5huggy Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 I have a 1/48 tropical (Mk5) spitfire from Malta and a trop tomahawk (1/72) on the side benches, progressing nicely. I use Humbrol "ENAMELS" - and have done for over 45 years! Both these models are newish - spit from 1/48 double (with me 109) and Tomahawk last Christmas from Aldi - BOTH are Airfix. Confused by the fact that both designate 157 Azure blue for the underside. - YEP -Humbrol do 157 in "Acrylic"but not in "Enamel". There is no info anywhere as to an alternative in enamel! I have trawled through BM website and not found any real answer -maybe ive missed somewhere PLEASE pretty please - can anyone tell me either a mix of humbrol enamels or a very close enamel to use Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5huggy Posted August 27 Author Share Posted August 27 Bemused by the fact that Airfix'/Humbrol (one and the same) - do not warn /advise that the only paints that can be used are "Acrylics". BUT they they make the Azure 157 in Acrylic - Why? not enamel? I do not wish to go to acrylics as i have an absolute fortune worth of enamels and all associated venting /breathing equipment (to remove pong!) I've also learnt over many years how these work . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Hugo Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 7 hours ago, 5huggy said: I have a 1/48 tropical (Mk5) spitfire from Malta and a trop tomahawk (1/72) on the side benches, progressing nicely. I use Humbrol "ENAMELS" - and have done for over 45 years! Both these models are newish - spit from 1/48 double (with me 109) and Tomahawk last Christmas from Aldi - BOTH are Airfix. Confused by the fact that both designate 157 Azure blue for the underside. - YEP -Humbrol do 157 in "Acrylic"but not in "Enamel". There is no info anywhere as to an alternative in enamel! I have trawled through BM website and not found any real answer -maybe ive missed somewhere PLEASE pretty please - can anyone tell me either a mix of humbrol enamels or a very close enamel to use Humbrol used tro do it as an enamel as well, I have a tin. It was too dark though\ In any case here is discussion right here on Britmodeller about it Azure Blue discussion 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 This quickest practical direct answer to the precise question you asked is probably this: and the rest of the One True Azure thread is here 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FatFlyHalf Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 Try https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/X026. FFH 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 1 hour ago, FatFlyHalf said: Try https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/X026. FFH If the paint is the same as the can lid then Xtracolour have used the wrong reference. Wartime Azure Blue is not the same colour as the postwar BS381c colour of the same name. It is a light purple blue, I have made a mix for it in acrylic so I spent a long time looking at the MAP chip. @Mike Starmer is a good chap for Humbrol mixes, he may have one. HTH 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Thompson Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 Humbrol mix from the IPMS Stockholm Urban's Colour Reference page, 49*Hu:34 + 10*Hu:25 + 1*Hu:33 (14*Hu:34 + 13*Hu:25 + 1*Hu:68 + 1*Hu:109). FWIW. Paul. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 May be worth checking Phoenix Precision Paints for enamel RAF colours. Not all "acrylic" paints are the same. I suspect you are thinking of the water-based ones: the lacquer-based ones are similar to enamels but smell strongly. Enamel paints smell is largely due to using turps substitute: naphtha thinner are much less noticeable. Do not use Lacquer paints on top of enamel unless very well cured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 Summary of enamel matches out of the tin: Humbrol 157 in the newer style of tin, shouldn't be that hard to track down. Phoenix Precision M114 : Azure Blue Smooth, 14ml (phoenix-paints.co.uk) Sovereign ACRN34 Of these Phoenix is probably the easiest to buy. I can't vouch for any mixes published here or elsewhere. FWIW current Humbrol acrylic 157 is very good. John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Starmer Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 Humbrol 157 was withdrawn years ago. According to my samples, the original colour in 2002 was quite dark and not accurate at all. This might have been intended to be the BS. shade but was not dark enough. The replacement colour in 2015 was very different and almost exactly right. Naturally this being the correct colour that modellers need, they withdraw it. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5huggy Posted August 30 Author Share Posted August 30 2 minutes ago, Mike Starmer said: Humbrol 157 was withdrawn years ago. According to my samples, the original colour in 2002 was quite dark and not accurate at all. This might have been intended to be the BS. shade but was not dark enough. The replacement colour in 2015 was very different and almost exactly right. Naturally this being the correct colour that modellers need, they withdraw it. And yet Airfix still selling models that they specify require 157 Azure???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Glumbo Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 On a coach at the mo so can’t find the kit but I have a few kits that mention a humbrol colour that is only available in enamel and I use acrylics- complete opposite to your dilemma 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 28 minutes ago, 5huggy said: And yet Airfix still selling models that they specify require 157 Azure???? The reality is that the majority of the market now is for acrylics 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Starmer Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 Some of that artwork was drawn and produced many years ago. When they re-issue they simply pull out the old drawings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 I was told that H157 was corrected a few years back, so any tine that are still around of the enamel may have the corrected colour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitfire Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 Just ordered a couple of tins from eBay. Cheers Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5huggy Posted August 30 Author Share Posted August 30 A lovely pile of bits and pieces arrived from Hannants this afternoon in the post. 