AFV Painting & Weathering
Answers to questions about the right paint scheme or tips for the right effect.
Answers to questions about the right paint scheme or tips for the right effect.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Matthew Toms
Merkava color
imatanker
Joined: February 11, 2011
KitMaker: 1,654 posts
Armorama: 1,565 posts
Posted: Friday, April 06, 2012 - 12:03 PM UTC
I am going to be building the HobbyBoss Merkava Mk.IV #382429.I would like to know if any of these tanks where done in NATO colors?Thanks.Jeff T.
Kelley
Joined: November 21, 2002
KitMaker: 1,966 posts
Armorama: 1,635 posts
Posted: Friday, April 06, 2012 - 12:37 PM UTC
Plain & simple, nope.
imatanker
Joined: February 11, 2011
KitMaker: 1,654 posts
Armorama: 1,565 posts
Posted: Friday, April 06, 2012 - 12:47 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Plain & simple, nope.
Mike,thank you for your short & sweet reply. Here's my next question.Can you give me a color in Tamiya or Vallejo that will work? Thanks again.Jeff T.
Kelley
Joined: November 21, 2002
KitMaker: 1,966 posts
Armorama: 1,635 posts
Posted: Friday, April 06, 2012 - 01:24 PM UTC
Tamiya, you would need to mix a color, for Vallejo try Model Color 70886 Green Grey. I have not used it yet myself, (I have a couple of bottels on hand for the HB Merk 4 myself 
) but have seen a couple of Merks done with it and the results were very good!
Mike
) but have seen a couple of Merks done with it and the results were very good!Mike
humvee
Joined: July 31, 2002
KitMaker: 35 posts
Armorama: 30 posts
Posted: Friday, April 06, 2012 - 01:32 PM UTC
janwillem
Joined: October 01, 2003
KitMaker: 1,236 posts
Armorama: 700 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 07, 2012 - 01:03 AM UTC
I use different paints depending on how the vehicle looks in the reference photos and mix them accordingly.
Most modern IDF vehicles have a green greyish and I haven't found a "out of the bottle" so this is what I use.
First mix:
Tamiya: one part XF- 20, one part XF- 57, one part XF- 27 and one part XF- 49
Gives
Second mix:
Humbrol 72, 155 and 159 at a ratio of 1:1:1
Gives
Third:
Humbrol: 84
Use as a base and add filters and washes to get the desired effect.
Gives
Last:
Tamiya six parts XF-25, three parts XF -62 and one part XF-65
Gives
Hoop that helps a bit.
JW
Most modern IDF vehicles have a green greyish and I haven't found a "out of the bottle" so this is what I use.
First mix:
Tamiya: one part XF- 20, one part XF- 57, one part XF- 27 and one part XF- 49
Gives
Second mix:
Humbrol 72, 155 and 159 at a ratio of 1:1:1
Gives
Third:
Humbrol: 84
Use as a base and add filters and washes to get the desired effect.
Gives
Last:
Tamiya six parts XF-25, three parts XF -62 and one part XF-65
Gives
Hoop that helps a bit.
JW
The3rdPlacer
Joined: July 29, 2008
KitMaker: 430 posts
Armorama: 407 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 07, 2012 - 01:28 AM UTC
Hi,
While maybe not a perfect color, I've found Tamiya RLM 02 is close enough over a NATO black undercoat.
After washes and other weathering, it looks good to me.
Ryan
www.legendusa.net
While maybe not a perfect color, I've found Tamiya RLM 02 is close enough over a NATO black undercoat.
After washes and other weathering, it looks good to me.
Ryan
www.legendusa.net
SFModeller
Joined: April 03, 2011
KitMaker: 154 posts
Armorama: 99 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 07, 2012 - 02:36 AM UTC
imatanker
Joined: February 11, 2011
KitMaker: 1,654 posts
Armorama: 1,565 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 07, 2012 - 08:05 AM UTC
Thank you Gentlemen,now we are getting some place!Where does the HobbyBoss Merkava Mk.IV #82429 fit in the time line. 
Thanks,Jeff T.
