speedbird Posted December 18, 2016 Share Posted December 18, 2016 Hi guys.. I've just been into my local HS and Halfords to try and find a good match for the blues for British Airways and BOAC SOR some upcoming projects and this is what I've been told and found out. Halfords do not scan any colour samples in any of their stores and can only find a match to a colour if you have a paint number from your vehicle manufacturer. They do however have a bewildering range of paints that come pretty close to the colours I'm after. For the original British Airways scheme from the 70s and for BOAC have a look at Ford state blue..there are two or three others too but this one to my eyes isn't too far off. I have also looked at Tamiya XF4 and that comes very close out of the bottle but perhaps needs a spot of white adding too it. For the Landor scheme perhaps add a spot of black. I have also looked at XF3 and I think it's a little too light for the original British Airways and BOAC and it's miles off for the Landor scheme. However if one were to add a spot of white it might be a match for the world and current schemes. Halfords have fiat Capri blue which also looks very close the the world and current schemes.. I don't make any guarantees for any of the above colours but to me they look quite close. I'd be interested to see what other britmodeler s think and I'm open to ideas for the grey as used on the wings and especially the upper fuselage on the Landor schemes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skodadriver Posted December 18, 2016 Share Posted December 18, 2016 Fiat Capri Blue has been recommended for the current BA blue for as long as modellers have used Halfords paint. For the original Negus scheme Humbrol 15 Midnight Blue is virtually perfect. Landor Blue is the most difficult to match. I use an Xtracolor mix (50% X23 + 50% X357) which was given to me by a fellow modeller who worked for BA at the time so it should be accurate! Both colours are still listed as available on Hannants website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedbird Posted December 18, 2016 Author Share Posted December 18, 2016 Sorry I should have said in my original post I don't use enamel paints so I was looking for acrylics.. I wouldn't have known about Capri being recommended before as I don't usually build civil aircraft, I'm having a break from military subjects.. sorry if I've gone over a subject that's already been mentioned Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buzz Posted December 18, 2016 Share Posted December 18, 2016 Halfords Racking Grey has been recommended as a good match for Boeing grey. But this is an enamel, stocked separately from the car paints. Holts HLGrey01 has been recommened for Airbus grey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skodadriver Posted December 18, 2016 Share Posted December 18, 2016 I wasn't meaning to be dismissive and I'm sorry if I accidentally gave that impression. What I was trying to say is that among airliner modellers Fiat Capri Blue has long been recognised as the best match for current BA Blue. Humbrol 15 is available in their acrylic range, either as a pot for brushing or as a rattle can. Personally I'm not a fan of Humbrol acrylics so I stick to the enamel version but if you really won't use enamels (each to their own!) you can still use Humbrol 15. I remember a beautiful BA Landor model, possibly a 1-11, where the builder had used one of the Tamiya dark blues and added a little black until it matched a good colour photograph. Unfortunately I can't remember who built it or when it was posted but it was very realistic and if I come across it I'll post the link. I second the use of Halfords Racking Grey for Boeing Grey. It's a very close match to FS16515 and although an enamel it is, for all practical purposes, as quick drying and durable as their automotive paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedbird Posted December 18, 2016 Author Share Posted December 18, 2016 I Used humbrol paints for about thirty years and swore by them but I lost confidence in them when the quality control went to pieces and like the ease of use and fast drying times that acrylics offer...I've heard of wracking grey is a good match for light aircraft grey so perhaps LAG could be a match for Boeing grey...I've looked at a tin of xtracolour BA great and it looks very very close to ford polar grey but that still looks way to dark for the landor scheme... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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