It is all in the colors (An attempt to clarify the confusion about modeling
colors and a comparison of the products of major manufacturers). Who can
navigate through the color jungle? The times are gone when one had to purchase
the colors offered by the manufacturers of plastic kits and then had to
tediously mix the right color tone at home.
Today, upon entering any model shop one is confronted by color displays
from many manufacturers. How does one make the right choice with such a
varied selection? In this evaluation we shall look at some manufacturers
whose products we have used and tested. We are not looking at price here
since the differences are negligible. The following criteria were important
for us:
ACRYL or ENAMEL? Different thinners are
necessary for each. ENAMELS should be thinned by following manufacturers
recommendations while ACRYL colors can be thinned with water, denatured
alcohol, or isopropyl alcohol. Bad smelling and dangerous fumes are not
major problems with acrylics. We did observe however that when thinned with
water, acrylics do not dry as matte as one would wish.
Quality:
Colors that are easily sprayed with an airbrush are sometime difficult to
apply with a paintbrush. Enamels lend themselves better to paintbrush application,
especially for dry brushing. Naturally there are exceptions. Coarsely ground
color pigments make work with an airbrush difficult.
Color
palette:
The larger the number of colors by a particular manufacturer the less the
chance for having to mix a particular color. The labeling of the various
color tones is very important here. Caution is advised here, for the same
color tone labeled on the bottle by different manufacturers do not give
the same results.
Mixing:
ENAMELS and ACRYLICS cannot be mixed. Problems can also arise when mixing
the same color type. GUNZE and TAMIYA colors, both ACRYLICS behave quite
differently when mixed. When mixed they have a tendency to become lumpy.
REVELL and HUMBROL on the other hand mix quite well. If you paint a model
with different color types make sure that the coat has dried thoroughly
before applying a different color type.
Bottling:
The amount in the bottle is relative because when using an airbrush the
color has to be thinned. The amount available will be determined by the
amount the color is thinned down. Glass bottles have the advantage that
they can be used again. Their screw tops have the further advantage that
the colors have less of a tendency to dry out.
Cleaning:
Most colors can be removed from the airbrush with "Nitro thinner".
(A degreasing agent seemingly available only in Europe.) It is a mixture
of Acetone and Naphta. LIFE-COLOR can be cleaned out of the airbrush with
water or its own specific cleaner. Generally all colors are easy to clean
up whether airbrush or paintbrush.
for all
colors (except: JPS-Colors) a color-chart is available
for download as PDF-File, you will need Acrobat Reader
4.x (or higher) for reading or printing (free):
ANDREA colors were produced to paint their
own figures. Colors for painting of vehicles etc. are not to
be found. For figure painting in dioramas they are excellent.
Brush application is first class.
Best colors for brush
application
Can be thinned with
water
Excellent screw cap,
makes measuring of paint easy
Excellent for dry
brushing
Reusable bottle
No smell
Airbrush application
limited
Small assortment,
aimed at figures of the manufacturer
Many application ready color tones for military
aircraft of all nations. Emphasis WW2. Best color for airbrush
application. So far no problems have been encountered with GUNZE
colors. One word of caution. Some colors are labeled with a
W. This W stands for "weathering". Coarse pigments
were added to these colors to simulate dirt. This can lead to
the clogging up of your airbrush. Another drawback is that many
colors come in semi-gloss. This is not necessary if you use
future or clear-gloss when applying decals.
Excellent for airbrush
application
Many applicable color
tones, makes mixing unnecessary
Dry fast
Can be thinned with
alcohol or water
RLM and FS colors
(sadly no RLM72 and 73)
Glass bottles, reusable
No smell
Brush application
has limitations
Hard to find
Not very good for
dry brushing
GUNZE METAL COLOR
6 colors available, ACRYLICS, 23ml glass
bottles
Airbrush ready colors that can be buffed.
Only six colors are available. The colors do not have to be
thinned and can be polished in 24 hours. There are a few problems
with lifting. The surface has to be primed or lightly sanded
or the color will lift during masking or handling.
Perfect airbrush application
good results when
polished
ready to airbrush
do not have to be thinned
Glass bottle is re-useable
No smell
Not enough colors
Brush application
difficult
surface needs to be
primed
HUMBROL
151 colors available, ENAMEL, 14ml tin
The largest and oldest manufacturer of colors
for model building. Best known brand. The tops of the tins are
a drawback. After the second use, the top is hard to close flush
and hence the danger of pre-mature drying out becomes a problem.