😁 I had taken a punt on a suggestion by @FatFlyHalf for Xtracolour from Hannants (X026). The paint has duly been tested out, and first thing to note is its a "Gloss" so will need to be "matted" but here's a quick view on my FW mule and plastic spoon.When the paint has had 24hrs to harden a bit more , I,ll matt coat and post pics to see what the resultant looks like. Lighting is not the best and does make painted parts "appear" far darker - but in real life ! its not too bad - It may well be better when a matt coat is applied and natural daylight - (tune in tomorrow 😉) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 It does not signify much to match the colour to a printed instruction sheet. Some of the threads quoted above matched various paints to the MAP colour charts. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5huggy Posted August 30 Author Share Posted August 30 3 minutes ago, Ed Russell said: It does not signify much to match the colour to a printed instruction sheet. Some of the threads quoted above matched various paints to the MAP colour charts. Quite right @Ed Russell I have to admit it's pretty close for my liking , and at the end of the day its a "representation" for a model - and since its undersides - its only got to be somewhat near for my purposes 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 From @John 's post quoted above Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 wartime colour from film Hurrican HW189 B front by losethekibble, on Flickr the best representation is between the 2 cannon on the right. It's an light, intense purple blue. It varies in appearance with the light, which is what good camouflage colours do More period colour Spitfire in Malta 15 May 1943. by Etienne du Plessis, on Flickr Avro York by Etienne du Plessis, on Flickr Bristol Beaufort, Malta by Etienne du Plessis, on Flickr Hurricane IIc, 1943 by Etienne du Plessis, on Flickr Close up of Hurricane Mk II d . by Etienne du Plessis, on Flickr Baltimore Mk.IIIA , 1942. by Etienne du Plessis, on Flickr Douglas Boston in North Africa. by Etienne du Plessis, on Flickr Boston III..........SAAF by Etienne du Plessis, on Flickr SAAF Boston by Etienne du Plessis, on Flickr RCAF Spitfire V 1943. by Etienne du Plessis, on Flickr This is Light Mediterranean Blue, also used, same unit and time as pic above RCAF Spitfire Mk. V, 1943. by Etienne du Plessis, on Flickr and Dark Mediterranean Blue Kittyhawk nose art, 1942. by Etienne du Plessis, on Flickr 8 minutes ago, Ed Russell said: From @John 's post quoted above which look more like Light Mediterranean Blue to me. In the pic above, note the light, intense purple blue the colour has. You could just say it's finished in LMB, and not worry..... Malta Spitfire colours are a matter of intense debate..... HTH 1 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 1 hour ago, 5huggy said: A lovely pile of bits and pieces arrived from Hannants this afternoon in the post. 😁 I had taken a punt on a suggestion by @FatFlyHalf for Xtracolour from Hannants (X026). The paint has duly been tested out, and first thing to note is its a "Gloss" so will need to be "matted" but here's a quick view on my FW mule and plastic spoon.When the paint has had 24hrs to harden a bit more , I,ll matt coat and post pics to see what the resultant looks like. Lighting is not the best and does make painted parts "appear" far darker - but in real life ! its not too bad - It may well be better when a matt coat is applied and natural daylight - (tune in tomorrow 😉) Xtracolour and Xtracrylix are all gloss as they are intended to be suitable for decal application straight onto the paint, which reduces the chance of silvering. It does therefore mean for many finishes a coat or two of matt or semigloss varnish will be required. Decals also come in a variety of finishes and even for a gloss finish varnishing may be required. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerausfb Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 No idea why I'm mentioning this as you can get neither any more but years ago before colour TV was invented I used to use Humbrol MC12 instead of 157, which always looked too dark. Still not quite there but closer than 157. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck1945 Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 Following on 825’s post, I would hold off any matt coating until after decals are on, then the entire plane can get a flat coat. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 9 minutes ago, Tigerausfb said: No idea why I'm mentioning this as you can get neither any more but years ago before colour TV was invented I used to use Humbrol MC12 instead of 157, which always looked too dark. Still not quite there but closer than 157. Hmm, that long ago H157 had not been invented either..... You are perhaps thinking of the Azure Bluein the Humbrol Authetics range, which in the lengthy linked thread the idea is that Humbrol Authentic Azure Blue was matched to Light Mediterranean Blue in error. Humbrol MC12 was another in the Authentic range, military blue for use on Napoleonic's, a google brings up it was Prussian Dragoon Blue https://www.scalemates.com/colors/humbrol-authentic-colours--811/mc12-prussian-dragoon-blue-enamel-matt--7393 And from memory it was a medium purple hued blue, which is more in the ball park.... ooh, I love the stuff you can search up..... the lovely nurse has just ironed my straight jacket and has my pills ready so....... 2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now