Correct color(s) for modern USAF C-130Js.

AKRoast

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I have the 1/72 Zvezfda C-130J kit. They have their own paint colors noted on instructions but have a Zvezda to Tamiya conversion chart.

It has many errors in terms of what they call the Tamiya colors.

Going by the chart, they say to do a two part scheme, hard lined, with most of it shown as XF53 Neutral Grey (medium grey), and the randome XF19 Sky Grey, and the partial upper wing areas XF80 Royal Grey.

Sky Grey and Royal Grey are virtually the same, Sky is just hair darker.

Online, on multiple sites, I see it should maybe be monochromatic gunship grey. XF53 is close but lighter. I do have a spray can of Tamiya AS-27 gunship grey 2.

Any thoughts on which is correct? Do I need "gunship grey 1" if Tamiya makes it? Do they really have the light grey on the wing tops? Note their own box art does not show this two color wing top and it would be a pain to do well with the long thin decals there also.
Thanks

IMG_4144 2 Medium.jpeg

IMG_4149 Medium.jpeg
 
It's not my kind of subject so I don't have any immediate recommendations, but your best option is really to find out which colour (FS number, for a plane like this) the real thing is/was painted in and then find a model paint that matches that.
 
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Thanks, I found this:

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Why do some militaries paint their C130s in a camouflage livery ...

Modern US Air Force C-130s are primarily painted in FS 36173, also known as "AMC Proud Grey" or "Battle Gray". While Gunship Grey (FS 36118) was used for AC-130 gunships and earlier models, transport versions transitioned to the lighter FS 36173 scheme in the 1990s.
FS 36173 (AMC Proud Grey / Battle Grey)
  • Application: The dominant gray color for modern, non-gunship C-130s in Air Mobility Command (AMC).
  • History: Adopted in the 1990s as part of a single-color scheme that was cheaper and more effective for mid-altitude operations compared to the older woodland camouflage.
FS 36118 (Gunship Grey)
  • Application: Still used on specialized versions like the AC-130 gunship.
  • History: A common color for various USAF aircraft, but largely replaced on the transport C-130s by FS 36173.
 
Interestingly, Imodel Kit app says FS 36173 is called "Ocean Grey (NAVSEA)"not "AMC Proud Grey" or "Battle Grey".
WTH?
I thought using an FS paint type meant it was pretty standard naming.

IMG_4150.png
 
This mix looks close
My understanding of ImodelKit app is in the mixer you want the RGB values as close to zero as possible. This is -4, 1, 0. Is that how it works?

IMG_4151.png
 
To make matters worse, some digitally rendered colors never seem to match the actual paint color as well. I always to to find a picture of the bottle if it has a color top like Tamiya, or more of a color swatch style than some RGB render

That being said, FS 36173 is the "federal standard" color

What name it goes go can vary by manufacturer, but should be pretty close if they are any good

For example, MRP calls it Ocean Grey while Vallejo Model calls it Neutral grey. There are lots of other colors called Ocean Grey, but not all are a match to the FS number

In this case despite having different names, I think the MRP and Vallejo both seem to match as they are both trying to represent that FS color

1754869691447.png
 
Interestingly, Imodel Kit app says FS 36173 is called "Ocean Grey (NAVSEA)"not "AMC Proud Grey" or "Battle Grey".
WTH?
I thought using an FS paint type meant it was pretty standard naming.
I suspect AMC Proud Grey is a car colour (based purely on "AMC" in the name) that happens to be more or less of a match for the USAF colour, but trying to find out via a search engine is proving somewhat less than useful.

some digitally rendered colors never seem to match the actual paint color
Only some? ;) Colours you see on a screen never match the supposedly same colour of paint. This has all kinds of reasons, but the primary one is that a screen shines light at you while paint reflects light that falls on it from another source, like the sun. What's more, computer screens vary depending on manufacturer, type of screen and other factors, plus they have all kinds of settings that you can tinker with to change the colours as they appear on the screen, which means that even rgb(0, 0, 0) — that is, black — won't necessarily look the same on my screen as on yours. On an OLED screen, for example, black will look darker than on a backlit LCD screen. And that's just the beginning :)

Much the same goes for printed photographs, but for different reasons: the colour you see in those also never matches that of the actual paint, except by pure chance.
 
Zvezda does use an interesting system...

1754922908726.png

Edit: Those colors are from their SU-57 kit.
 
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Interestingly, Imodel Kit app says FS 36173 is called "Ocean Grey (NAVSEA)"not "AMC Proud Grey" or "Battle Grey".
WTH?
I thought using an FS paint type meant it was pretty standard naming.

The info at Imodel is correct. One caveat though, FS colors do not have any names officially assigned to them. Don't get me started about the stupid names used by Mig, AK and AMMO. Some matches are:

Gunze Aqueous 53 Neutral Grey and 331 RAF Dark Sea Grey

Vallejo Model Color 70.992 or Model Air 71.051 Neutral Grey
 
I have the 1/72 Zvezfda C-130J kit. They have their own paint colors noted on instructions but have a Zvezda to Tamiya conversion chart.

It has many errors in terms of what they call the Tamiya colors.

Going by the chart, they say to do a two part scheme, hard lined, with most of it shown as XF53 Neutral Grey (medium grey), and the randome XF19 Sky Grey, and the partial upper wing areas XF80 Royal Grey.

Sky Grey and Royal Grey are virtually the same, Sky is just hair darker.

Online, on multiple sites, I see it should maybe be monochromatic gunship grey. XF53 is close but lighter. I do have a spray can of Tamiya AS-27 gunship grey 2.

Any thoughts on which is correct? Do I need "gunship grey 1" if Tamiya makes it? Do they really have the light grey on the wing tops? Note their own box art does not show this two color wing top and it would be a pain to do well with the long thin decals there also.
Thanks

View attachment 155221

View attachment 155222
Hang on a sec, I'm slightly confused. You're wondering about the paints to paint this aircraft, correct? It looks like you already built it? Decals and everything. When I put decals on the plane it's almost done except for clear coat and weathering. What gives?
 
I have a Tamiya paint stress issue also - I now have almost every color. Why I don't know. I guess I was worried I would not have right ones when I needed them and my LHS does not carry most colors. I already went all in on Tamiya and got rid of my Vallejo because of constant tip dry issues and Vallejo's "look". But so many Tamiya colors only come in their mini bottles that when I actually have to use one it worries me that I will run out mid-project. Really wish they all came in same 3/4 ounce size.
 


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