nheather

Both excellent models. What colour did you use for your Centaur - they were painted SCC 2 and I'm trying to figure out exactly what that colour was like and what paints provide a good match. Cheers, Nigel

Now I am confused, because the link to Mike Starmer's information http://www.mafva.net/PDF/BritishCamouflage3.pdf Definitely says Revell 84 + 86 in ratio 16:5 Where are you getting information on Mike's Chart as it appears to be different from information Mike has posted elsewhere. Posting pictures - I put my pictures on PhotoBucket and then post using link[\IMG] I would very much like to see your Tilly photos. If you aren't able to post them it would be great if you could eamil them to me - I could then post them here on your behalf if you wish. Cheers, Nigel

Thanks for the replies. My two swatches are as follows Right - Tamiya XF-52 Flat Earth as given in their instructions for the Centaur Left - Mix of Revell 84 and 86 (Ratio 16:5) as suggested by Mike Starmer on the MAFA.net site (http://www.mafva.net/PDF/BritishCamouflage3.pdf). In theory Mike Starmer's mixes should be spot on as he is his an expert in this field and research is very well regarded. But I have never seen any vehicle presented in this chocolate brown colour either in document or museum exhibit. I have seen vehicles in a caramel like colour similar to Tamiya XF-52 and your Vallejo colour at Bovington Tank Museum (a Convenantor as I recall) but when I spoke to the museum historian he was unable to confirm whether that was SCC 2 or even whether it was an accurate colour at all. I am loathed to say that Mike Starmers mix isn't accurate given the amount of research he has put into it. I may have made an error with the mix but both the Revell colours are darker than the Tamiya and Vallejo in their own right. This is the Covenantor at Bovington SCC 2 is described as 'Rich Dark Brown with a hint of Khaki' which I must admit, does not describe the Tamiya, Vallejo or Bovington Covenantor. So in summary, my left hand colour seems correct because it is the mix provided by Mike Starmer and matches the SCC2 description - my hesitation is that I have never seen a tank presented in anything close to this. Incidently, where did you find the Vallejo mapping to real colours - I have been thinking of giving Vallejo a go because I have heard great reviews but I'm put off becuase I would have to mail order and unsure which of their colours would be suitable for my needs. Cheers, Nigel

Excellent build and finish. Does prompt a question though. Would the wings really have been folded with ordance still in position, especially bombs? Not a criticism, but a genuine question - I don't know the answer. Cheers, Nigel

I also have a Centaur to build, and I understand that these were not repainted in SCC15 so were left in SCC2. This is another colour that perplexes me, because although it was a standard colour before 1944 I've never seen it presented in pictures or on museum exhibits. So out of these two, which would you say best fits SCC 2 - or are they both way off. Again, not trying to be exact, just in the right ball park. Cheers, Nigel

Thanks for the advice. As I said before I'm not that bothered about exact shades, I was just perplexed that the two example I gave are such different colours and was asking which one is most likely to be correct. It sounds like the first one. Cheers, Nigel

Out of interest does the vallejo mix best resemble picture 1 or picture 2? I need to settle on something soon because it is costing me a fortune buying paints I don't need (like Tamiya yellow XF-3). I've never tried Vallejo but heard very good reports - I like the idea of the built in dropper. Problem is I don't know of any local shop that stocks them so I would have to buy online. Cheers, Nigel

The Tamiya mix is also described as coming from Mike Starmer (his book I believe) but I didn't see that first hand, it was reported second hand in one of the multitude of threads seeking an SCC15 mix using Tamiya. Had I stuck to humbrol I would have been happy in my knowledge but I made the mistake of seeking an acrylic option (Tamiya as I have a load of these) and found this widely reported mix that purports to come from Mike Starmer but produces quite a different colour to the humbrol mixes. Cheers, Nigel ps - yes I got the humbrol mixes from MAFVA.

Firstly, let me apologise. I know from my lengthy Google sessions that the subject has been tackled time and time again. I've read all the posts, articles (well most of them) and I have countless recipies for different paint manufacturers, I have also read (and understood) the arguments that once faded, covered in dust\grime\dirt the colour takes on different appearances. I have tried WEM, but they are indefinitely out of stock, and besides many articles I have read say that isn't right either. I'm not great modeller, in the past my models have always resembled examples displayed in the seller's showrooms. And to be honest, I'm not that OCD that I'm after the exact colour - as long as it is in the ball park (preferably with as little mixing as possible) that is good enough for me. So what's my problem? Well I've tried a few mixes and have ended up with quite different results. For example ..... Humbrol 150, 159, 33 (5:2:2) Humbrol 159,33 (8:1) These come out very similar to each other, with my eye pretty much identical. They are a dark green that looks quite like this Tamiya 61:62:3 (5:2:2) This comes out very differnt to the Humbrol mixes, even to my eye. It is much lighter and more yellow and looks quite like this I should add, that these aren't my models - if only, I can only dream of this sort of skill at the moment. So two quite different colours that are both meant to be SCC 15. Can anyone explain the difference and which one is most correct. Many thanks and sorry again for dragging this subject up again. Cheers, Nigel ps. I have a Churchill, Cromwell, Universal Carrier and 6 Pdr on the starting blocks. pps. I should also add that I have visited Bovington Tank Museum recently in the hope of seeing both SCC15 and SCC2 in the flesh. One of the historians based there was kind to spend some time with me but he concluded that I shouldn't rely on the colours of tanks in museums or on display. In many cases, restoration was done on a shoestring and painting done by cadets using whatever paint they had available. He said that attitudes are better these days, but paint schemes done in the 70s and 80s were particularly prone to this practice. But I did take a ton of photographs so if any of the exhibits is accurate that is another way I could confirm the colour.