How do you know what paint to use on my model

[STARMAKER.REBEL]

I Just bought a Chinook helicopter::
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004SKW6N..._ud_dp_PTM6MXH4E2R67WZMD8Y2_2&skipTwisterOG=1

How do I know what paints I need to buy?

 

[durangod]

the model should have a color chart in the instructions, or find a build video on youtube and see what colors they use.

It also depends if you are doing a realistic project or custom. Several countries use them i believe so if doing realistic youll need to know what country and the colors they use.

If custom then pick your own colors, its all up to you.

And welcome to the forum.

 

[BlackSheepTwoOneFour]

What he said. All model kit instruction guides have color call outs. Looking in scalemates and seeing the instruction guide color call outs are Gunze paints. Fear not, it can be cross referenced thru paint4models.com.

This kit gives you 2 color scheme versions

First version is…

H304 Olive Drab is FS34087

Paint brand - Model Master 1711 / 4728 (enamel /acrylic)
Tamiya X-62 Olive Drab

Second version is…

H12 Olive Drab 1 (Olive Drab ANA 618) is FS34088. This Olive Drab is closer to a brownish green. Second option on last page

A close match would be AK Interactive Faded Olive Drab

https://www.scalehobbyist.com/catag...8&sb=stocknumber_a&so=d&e=0&ct=1&co=4&man=AKI

You can't go wrong with either but the choice

Advice… shop at this website instead of Amazon

www.scalehobbyist.com

Great prices and fast delivery. Far cheaper than most places. Granted Amazon listed yours $5 cheaper than Scalehobbyist. Shop around and compare prices especially S&H. Amazon Prime is a big rip-off to begin with.

The reason I hate and refuse to do business with Amazon is a variety of personal reasons.

 

[Motoretrolia]

Occasionally the outer box will provide a color chart and/or the instructions will provide this, sometimes in detail and sometime more or less a list. I admit, I'm more of "vague" painter, If I like another color better and feel it will work well, I'll use it. Or I'll mix up something that works for me. I just painted an older kit that specified the moulded in color although for me it was all wrong. I ended up with a gloss aluminum spray from Tamiya which sprayed well and matched my expectations. Good luck, enjoy the build.

 

[durangod]

i cant even imagine a scenario when i would use purple, lime green, pink, or orange unless i am custom mixing and need them.

 

[Eagle-1]

How do I know what paints I need to buy?

Your very own instructions.

Rob.

 

[TimM63]

i cant even imagine a scenario when i would use purple, lime green, pink, or orange unless i am custom mixing and need them.

I am getting ready to do this kit in pink with the purple stripes. should be interesting.

 

[Eagle-1]

I am getting ready to do this kit in pink with the purple stripes. should be interesting.

An excellent example "scenario" Mr. Tim.

Rob.

 

[Jim62]

i cant even imagine a scenario when i would use purple, lime green, pink, or orange unless i am custom mixing and need them.

Pink can actually be used on North Africa WWII builds because some colors on aircraft faded to pink in those conditions. I've also seen photos of aircraft that were olive drab that faded to purple I believe they were P-40's, just can't remember which theater they were in. Been a while since I saw those but just letting you know those colors may be applicable for a weathered AC used in certain areas.

 

[blakeh1]

Your very own instructions.

View attachment 126027View attachment 126028

Rob.

To expand on the details

The paint type is circled here

MR Hobby and Mr Color are made by the same manufacturer but one is a laquer/enamel while the other is an acrylic. It depends on which you prefer

In the color call outs where it has the H 12/33 the one in white box corresponds to the Mr Hobby color number and the Black box corresponds to the Mr Color number

If you want to use other paint brands you will have to do a conversion. I did not see it listed, but sometimes instructions will also list the FS number if there is one. This is an example of the instructions for the Academy 1/48 A-10 where you can see the FS number listed

Since the instructions for this kit seem to be lacking as far as listing the FS Number, you could do a reverse search of sorts.

