USN modern colors

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Re: USN modern colors- acrylics

by Bill Oreto » Tue Jun 17, 2025 7:37 pm

I found Polly Scale CP Gray (yes a railroad color) an excellent match to Modern Haze Gray and UP Dark Gray (another Polly Scale railroad color) for modern anti-skid. I am a brush painter in 1/700 and I purchased the WEM Colourcoats tins brushed them on pallet and then matched. Testor Acrylic Neutral Gray another close match. Testors acrylics can be quirky to work with. Being a brush painter one never wants brush marks so I try to avoid Testors unless I have no other choices.

Re: USN modern colors

by Timmy C » Sat Jul 24, 2021 3:38 pm

That looks correct, EJM. Here's the equivalent colour conversion chart for Vallejo's Model Air line: https://acrylicosvallejo.com/wp-content ... -Rev20.pdf


Haze Grey FS 36270: 71.275 USAF Medium Gray

Deck Grey FS 36118: 71.097 Medium Gunship Gray

Fresh nonskid: FS 36076: 71.048 Engine Gray

Boggles the mind why the same FS number falls under a different name, but there we go.

Re: USN modern colors

by EJM » Sat Jul 24, 2021 12:16 pm

Timmy C wrote:Copying this from a reply I posted on another forum:

For Vallejo users: Vallejo has a conversion chart that includes FS numbers here: https://acrylicosvallejo.com/wp-content ... 7-baja.pdf

For Haze Grey FS 36270, the Vallejo Model Color match is 70.870 Medium Sea Grey.

For Deck Grey FS 36118, it's Vallejo 70.836 London Grey. For fresh flight deck non-skid FS 36076, it's Vallejo 70.994 Dark Grey.
What you mentioned, Timmy, is from the Vallejo Model Color line.
For the Vallejo Model Air Color line, I've read or heard the following:
Modern US Navy Haze Gray: Vallejo Model Air Color # 71.275 USAF Medium Gray or # 70.615 US Navy Light Ghost Gray
Modern US Navy Deck Gray: # 71.097 Medium Gunship Gray
Modern US Navy Flight Deck non-skid gray: # 71.048 Engine Gray
Anybody concur with these colors or not? Suggestions?

Re: USN modern colors

by Timmy C » Mon Aug 17, 2020 2:02 pm

Copying this from a reply I posted on another forum:

For Vallejo users: Vallejo has a conversion chart that includes FS numbers here: https://acrylicosvallejo.com/wp-content ... 7-baja.pdf

For Haze Grey FS 36270, the Vallejo Model Color match is 70.870 Medium Sea Grey.

For Deck Grey FS 36118, it's Vallejo 70.836 London Grey. For fresh flight deck non-skid FS 36076, it's Vallejo 70.994 Dark Grey.

Re: USN modern colors

by El Santo » Thu Apr 23, 2020 1:35 pm

Subset of this question: Does anyone know how (or indeed, whether) modern USN colors differ from the neutral grays that replaced the ultramarine-based purple-blue series at the end of World War II? And if they really are different, does anyone know when the changeover occurred?

Re: USN modern colors

by John Snyder » Thu Jun 23, 2016 1:07 pm

Photos I've seen lead me to believe it's very close to the prewar USN True Blue, which is available in the Colourcoats aircraft range.

Re: USN modern colors

by mister me » Tue Jun 21, 2016 7:24 am

and what about the blue antifouling on USS Port Royal ?

Re: USN modern colors

by lascar » Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:57 am

thanks guys !!!!
I have order my WEM paint :thumbs_up_1:

Re: USN modern colors

by John Snyder » Wed Jun 20, 2012 8:37 am

We have the modern USN colors accurately matched and available in our Colourcoats enamels:

M 03, Modern USN Haze Gray;
M 04, Modern USN Deck Gray;
M 05, Modern USN Flight Deck Gray;
M 06, Modern USN Antifouling Red.

https://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk/coll ... al-colours

Re: USN modern colors

by BombMagnet » Wed Jun 20, 2012 4:45 am

Thanks to sgtryan13 for the tip, Tamiya German Grey appears to be a great color for USN modern flight decks (pre-weathering). I would imagine it would also work for most horizontal surfaces, too.

Regarding the main color of USN ships, is it my imagination that they appear slightly blue-ish? I have looked over many photos, and have yet to find a satisfactory color in the Gunze/Tamiya line. The closest acrylic I have found is Medium Grey (Testors Model Master or Revell Aquacolor). Both appear slightly blue-ish, though the Model Master version is a little darker.

Re: USN modern colors

by Russ2146 » Tue Jun 19, 2012 12:45 pm

FS X6270 is the color. X is a 2 or a 3, depending on the sheen of the paint that it labels. If the paint you find does not have the sheen that you want, get it anyway, apply it, and then overspray it with a clear coat in the sheen you want to end up with. Note that decals adhere better to gloss, so if flat paint is what you can find, use it, spray on a gloss clear coat, apply decals, spray again with flat clear coat.

I'm not altogether certain about the flight deck since I'm not into mobile air strips, what I posted before was what I found when I searched the subject earlier. I believe that flight deck finishes have changed over the years, and then you have the effect of weather, which includes the effects of flight ops. The following pictures are of the era
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k41696.jpg
Maybe someone else can chime in on flight deck color

Re: USN modern colors

by domi13 » Tue Jun 19, 2012 11:53 am

Russ2146 wrote: Post war, The specification for modern USN Haze Gray is FS 26270.


And is FS 26270 convenient for a Vietnam era haze gray?
for a Essex SCB27c hull for example?
And would the FS 36118 be a good match for her flight deck?

domi13

Re: USN modern colors

by Russ2146 » Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:09 am

This chart covers pre-war and WW2 but not for all brands. http://www.internetmodeler.com/2003/jun ... part_1.htm

Post war, The specification for modern USN Haze Gray is FS 26270. Testors Modelmaster Neutral Gray is FS 36270. The difference in the first digit is satin vs flat.

Testors MM Gunship Gray FS 36118 is a good match for deck gray. New flight deck non-skid is matched well by MM Engine Gray, FS 36076.

I don't know if Tamiya, Humbrol or Gunze include the FS number in their labeling.

Here's charts put out/hosted by Int'l Plastic Modelers Society-Stockholm.
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorchart ... _gunze.htm
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorchart ... umbrol.htm
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorchart ... tamiya.htm

All that being said, WEM Colourcoats, based on Snyder&Short color charts are considered the most accurate by many.

Re: USN modern colors

by BombMagnet » Tue Jun 19, 2012 2:21 am

I was just about to ask this question, though I am also open to Model Master acrylics, Vallajo, and Revell Aquacolor. Thoughts anyone?

USN modern colors

by lascar » Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:22 pm

Can somebody help me to find the good paint for the hull and the deck of a USS TICONDEROGA class ship? Humbrol, Tamiya or Gunze color .

Thanks :thumbs_up_1:

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