Thanks,Jeff T. Kelley
Joined: November 21, 2002
KitMaker: 1,966 posts
Armorama: 1,635 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 07, 2012 - 12:33 PM UTC
Jeff, the Merk 4 is the newest of the IDF's front-line MBT's. So you're looking for Humbrol 84, (Janwillem's 3rd pic) or something very similiar.
Mike
Mike
imatanker
Joined: February 11, 2011
KitMaker: 1,654 posts
Armorama: 1,565 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 07, 2012 - 01:58 PM UTC
Am I correct in thinking that the 4 went into production in 2001?Jeff T.
Kelley
Joined: November 21, 2002
KitMaker: 1,966 posts
Armorama: 1,635 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 07, 2012 - 02:34 PM UTC
Close but not quite. The Merkava 4 was unveiled to the public in June 2002 after trials with 3 prototypes during 2001. It entered IDF service in 2004.
Mike
Mike
imatanker
Joined: February 11, 2011
KitMaker: 1,654 posts
Armorama: 1,565 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 07, 2012 - 08:33 PM UTC
Mike,Thanks again.All the info I have gotten here has helped me a lot.This round's on Me 
Jeff T.
Jeff T.
cabasner
Joined: February 12, 2012
KitMaker: 1,083 posts
Armorama: 1,014 posts
Posted: Friday, April 13, 2012 - 04:20 PM UTC
I tried my own little experiment with colors. As you can see, I put dabs of well mixed Humbrol 84, Model Master 4814 Israeli Armor Sand Gray, and LifeColor035 Israeli Sand Gray. Make up your own minds, but to me, based on various photos I've seen in books and on the internet, all of which are impossible to verify against a standard, the Humbrol looks best.
cabasner
Joined: February 12, 2012
KitMaker: 1,083 posts
Armorama: 1,014 posts
Posted: Friday, April 20, 2012 - 02:23 AM UTC
Hi guys,
I just thought I'd give you one more thought on IDF colors, based on a bit more experimenting. My last post showed 3 different colors, of which my personal favorite, based on best match to photos, etc., is Humbrol 84. This choice was, of course, initially based on many other opinions, the most significant of which was that of IDF expert Michael Mass. I'd just wanted to verify, personally, how the various recommended colors looked. Humbrol 84 is/was IT.
I happen to be a big fan of Tamiya acrylics, (limited though my experience may be), and I personally am not thrilled with the complications involved in enamel painting (smell, clean-up, etc.), so I was very interested in determining if there was an acrylic equivalent to Humbrol 84, preferably in Tamiya colors. There are a number of suggestions for mixes of colors for current IDF vehicles that can be found here on Armorama, but I verified an almost perfect match to Humbrol 84 this morning. It is: 2 parts XF-20 Medium Grey to 1 part XF-49 Khaki. Perhaps an even closer match may be a 1.5 to 1 ratio, which would result in just the smallest adjustment to the green end of the scale, but I have not yet tried that. As is, the 2:1 ratio is just fine!
So, for any of you who prefer Tamiya acrylics, and are looking for THE modern IDF color, this appears to be close to the perfect solution. My only reservation was that finding the XF-20 color was a bit of a challenge, and I had to buy a few 10ml bottles instead of the larger 23ml that I prefer.
I hope you find this of value
I just thought I'd give you one more thought on IDF colors, based on a bit more experimenting. My last post showed 3 different colors, of which my personal favorite, based on best match to photos, etc., is Humbrol 84. This choice was, of course, initially based on many other opinions, the most significant of which was that of IDF expert Michael Mass. I'd just wanted to verify, personally, how the various recommended colors looked. Humbrol 84 is/was IT.
I happen to be a big fan of Tamiya acrylics, (limited though my experience may be), and I personally am not thrilled with the complications involved in enamel painting (smell, clean-up, etc.), so I was very interested in determining if there was an acrylic equivalent to Humbrol 84, preferably in Tamiya colors. There are a number of suggestions for mixes of colors for current IDF vehicles that can be found here on Armorama, but I verified an almost perfect match to Humbrol 84 this morning. It is: 2 parts XF-20 Medium Grey to 1 part XF-49 Khaki. Perhaps an even closer match may be a 1.5 to 1 ratio, which would result in just the smallest adjustment to the green end of the scale, but I have not yet tried that. As is, the 2:1 ratio is just fine!
