The best paints for the standard British camo: Dark sea grey and Dark green

[Einar]

Hi,

I'm in the process of painting my Finnish Gnat. They wore the standard British camouflage colours i.e. the Dark sea grey and Dark green. I bought the Humbrol enamel paints nr. 164 for the Dark sea grey and nr. 195 for the Dark green. After having airbrushed the Dark sea grey IMHO it didn't have the right hue. I have compared the outcome with a couple of colour pictures.

 

I'd like to hear your opinion on those Humbrol paints. Are the ok and if not, which would be the best paints for the camouflage.

 

Cheers,

Einar

Edited September 20 by Einar

[Paul Lucas]

@Einar,Humbrol 164 should be ok for Dark Sea Grey. Having said that, 125 US Dark Grey would be a good alternative.

 

For Dark Green, the closest Humbrol colour is 116 US Dark Green.

 

If 116 is unavailable, the next best colour would be 163 Satin Dark Green. 

 

195 is too dark and too blue for Dark Green.

Edited September 20 by Paul Lucas
Adding tag

[iainpeden]

It appears Humbrol have stopped making 163 in enamel, only available in acrylic.

 

As for looking right think about scale colour and about the airframe. A few years ago I did an RAF Phantom (Humbrol 163/164) and a Lightning F.2A (Humbrol 163): despite using a brand new tin of 163 on both, the green looks different - can only put it down to how light falls on different curves on the airframe.

 

 

[Einar]

20 hours ago, Paul Lucas said:

@Einar,Humbrol 164 should be ok for Dark Sea Grey. Having said that, 125 US Dark Grey would be a good alternative.

 

For Dark Green, the closest Humbrol colour is 116 US Dark Green.

 

If 116 is unavailable, the next best colour would be 163 Satin Dark Green. 

 

195 is too dark and too blue for Dark Green.

Thank you Paul for your advice!

 

Einar 

13 hours ago, iainpeden said:

It appears Humbrol have stopped making 163 in enamel, only available in acrylic.

 

As for looking right think about scale colour and about the airframe. A few years ago I did an RAF Phantom (Humbrol 163/164) and a Lightning F.2A (Humbrol 163): despite using a brand new tin of 163 on both, the green looks different - can only put it down to how light falls on different curves on the airframe.

 

 

Thank you Ian

 

Einar

[stevehnz]

17 hours ago, iainpeden said:

A few years ago I did an RAF Phantom (Humbrol 163/164) and a Lightning F.2A (Humbrol 163): despite using a brand new tin of 163 on both, the green looks different -

It is amazing how putting one colour alongside a different one, the perception of it changes. I believe this is a real thing but possibly not that well known, something like metamerism.

Not metamerism, something else. @Casey

Steve.

Edited September 21 by stevehnz

[Rabbit Leader]

Following on from what @stevehnz mentions above, I believe it’s the ‘combination’ of colours that you need to get right. Too many times I’ve seen a good Dark Green look wrong when painted alongside a bad Dark Sea Grey / Dark Earth etc. 

 

I know it can get expensive, however it’s best to test as many of the available paints as possible, then let your wife or daughter choose for you as females see twice as many colour elements (not the scientific name) as men do! 
 

Cheers.. Dave 
 

 

[Casey]

7 hours ago, stevehnz said:

Not metamerism, something else. @Casey

You are thinking of smultaneous contrast probably.

 

https://www.liveabout.com/definition-of-simultaneous-contrast-2577729

[stevehnz]

5 hours ago, Casey said:

You are thinking of smultaneous contrast probably.

 

https://www.liveabout.com/definition-of-simultaneous-contrast-2577729

That sounds like it Casey, thanks. I know I'd read about it somewhere, not that exact article that I recall but sort of knew there was something like that out there & it could well explain the different green that @iainpeden was seeing above.

Steve.

[PLC1966]

13 hours ago, Rabbit Leader said:

Following on from what @stevehnz mentions above, I believe it’s the ‘combination’ of colours that you need to get right. Too many times I’ve seen a good Dark Green look wrong when painted alongside a bad Dark Sea Grey / Dark Earth etc. 

 

I know it can get expensive, however it’s best to test as many of the available paints as possible, then let your wife or daughter choose for you as females see twice as many colour elements (not the scientific name) as men do! 
 

Cheers.. Dave 
 

 

And oddly the female of the species see many things that are not there at all.....😉

[Rabbit Leader]

15 minutes ago, PLC1966 said:

And oddly the female of the species see many things that are not there at all.....😉

Yes… mine swore she saw “Too many models”…. how absurd! 

[Casey]

24 minutes ago, PLC1966 said:

female of the species see many things that are not there at all

Tetrachromacy is real

 

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20140905-the-women-with-super-human-vision