For example, if you search for the MR Hobby 304 color, you will see the label has the FS number

Then all you need to do is a search for FS34087 equivalent in whatever paint brand you prefer

i.e. If I like using Vallejo paints, I would search for "Vallejo FS34087" and find this

Of note, it is very difficult sometimes to gauge accurate color from online swatches unless you are looking at a white balanced picture of an actual swatch of paint and even the color paint guides that come with the models and even each paint manufacturer may have slightly different interpretations of that color, but at least going off FS numbers you can be sure you are getting something close

 

[Eagle-1]

Holy crap blake!!! Don't tell him ALL our model building secrets.

Next thing you know, he won't look at the instructions AT ALL.

Rob.

 

[the Baron]

They're called "Mr Hobby" and "Mr Color" for the Western market.
In Japan, they're "Hobby-san" and "Color-san"

 

[Edbert]

Next thing you know, he won't look at the instructions AT ALL.

Be sure not to mention the glue!

 

[Eagle-1]

Be sure not to mention the glue!

Yeah, but to be fair, I just found out about that myself, so I didn't wanna brag.

Rob.

 

[BlackSheepTwoOneFour]

Pink can actually be used on North Africa WWII builds because some colors on aircraft faded to pink in those conditions. I've also seen photos of aircraft that were olive drab that faded to purple I believe they were P-40's, just can't remember which theater they were in. Been a while since I saw those but just letting you know those colors may be applicable for a weathered AC used in certain areas.

I did a Rufe floatplane in Lavender color. A small number of them were in fact lavender during the Aleutian Campaign of WW2

 

[Pantherman]

I am getting ready to do this kit in pink with the purple stripes. should be interesting.

View attachment 126029

Pink and purple, I love it. Pantherman

 

[Pantherman]

Pink can actually be used on North Africa WWII builds because some colors on aircraft faded to pink in those conditions. I've also seen photos of aircraft that were olive drab that faded to purple I believe they were P-40's, just can't remember which theater they were in. Been a while since I saw those but just letting you know those colors may be applicable for a weathered AC used in certain areas.

And to enhance your post......Pantherman

 

[Edbert]

I knew about the pink land-rover, but not about the Spit.

Thanks!

 

[STARMAKER.REBEL]

Okay... I bought the olive drab faded at https://www.scalehobbyist.com/ I also bought flat black and yellow for the rotor tips and stripes. What do I do with the interior cockpit? where did you get the instruction manual? When I was a child I never even looked at the instructions but I got hit in the head multiple times and lost some of my brain power. I'm disabled now and can't understand simple instructions anymore. It's embarrassing! So I just decided to pick the paint by the color square thing. I need the instructions so I can start learning the Helicopter. Where did you get the painting instructions?

I can no longer fully function. I forgot to get the orange and had to make another order. I need brushes now is there a kit of some kind for lacquer brushes? Can I use the same brushes for acrylic and lacquer? How do I clean brushes for each paint?

YOU GUYS ARE COOL! I'm choosing the 'B' in the instructions. Of course I'm using the most difficult paint scene. LOL!
I Want it to be blatantly ARMY as much as possible.

Thank you for the information. I'm still trying to figure out how to pick the color using the instructions, but I sincerely thank you because I already have like 6 models to paint.

 

[STARMAKER.REBEL]

Okay... I bought the olive drab faded at https://www.scalehobbyist.com/ I also bought flat black and yellow for the rotor tips. What do I do with the interior cockpit?

Here is what I bought.:::

 

[Edbert]

EDIT:
I wrote the response before the recent post above

It looks like you ordered lacquer paints (is that right?). Please be careful with the fumes and allow it to cure well, but once that is done the coating is a much better "canvas" than (disclaimer = some) modern acrylics.

---=== ORIGINAL POST ===---

Maybe you should slow down, just a bit, to save yourself from extra expense and aggravation.

You should decide what mediums you want to use. I am going to oversimplify this so "YMMV"!

1. Do you have ventilation (a consideration for using paints with toxic thinners)?
2. Will you be using traditional brushes or an airbrush (probably both)?
3. Will you be using varnishes and washes (usually requires the combination of solvents)?

