Paint matches

[PR19_Kit]

The word 'matches' above is used in its WIDEST possible sense....

I've just started to use various acrylics, some impress, some don't. The worst was Humbrol's acrylic RAF Dark Earth, it sprays on wonderfully, covers well and is very smooth when dry. But it's a DIFFERENT colour to Humbrol's enamel RAF Dark Earth!!!! 

The acrylic paint is 3-4 shades darker than the enamel which is patently ridiculous and needed me to repaint a couple quite large underwing tanks. I'd have expected better from the all-time best seller in the field.

Their RAF Dark Greens are pretty much identical though. Go figure.....

[rickshaw]

I use either Vallejo or Tamiya.  The Tamiya stuff is readily available downunder whereas the Vallejo I have to buy from overseas (usually UK through Evilbay).  Both are very good for brushing but I've never used either for airbrush.  Sure you don't need to put several coats on of the Humbrol Dark Earth, Kit?

[Mossie]

Kit, I worked in a paint lab in a previous life.  Try a different pot, batch variation can make a big difference.  Also, the mk.I eyeball is very good at picking up the slightest difference in variation.  Trying holding your samples about a foot apart, then compare them and see if the difference looks as much.  You can see two differnt models painted in different manufacturers paint of the same type and not really notice the differnce, yet you put them right up to each other and it becomes obvious.

[PR19_Kit]

In a perfect world I could do all of those things, indeed I have some Vallejo stuff already, but not in those two shades. It's a major job getting new tins/pots of paint and I need to have this ready by the Avon Show next weekend so I have to make do with what I've got to hand.

I've had this problem before, notably with Xtracolor airline paints, and had a stand-up shouting match with Nigel Hannant at one show about two tins of Aer Lingus green that were NOTHING like each other, but Humbrol? Dammit they've been in this business longer than I have, they SHOULD be able to get them right, or at least the same as each other.

[Mossie]

Kit, you'll be surprised at colour difference at two ends of the spec.  But even from the same batch, storage conditions can have an effect.  Another difference is the carriers for enamel and acrylic paints.  This really shows in some colours (white especially).  Unfortunately, paint matching is not an exact science, there's a lot of variables and not a whole lot can be done about it.

If you need to use two pots for the same model, apply the first coat from one pot, then the second from another.  They should be similar enough that it shouldn't make a difference in covering one another.

[Thorvic]

Ohh thats interesting, i wonder the the Acrylic Dark Earth will work for the RAF vehicles as the Hu29 Dark Earth Enamel is too light for SCC2.

Remember Kit, Humbrol went bust along with Airfix thanks to Heller and paint production has been coming from China where their QC standards with regards to colour matching left alot to be desired. Thankfully Humbrol have sourced suitable UK manufacturers and have been moved over 60% of their production back to the UK so standards should improve in the future.

Try ringing Halifax Modellers World, they stock Tamiya, Humbrol, Xrtracrylix and Vallejo paint ranges and Dave should be able to get them packed and shipped off to you today in the post if you ring him.

Cheers

Geoff

[NARSES2]

Well I've been using Humbrol's beige-green (sky) in aerosol and enamel paint and the match is perfect 

Must admit I've had some problems with Humbrol acrylics. Mainly drying out in the pot, although that's easy fixed. Hopefully with UK manufacture they will improve.

They've just released a fullish range of RLM colours in acrylic by the way