So, for any of you who prefer Tamiya acrylics, and are looking for THE modern IDF color, this appears to be close to the perfect solution. My only reservation was that finding the XF-20 color was a bit of a challenge, and I had to buy a few 10ml bottles instead of the larger 23ml that I prefer.
I hope you find this of value
imatanker
Joined: February 11, 2011
KitMaker: 1,654 posts
Armorama: 1,565 posts
Posted: Friday, April 20, 2012 - 08:06 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi guys,
I just thought I'd give you one more thought on IDF colors, based on a bit more experimenting. My last post showed 3 different colors, of which my personal favorite, based on best match to photos, etc., is Humbrol 84. This choice was, of course, initially based on many other opinions, the most significant of which was that of IDF expert Michael Mass. I'd just wanted to verify, personally, how the various recommended colors looked. Humbrol 84 is/was IT.
I happen to be a big fan of Tamiya acrylics, (limited though my experience may be), and I personally am not thrilled with the complications involved in enamel painting (smell, clean-up, etc.), so I was very interested in determining if there was an acrylic equivalent to Humbrol 84, preferably in Tamiya colors. There are a number of suggestions for mixes of colors for current IDF vehicles that can be found here on Armorama, but I verified an almost perfect match to Humbrol 84 this morning. It is: 2 parts XF-20 Medium Grey to 1 part XF-49 Khaki. Perhaps an even closer match may be a 1.5 to 1 ratio, which would result in just the smallest adjustment to the green end of the scale, but I have not yet tried that. As is, the 2:1 ratio is just fine!
So, for any of you who prefer Tamiya acrylics, and are looking for THE modern IDF color, this appears to be close to the perfect solution. My only reservation was that finding the XF-20 color was a bit of a challenge, and I had to buy a few 10ml bottles instead of the larger 23ml that I prefer.
I hope you find this of value
Curtis...Thank you for all your work.That is exactly what I was looking for
I really like Tamiya acrylics also.I myself like the smaller bottles better just due to storage.Thanks again,Jeff T. cabasner
Joined: February 12, 2012
KitMaker: 1,083 posts
Armorama: 1,014 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 10:37 AM UTC
Hey Guys,
I just keep plugging along, trying to make myself completely happy that I've nailed the current IDF color. I tried a few more mixes today, including a remix of the 2 parts XF-20 and 1 part XF-49. I'd read that 1 part XF-20 and 1 part XF-57 (Buff) was good, and I was all for any 1:1 mix, but it turns out that that mix is far too grey. Next, I tried my own mix of six parts XF-25, three parts XF -62 and one part XF-65, someone posted a painted vehicle painted in this mix above, but at least to me, in person, this looked far too 'pine green', too much to the cool grey-green end of the spectrum. I tried about a 1.5 part XF-20 to 1 part XF-49, as I'd thought that might be better than the 2:1 mix, but, I must tell you, the 2:1 XF-20:XF-49 is just IT.
I know I must seem to be obsessed with this, and I suppose to a degree, I am, but I am now 100% convinced that this 2:1 mix is about as perfect a match to Humbrol 84 as you'll get. I"m going to mix up a big bottle of the 2:1, and have on hand for current IDF armor.
I just keep plugging along, trying to make myself completely happy that I've nailed the current IDF color. I tried a few more mixes today, including a remix of the 2 parts XF-20 and 1 part XF-49. I'd read that 1 part XF-20 and 1 part XF-57 (Buff) was good, and I was all for any 1:1 mix, but it turns out that that mix is far too grey. Next, I tried my own mix of six parts XF-25, three parts XF -62 and one part XF-65, someone posted a painted vehicle painted in this mix above, but at least to me, in person, this looked far too 'pine green', too much to the cool grey-green end of the spectrum. I tried about a 1.5 part XF-20 to 1 part XF-49, as I'd thought that might be better than the 2:1 mix, but, I must tell you, the 2:1 XF-20:XF-49 is just IT.
