Question about paint techniques /Bloch 151 colors Armee de l’air

[28ZComeback]

I have two questions for the French Air Force experts here with regard to the Bloch MB 151: 1) is there accurate paint available for Bloch MB. 151 colors (bluish grey; Khaki green; brun; underside grey)?  I would rather not mix Tamiya paint as I never seem to get it right);  2) what is the key to painting French camouflage in 1:48 scale?  The camouflage patterns appear to have sharp demarcation lines, but I am not sure a sharp line is desired with this plane. Thank you for any suggestions or advice.

[Graham Boak]

There are several different sets of French colours, but I'd suggest the set from Sovereign Hobbies.

[Space Ranger]

Colourcoats from Sovereign Hobbies are excellent paints, but their availability in the U.S. is somewhat spotty. Seeing as how you are in the U.S., I'd suggest either True North Precision paints (alkyd-based oil enamels; https://www.truenorthpaints.com/) or Tru-Color Paint (acetone-based enamels; http://trucolorpaint.com/). Neither have specific colors for the French Air Force t the moment, but you can probably find colors that are extremely close.

 

Vallejo and Hataka both make French camouflage colors, but I have no experience with either.

 

These sites may also be of assistance:

 

https://www.ipmsstockholm.se/home/urbans-color-reference-charts-part-i/

 

http://memorial.flight.free.fr/nuancier.html

 

[28ZComeback]

Thank you all!

[Luka]

Judging from most wartime pics there seems to be a slight overspray between the colours. In 1/48 it's probably well visible, you may want to use rolls of masking putty when spraying the colours.
It also looks like the French didn't apply a standard pattern to their aircraft, even in the same batch. From about 0:53 in this shot you can see that the camo is all in the same style, but individual patches differ greatly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXWr_HtEYEM

[Antti_K]

Hello all,

 

it's not a Bloch but one of the remaining examples of a French WWII aircraft still in it's original camouflage. Possibly this gives some answers:

 

https://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/1152971/ca-556-finland-air-force-caudron-cr-714/

 

Cheers,

Antti

[BS_w]

According french air ministry and Bloch factory, each MB 151
was camouflaged with following shades:
upper side
- kaki 4kg
- gris bleu foncé 4kg
- brun 4kg
underside
- gris bleu clair 10kg

the delimitations was blended

 

the cockpit area was "gris bleu", after dec 1939 it will be painted "bleu de nuit" (midnight blue)
the wheel well and landing gear bay were same color as underside.
All interior areas, normally not visible from exterior was painted "chamois"(8kg)

Edited November 4, 2019 by BS_w

[spitfire]

I am not an expert but I would also go with Sovereign Colourcoats, I used it on several of my builds in combination with some Xtracolor paints the Xtracolor was used because it gave me a nice gloss finish the Colourcoats was just as good but satin

For the D520 I used ACF05 Gris Bleu Fonce, ACF07 Kaki, ACF04 Chocolat and for the undersides ACF09 Gris Blue Clair.

For the MS406 I used Xtracolor X125 (Intermediate blue) for the Gris Blue Fonce, the green was ACF07 Kaki, and the brown ACF04 Chocolat, for the undersides Gris Blue Clair I used Xtracolor X127 FS145414.

The Bloch 152 was finished with X127 for the Gris Blue Clair, the green was again ACF07 Kaki, the brown ACF04 Chocolat and the Gris Blue Fonce Xtracolor X125.

The builds were 1/32 scale and I used Blu Tac sausages and paper masks to give a slight feathered edge between the colours.

 

Hope this helps

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[28ZComeback]

Thank you!! This is very impressive!