HUMBROL has the most FS colors. This makes the painting of American
colors easy.
Very good for airbrush
and brush application
Very good for dry
brushing
Large selection of
colors
Uniform colors are
also considered
Excellent gloss finishes
Dry quickly
Metal tones can be
polished
Easy to find
Typical enamel odor
Empty tins not reusable
JPS-COLOR
ACRYLICS, 20ml plastic bottle
Some will recognize the DON COLOR label. There
is no color palette, however everything is well sorted on his
homepage. Carries almost all color tones for military models
including vehicles and ships. You will find color schemes and
explanations. The color accuracy is sensational.
Excellent for airbrush
and brush
Large selection
Can be thinned with
water or alcohol
Color codes and camouflage
schemes on the Internet
Working with these colors takes a little practice.
They behave a little different despite the fact that they are
acryl colors. Thinning is possible only with water. Some colors
react to alcohol by making the mixture rather thick. When shaken
with water they foam. Color chart is necessary since all bottles
look the same on the outside (black screw top) Ask for a color
chart when you buy. A nice feature is a thickening agent. If
a color is too thin then it can be thickened with the use of
this agent. A thinning agent is also offered but not necessary.
Large selection
Can be thinned with
water
Brushes well
Plastic bottle can
be reused
Very fine pigmentation,
very smooth spray finish
FS labeled
No smell
Thickening agent
Color assortment not
very well organized
Foaming when shaken
Long drying time
Can only be removed
with water or its own thinner (and with a ammonia-based
household cleaner)
Here is a manufacturer that really provides
everything. Model Master offers acrylics and enamels and divides
them into different categories. There is something for everybody.
Whether one chooses to paint ones models with an airbrush or
prefers to paint figures with a regular brush, you can find
it with Model Master. Paints for cars, ships and fantasy figures
are available. Even the often forgotten RLM 72 and 73 of the
Luftwaffe are available. There are also FS matched colors available.
Primer colors and decal softening solutions are also part of
the extensive selection. If you have waited for certain colors
to appear then you are in the right palace here. User-friendliness
is comparable to Gunze paints. Spray applications provide a
smooth even finish. Can also be brush painted.
Large assortment
Perfect airbrush application
Glass bottles are
re-useable
Can be thinned with
rubbing alcohol or denatured alcohol
Many flesh tones available
Not readily available (in Austria)
MODEL MASTER & MODEL MASTER II
122 colors available, ENAMEL, 15ml glass
bottles
The smaller number of colors can be explained
by the fact that FS colors are offered separately. All important
colors can be found here. This is the perfect selection for
those who would like to stick with enamels.
Large assortment
Perfect airbrush application
Glass bottles are re-useable
Typical Enamel smell
Thinner available
only in small quantity bottles
slow drying time
MODEL MASTER METALIZER
15 colors available, ENAMEL, 15ml glass bottles
Here are colors only for metal coating of
outright metal parts. These colors are very thinned down and
work very well with airbrush and brush. After they have dried
they can be polished with a soft cloth. This increases the glossy
quality however. Good, precise assembly and filling and sanding
are essential because the thinness of the color will show any
imperfections. Drops may develop during airbrushing.
Perfect airbrush application
Can be polished
Glass bottle is re-useable
Dry quickly
Although enamels,
no noticeable smell
Does not react very
well to the use of turpentine
REVELL
88 colors available, ENAMEL, 14ml tin
46 colors available, ENAMEL, 25ml airbrush color
21 colors available, ENAMEL, 40ml spray cans - not tested
REVELL-Germany emphasizes mixing but is the
only manufacturer that offers an airbrush series. The little
bottle fits the screw cap of the AZTEK 470 airbrush. The color
selection however does not give specific color tones (part.
RAL). German Luftwaffe color suggestions are found in instruction
sheets but really have to be mixed. Revell products can however
be bought on every street corner (in Europe!).