I know I must seem to be obsessed with this, and I suppose to a degree, I am, but I am now 100% convinced that this 2:1 mix is about as perfect a match to Humbrol 84 as you'll get. I"m going to mix up a big bottle of the 2:1, and have on hand for current IDF armor.
cabasner
Joined: February 12, 2012
KitMaker: 1,083 posts
Armorama: 1,014 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 13, 2012 - 02:38 PM UTC
Hey all, again,
My first attempt at actually using the 2:1 XF-20:XF-49 Tamiya mix...on my Merkava IV roadwheels. It's just the beginning, but the color looks pretty good, to me at least!
My first attempt at actually using the 2:1 XF-20:XF-49 Tamiya mix...on my Merkava IV roadwheels. It's just the beginning, but the color looks pretty good, to me at least!
dporter
Joined: July 24, 2014
KitMaker: 7 posts
Armorama: 7 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - 11:10 PM UTC
Hi I have just become a member of this forum and am currently building the 1/35 Hobby Boss Merkava Mk III. But,its the colour that has stumped me. Now from what I have read so far it looks like you are on the trail to a successful colour match for this tank. But have you progressed any further only I see the tanks in battle now and they are more grey than buff but I also have reference shots showing more Buff.
Grateful for you suggestions on this and your listing may have been some time ago.
Kind Regards Dave Porter London England
Grateful for you suggestions on this and your listing may have been some time ago.
Kind Regards Dave Porter London England
Removed by original poster on 07/28/14 - 07:09:55 (GMT).
SSGToms
Joined: April 02, 2005
KitMaker: 3,608 posts
Armorama: 3,092 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 27, 2014 - 07:14 PM UTC
I suggest you avoid the insanity of trying to pin down the exact color, which changes in different light and dust conditions. Ammo by Mig has come out with a very useful paint set that has accurate colors - http://www.ammomigjimenez-usa.com/acrylic-sets/169-idf-colors-smart-acrylic-set.html
Phael_minis
Joined: January 14, 2013
KitMaker: 208 posts
Armorama: 208 posts
Posted: Monday, July 28, 2014 - 07:04 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I suggest you avoid the insanity of trying to pin down the exact color, which changes in different light and dust conditions. Ammo by Mig has come out with a very useful paint set that has accurate colors - http://www.ammomigjimenez-usa.com/acrylic-sets/169-idf-colors-smart-acrylic-set.html
I tried the Ammo mig 066 and it looks much too light (my bottle colour doesn't look like the one on the link, but it's the 066 ref, maybe they change it).
For me the best match is a 50-50 mix of Tamyia german grey and Khaki.
rodo
Joined: April 26, 2004
KitMaker: 27 posts
Armorama: 27 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 30, 2016 - 04:34 AM UTC
WOW. I've never reciecved so many replies on a topic. I don't know who to thank, as you've all helped so much. I'm gonna have to go with the Tamiya blends [ I have zero access to Humbrol, as good as they are ]. Thanks to you all, I have a broad pallette to get it right.This is truly a Great forum for " Pikers "such as myself.Thanks so much to all of You.Keith R.
Tojo72
Joined: June 06, 2006
KitMaker: 4,691 posts
Armorama: 3,509 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 30, 2016 - 05:11 AM UTC
Quoted Text
WOW. I've never reciecved so many replies on a topic. I don't know who to thank, as you've all helped so much. I'm gonna have to go with the Tamiya blends [ I have zero access to Humbrol, as good as they are ]. Thanks to you all, I have a broad pallette to get it right.This is truly a Great forum for " Pikers "such as myself.Thanks so much to all of You.Keith R.
I was the one who answered you on FSM and directed you this old thread to answer your question
zorrolobo
Joined: May 31, 2013
KitMaker: 1,457 posts
Armorama: 1,440 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 30, 2016 - 12:02 PM UTC
I go with Vallejo IDF Israeli Sand Grey (FS30372) primer, then with a light coat of Vallejo Green Gray.
For me that works.
For me that works.
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