To busy building to go through all of that experimenting. My time is concentrated on build build.

Which really is model making.

I know what works for me & that I have a technique & procedure for that which I use time after time.

Colour dead easy to make your own straight in to the cup. Do it all the time. Most of the colours listed by the manufacturers are those pristine when they aircraft etc come out of the factory.

Bit of sunshine, lashed with rain in flight the wind the aircraft soon looses it's original colour within weeks.  So I am never bitten by original colours.

Fascinated by the Falklands & the Harriers. None were the same colour. On Invincible they had a spray booth but even then the aircraft colours were a real mixture. Especially on Hermes where they hand painted.

Admiral Woodward could be seen often on Hermes with his Dulux & 5" brush. Painting his cabin a Harrier colour.