Gloss navy blue for late Hellcat question

[dazdot]

Hi what's the best gunze aqueous colour for gloss navy blue for late war Pacific fighter aircraft

Eduard call out H54 navy blue but there is also H55 gloss midnight blue I think I used the navy blue on an avenger and it looked a bit light to me.

What do others use here?

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

It's the same colour as non-specular sea blue, just glossier. It's not a midnight blue - it's a low lustre greyish blue, albeit very dark.

[dazdot]

So the H55 is the one to use then?

[Dana Bell]

Hi Dazdot,

I feel a bit like Bill Gates, but without all the money - this "answer" won't help with your original question, but it will muddy the waters enough to give you a few things to ponder when choosing a "correct" color.

Nonspecular Sea Blue, Semigloss Sea Blue, and Glossy Sea Blue were three different colors, not just three different gloss factors. When freshly applied, the paints were distinctly different, and demarcations could easily be seen where two colors came together. The paints also faded differently, accentuating the differences. In short, a gloss coat over NS Sea Blue, or a flat coat over Glossy Sea Blue will possible result in a color that just doesn't look right to you on a finished model.

Additionally, Glossy Sea Blue faded terribly and was completely reformulated in 1947 - the GSB applied to a Panther might seem totally wrong on a wartime Avenger or Hellcat - and you won't normally know which chip a model paint manufacturer used when formulating his paints. (Some years ago, one model paint manufacturer was mercilessly attacked for his poor matching of GSB - but the paint was a near-exact match for the original 1943 paint chip; the reviewer was using a 1950s chip for comparison.)

As I said, this won't likely help with your original question - others will let you know which paints have worked best for them. But it may give you a bit more latitude in finding the paint that you consider most effective on your model.

Cheers,

Dana

(Still wishing I had Gates' money!)

[Tailspin Turtle]

For examples of old blue, see http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2012/06/sea-blue-vs-insignia-blue.html

My impression is that the paint on Grumman F6Fs without the insignia blue surround on the national insignia was far less prone to fading.

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

Dana do you have samples either fresh or part aged?

[Nick Millman]

Dana do you have samples either fresh or part aged?

I could provide you with Munsell and L*a*b* values if that helps?

Nick

[dazdot]

Unfortunately my phone does not have the can of worms option! Oh god so what's everyone else do? Lol

[mike romeo]

Try H55 on a scrap bit of plastic and, if you like the result, use it?

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

I could provide you with Munsell and L*a*b* values if that helps?

Nick

Hi Nick,

It certainly would

[dazdot]

That's it really I'm going to have to order both. I have an idea about what I'm going to do though

[Dana Bell]

Dana do you have samples either fresh or part aged?

Hi James,

I've got the 1943 ANA chips for NS Sea Blue and Semigloss Sea Blue, and the 1944 and post-war chips for Glossy Sea Blue. After a few rough experiences, I no longer loan the chips out, but if you're ever in the US I'll be happy to give you a prolonged sit-down with them and any color comparison standards you care to bring. (If you're coming to this year's Nats, I'll bring the chips with me.)

Of course it may be easier to work with Nick's Munsell values, but the offer is open if you have the opportunity.

Cheers,

Dana

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

Thanks Dana. I've never been to Virginia so I may just do that!

I completely understand about sending samples out. Even though I'd always return them they could get lost in the post and they're not the sort of thing that insurance helps with - you can't put a value on irreplaceable things!

[dfqweofekwpeweiop4]

I'd be curious to see what the experts think the best acrylic Gloss Sea Blue, which is currently available, (out of the bottle without mixing!). It might help the OP in choosing which colour he thinks is best for him and also myself, as I've got some Gloss Sea Blue USN aircraft in the stash.

thanks

Mike