Painting HMS Illustrious with Tamiya Acrylics

[Stugmeister]

Hi guys,

I'm a newbie here. I picked up the Airfix HMS Illustrious kit and have been busy building old Lusty. I've not built a serious kit for quite a while, and it's great to be getting back in to the hobby!

I'd like to use Tamiya acrylics to paint her, but I'm having trouble finding the right grey for the modern royal navy grey. I did buy XF19, which looked right in the catalogue and on screen. Some paint conversion tables seemed to support this too. However, it is much too dark.

After trawling the net for many night, I've found XF80 might be closer. Any ideas??

[Cliffy B]

You're talking about the Invincible Class Carrier right, IE Harriers and Helos and not the WWII Illustrious?

For modern RN ships I use "Light Ghost Gray" for the hull and "Engine Gray" for the decks (Model Master acrylics). Seems to match fairly close, at least close enough for me. Not sure what the Tamiya equivalents are though but if you have a model shop nearby you can always compare some Model Master paints to them and see what matches.

Be weary of those paint conversion charts too... They can be spot on at times but way off as well more often then you think. Always compare to photos and compare actual bottles if you can.

Hope that helps,
-Mike

[Stugmeister]

You're talking about the Invincible Class Carrier right, IE Harriers and Helos and not the WWII Illustrious?

That's the lady! Sorry for not being more specific.

Be weary of those paint conversion charts too... They can be spot on at times but way off as well more often then you think. Always compare to photos and compare actual bottles if you can.

As I have learnt to my cost! Colour is very much in the eye of the beholder methinks.

I've been looking at the greys that Tamiya do produce. XF80 Royal Light Grey looks like it might fit the bill...