flag with a letter in it. The letters refer to a chart on the fourth page which tells you the mix percentages of which colors you need to make up the color for each letter. They are as follows:

"A"=25% white matt + 70%greyish blue matt + 5%blue matt
"B"=67%grey matt + 33%greyish blue matt
"C"=grey matt
"D"=90%tank grey matt + 10%blue matt
"E"=75% fiery red, silky-matt + 25% rust matt
"F"=dust grey matt
"G"=80%brass metallic + 20%black matt
"H"=black matt
"I"=silver metallic
"J"=light grey matt
"K"=80%grey matt + 20%greyish blue matt
"L"=black gloss
"M"=gold metallic
"N"=blue matt
"O"=ochre brown matt
Granted, only 6 out of the 15 colors need to be mixed, but I would rather not have to mix any of them. But at least now I know what brand of paint they are referring to!

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