Very good for brush
application
Very good for dry
brushing
Has its own airbrush
series, fits AZTEK 470 screw cap
Good quality gloss
colors for vehicles
RAL listing
Airbrush bottles can
be reused
Available everywhere
(in Europe)
Typical enamel smell
Important colors are
missing, requires mixing
Tins cannot be reused
REVELL AQUA COLOR
36 colors available, ACRYLICS, 18 ml plastic
container
The manufacturer advertises under the motto:
"waterbased colors with great opacity, (covering quality)"
They really meet this standard. REVELL follows the trend, for
a healthier and less smelly work environment.Currently ther
are only 36 colors and it is entirely possible that with increasing
sale of the acrylic colors the production of enamels will decrease
and more acrylic colors will become available. The directions
call for plain tap water as a thinner. Correct, however the
percentage of 20-25% water is only an approximate value.The
modeler has to find the correct mix through trial and error.
The first tests had very positive results. Whether with brush
or airbrush the covering qualities were good and a smooth surface
was achieved. It is very important that with metallic and gloss
colors an airbrush should be used. These colors are recommended
for beginners and children but more advanced modelers can also
get very satifactory results. The only criticism I have is that
not enough colors are available. I hope that various Luftwaffe
colors will be available from Revell , making the mixing of
colors unnecessary.
81 colors available, ACRYLICS 23ml
78 colors available, ENAMEL, 23ml - not tested
22 colors available, spray cans 100 ml - not tested
Acryl and Enamels are offered in the same
color tones. It is too bad that the colors in the spray cans
are not also available in bottles. That is why in Tamiya instructions
mixing is recommended when it comes to bottles but only the
code for spray cans are given. These color tones would be important
to have in bottles, for they are all for aircraft color schemes.
Excellent for airbrush
application
Many color tones for
military vehicles
Dry fast
Can be thinned with
water or alcohol
Glass bottles can
be reused
No smell
A few color tones
only available in spray cans
Brush application
problematic
VALLEJO Model Color
208 colors available, ACRYLICS, 17 ml plastic
bottles
A color assortment that leaves little to wish
for. Glazes, thinners, retarders, masking material and metallic
colors, it is all there. Figure painters will be overjoyed.
It is no coincidence that the bottle shapes bear a strong resemblance
to Andrea colors. The colors cover after the first coat. If
applied too thickly the colors will appear a bit greasy.(Thinable
with Propylene-Glycol)
Good color for brushing
Thinning with water
Practical cap, easy
to dispense colors
Good for dry brushing
Plastic bottle re-useable
No smell
airbrush application
problematical
VALLEJO Model Air
96 colors available, ACRYLICS, 17 ml plastic
bottles
These colors were designed by Vallejo to be
sprayed directly from the bottle. In order to compete with other
manufacturers however there is a lack of variety and types of
colors. The colors spray easily and dry very smoothly and can
be thinned with water. In order to clean the airbrush you can
forget Nitro thinner. In order to remove the color you need
an ammonia mixture as is found in window cleaners or Propylene-Glycol.
Perfect airbrush application
ready to airbrush
do not have to be thinned
Plastic bottle re-useable
No smell
Not enough colors
yet
Cannot be used with
a brush
Airbrush cleaning
difficult
Conclusion:
On the typical workbench most paint manufacturers will be represented. Some
paints for the airbrush others for the paintbrush, some because the other
manufacturer does not make it. The qualities of paints in general today
are on a high level. Problems that arise are usually not the fault of the
manufacturer. Practice makes perfect and the individual works out his own
procedures. The only problem that keeps occurring is what to do with the
myriad of bottles and tins and how long it takes to find the proper color
only to realize that it has dried up or is gone.
meet the author
Christian Jakl
I live with my charming wife and daughter on the outskirts of Vienna. I was born in 1971 and studied to be a typographical engineer. Since childhood I have always been interested in modeling. From model ships and cars I have gradually shifted to aircraft models of WW II. with a heavy emphasis on the German Luftwaffe. My real interest however is in the creation of dioramas in 1/48 scale. I enjoy the scratch building and can let my creative energies come to the fore. I have devoted my time to thedeveloping of new techniques; to enhance model kits with added accessories and above all to try out new tools to get better results.
The learning curve is constant. I am never satisfied and am constantly trying to make models as lifelike as possible. The only problem is the time factor. There is never enough of it as you all well know. I hope you enjoy these webpages and I would like to have you critique my work in a constructive manner.
This page: THEMES: Modelling colors - a comparison
... - by Christian Jakl
was last modified on: Aug 01, 2006
The URL of the page is: http://www.rlm.at/cont/thema02_e.htm
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