Just saying, there are dozens of GREAT paints out there, most are only compatible within their brand but "YMMV" right?

 

[STARMAKER.REBEL]

Here is what I'm going to buy.

Joint Light Tactical Vehicle JLTV-GP

I plan on suspending the helicopter from the ceiling and then the JLTV from the Helicopter.

Any ideas about hanging them up? the ceiling is painted with what I think is 'popcorn' looking and I want to make as few holes as possible but things like command hooks will probably just come off in my hands.

It looks like this::

 

[STARMAKER.REBEL]

"It looks like you ordered lacquer paints (is that right?)."

Yep I looked it up in google even... LOL I chose the lacquer because it dries faster. 'maybe that is the wrong basis for choosing Lacquer?

Lacquer thinner works to clan the brushes right? Can you use lighter fluid or is that for Acrylic?

 

[urumomo]

Those lacquers are actually acrylics but solvent compatible acrylic resin ,
chiefly alcohols as the vehicle ( vehicle being what the pigment and binder , the acrylic resin , is suspended in )
Use water and alcohol to clean .
Lacquer thinner will also work of course but that's not necessary .It's primarily acetone and alcohol .

Lighter fluid is naphtha , used for thinning oil based paints . " enamels " or artist oils .

 

[STARMAKER.REBEL]

I'm disabled and need lots of help please. Please tell me if I bought the wrong stuff. I didn't notice before that the orange is Acrylic. Am I correct thinking that I need brushes for acrylic and different brushes for Lacquer. I remember now that when I was a child before my accident I used Enamel paint and used lighter fluid.

EDIT::: It looks like I can just use water for all the paint I bought? THis is different from the REDDIT thread that said not to use water on Lacquer.

EDIT:EDIT:: Okay I bought Alcohol brush cleaner. but I don't know how to use them. I assume that you start with alcohol and then water after that?

 

[urumomo]

Synthetic brushes are fine for all of it .
What makes that paint a " lacquer " is the alcohol used in it .
That's the reason they dry faster .

" lacquers " technically use nitrocellulose resin but most of the hobby " lacquers " actually use acrylics .

You are fine with what you have , but the water base acrylics , like Vallejo , are easier to brush apply since they have more open time . They dry slower .
You can add retarder , propylene glycol , to those lacquer paints to give yourself more time and avoid leaving brush marks .

 

[STARMAKER.REBEL]

I'm trying to do this as fast as possible. This project is for the Armed Forces Career Center near where I live. Army and Marine Corps are who I am making this for... Joint Army and Marine Corps... I don't think I have to be very accurate on the Helicopter because the Helicopter is only there for display. I need to be accurate though for the JLTV-GP M1278. I need the sandy color and the woodland color both. Chinook Helicopter I assume there is a detailed directions on the bottle of the alcohol stuff HERE:: brush cleaner

I'm getting anxious and probably need to slow way down but I wanted the paint to arrive before the Helicopter. Thank you a whole LOT for being patient with me. You guys are way cool!

EDIT:: is there a kit of brushes like you get with a kit of socket wrenches?

 

[urumomo]

I'd recommend you use spray paint for the bulk of the build .
fast , easy application and fast drying .
Is that a possibility for you ?

 

[STARMAKER.REBEL]

I'd recommend you use spray paint for the bulk of the build .
fast , easy application and fast drying .
Is that a possibility for you ?

What kind of spray paint are you talking about? I will have more money soon.... I just paid for my internet, and confirmed that I can have a Free Government cellphone. I was going to spend the money and get an airbrush but I have no idea how to use one. Are you talking about what They call rattle-can where you shake the marble i the can to mix it? That might be better than trying to but an airbrush?

 

[urumomo]

Yes , rattlecans .
An investment in an airbrush is sound , but you also need the air supply and then time to learn how to use it .
It sounds like you are in a hurry .
I'm suggesting using rattlecan paint for the body color for the helo and the JLTV .
so just those 2 cans of color .
Then you can do the other parts by brush .