Hi,

I have a couple of Tamiya models I want to paint in a current OIF scheme. The paining guides suggest using Tamiya's TS46 Light Sand spray, however a) this isn't currently available in the UK and b) it's a spray rather than in a pot (for easy mixing, thinning, etc.).

Can someone suggest a ready made Tamiya or Vallejo paint I could / should use? I have seen suggestions for a mix of Tamiya Buff and White, but are there any other options?

Any info will be very helpful!

Cheers,
Ian

Ian--TS46 is actually too dark and yellow out of the can for OIF (it is a good match for Desert Storm, however). You can try getting a hold of #1706 Model Master Sand (or #4720 MM Acryl Sand), which is a match to FS 33531. That is a better match to the CARC Sand paint currently used by US forces. Gunze Sangyo H313 is an exact match to FS 33531 (according to a couple of paint matching sites), but is semi-gloss. Humbrol's Light Stone (I think) is also an exact match.

If you still want to find a close match to TS46, try Model Master US Army/Marine Gulf War Sand or Polly Scale US Desert Storm Sand (FS 33446), stock number # 505364.

LifeColour do a colour called US Desert Sand. I have a pot of this to try out but haven't got around to it yet. This could be worth a try as the majority of my armour paints are LifeColour and have had excellent results from all of them. For airbush purposes they thin very well with Tamiya's acrylic thinner. Worth a try perhaps.

hi there ian!

well, it actually depends on what vehicle are you painting... US CARC paint is a very light shade of sand and British sand paint is more on the yellowish side.. if you're doing a US model, then you could trust what Lucas just said about the model master sand.. its probably the closest match to US CARC paint from off the shelf paint.. if you have seen his paint job on his abrams before, then you'd know what im talking about..

Thanks for your replies.

The first of the models I'll be building is Tamiya'a M1025 Humvee (35263) so the Testor's Model Mater paint sounds best, however I can't seem to find a distributor for them in the UK. I think I'll give the LifeColour ones a go.

Thanks again,
Ian

Remember that Gunze and Humbrol make the same color, so even if you don't find MM paints, you can fall back on those.

Bit late reply tough. But I used tamiya Buff XF-57 mixed with a little of Dark Yellow XF-60. usually in a ratio 3:1 or if it is a bit on the dark side I spray it lightly over with Buff. It worked out fine for me

CHeers Remi