Hey folks. New to the group here...

I am just getting back into painting 1/35 figures and vehicles and am trying to put together a set of shades that I will come back to often for representing the correct color of say a uniform or equipment piece or whatever.

I just got an assortment of Vallejo Model Colors, some that I picked from using the online PDF color chart and conversion from Tamiya XF series acrylics that I also use. The paints themselves are great so far with regard to consistency right out of the bottle for hand-brushing.

The only problem I have is I did need to buy online, which is not a problem by itself, but as you all know color chips/swatches online are not accurate. I mostly prefer to buy all paints I use in person but that is a tough one with some brands that are not stocked locally...

At least some of the Vallejo colors are not identical to the Tamiya for instance. An example would be Tamiya XF22 RLM Grey which references Vallejo 886 Green Grey 101. The Vallejo shade is much lighter, and perhaps not the same "Grey/Green" at all. For those of you who do not know, I used the chart that comes with the PDF on Vallejo's site which provides an equivilent Vallejo Model Color for Tamiya:

http://www.acrylicosvallejo.com/pdf_web/MC_CC070-rev05.pdf



I end up mixing colors so often to get the shades I want anyway.

Does anyone have a specified shade to use for WWII German uniforms in the Vallejo Model Colors? Is there a site that has recommended shades for the basecoat colors of uniforms and equipment? As I said, I end up mixing my own shades very often to get the colors to look right to me. A good example here is when trying to match US Woodland or ERDL (Brown or Green Dominant), as I know I have never seen those colors sold in their respective bottles/shades...

Maybe half the fun is just using your artistic eye and making a good guess based on research...? Probably the way the paint suppliers would do it. Unless the info is supplied somewhere referencing the Federal Standard Colors used...

If someone has a better method of selecting paint colors online (without so much guesswork) let me know.

M

Hi Matthew and welcome to Armorama! Here's an excellent paint chart where you can match paints in all major brands with the FS numbers, RGB, or against each other. It's indispensable.
http://www.paint4models.com/index.html

Hi Matthew, welcome to Armorama.

Matthew's link is a very useful tool in looking to match shades as you wish.

You also mentioned WW2 German Uniform colors- are you looking for the camouflage patterns like the Dot Pea pattern or the Field Grey colors? Vallejo's Field Grey is a decent match for the actual color. Vallejo also do a series of paints called 'Panzer Aces'- these are avaliable in sets or seperately but for, instance, you can get a set specifically for German SS uniforms- it has all the colors you need plus some info on what the patterns look like and how to paint them.

Hope this helps.

Hi Matthew. Proof that there are too many of "us". I find that color reference charts generally point to the manufacturer's version of the shade of paint. For example: MM Earth is a far cry from Tamiya Earth. When I purchase a paint I think I will be returning to, I will go to the local hardware store or Walmart and have it matched. A quart costs about $2 and they are great for handbrushing and shooting through an airbrush. The only concern is that white is very, very thick.

a Very Tiny Chip in here. I like to find a close colour and Mix around. Fading, dirt and issue periods of fatigues and uniforms can vary the colour noticeably. so I wouldn't get too hung up on an exact match

My 50Pence

Matt;
I have found even since I was a kid that I preferred to try and mix my own colours for uniforms and equipment, and I still do today. Back in the 80's I used Tamiya's guide in their catalogue as a base and then tweaked my colours from that. I always tried to find the right shade, and then build up a big quantity in a 35mm film can, labeled it and tried to add the Original Tamiya colours that went into my mix. I am still doing this today. Having a spread sheet on your computer where you can keep track of your mixes and ratios might be a good idea as well (might even do this myself).
I will see if I can look up my old mixes of US BDU Woodland camo colours from the 80's for you. Cheers.

I found this a little while ago

http://nesbetminiatures.blogspot.com.au/2011/04/tutorial-getting-citadel-colours.html

Although it is for Citadel paints it does illustrate pretty well that if you are up for a lot of mixing you can create any colour you need using just 5 base colours/tints/shades.

I am seriously considering doing just that, I wonder if you can get a small version of the paint mixing machines they have in Hardware shops?

@Scott!

That's an awsum link. Thanks for posting it.

I've been using Citadel paints for years and have only started using the Vallejo's over the last year and a half, so I'm still pretty heavily invested in the Citadel colors. (In fact, I still like a lot of their colors and have based a few "standard" techniques on them - like worn leathers using black or umber oils over Snakebite Leather or Beastial Brown.)

Anyways, great link! Thanks again for posting it.

@Mattherw (OP):

You might find these Vallejo German uniform mixes useful -

Historicus Forma:: Painting Splinter Pattern

The author, Andy Evans, is a great figure painter and I'm using some of these mixes on my current project (see pages 4-5 for the figures)-

StuG IV Late

HTH,