_GOTOBOTTOM
AFV Painting & Weathering
Answers to questions about the right paint scheme or tips for the right effect.
Flourescent paint?
joegrafton
Visit this Community
United Kingdom
Joined: October 04, 2009
KitMaker: 1,209 posts
Armorama: 1,143 posts
Posted: Friday, December 30, 2016 - 06:07 PM UTC
Hi,
I'm shortly going to build & paint the 1/35th firefighters from Black Dog. The fire clothing has flourescent strips around the coat & leggings. I've located Vallejo yellow & green but I need some very light grey.
Is there a way I can mix up a light grey flourescent colour?
Thanks in advance.

Joe
urumomo
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: August 22, 2013
KitMaker: 675 posts
Armorama: 667 posts
Posted: Friday, December 30, 2016 - 08:19 PM UTC
You're talking about the silver , reflector strips ?
Or true flourescents ?
You have a pic of the real deal ?
joegrafton
Visit this Community
United Kingdom
Joined: October 04, 2009
KitMaker: 1,209 posts
Armorama: 1,143 posts
Posted: Friday, December 30, 2016 - 08:44 PM UTC
Thanks for your reply!
Yeah, the reflector strips. They are silver/grey & yellow/green.
I have plenty of reference material! I'm a firefighter in London myself & we wear the same gear!
I'm okay with the green/yellow, it's the silver/grey I'm having trouble with!
urumomo
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: August 22, 2013
KitMaker: 675 posts
Armorama: 667 posts
Posted: Friday, December 30, 2016 - 08:51 PM UTC
the reference pic was for me , ,, or the peanut gallery as a whole

the silver strips are fluorescent ?
just trying to understand what you're trying to duplicate .
It can definitely be done
joegrafton
Visit this Community
United Kingdom
Joined: October 04, 2009
KitMaker: 1,209 posts
Armorama: 1,143 posts
Posted: Friday, December 30, 2016 - 09:31 PM UTC
Hi Keith,
Thanks again for your message.
The yellow & silver strips reflect light. They work best in the dark when artificial light shines on it, like vehicle headlamps, torch light, etc.
However, when the strips get dirty with soot they do tone down a lot. So I'm not even sure if flourescent paint will work! Not sure what else to do to achieve the reflective look!
Any ideas? Lol!
urumomo
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: August 22, 2013
KitMaker: 675 posts
Armorama: 667 posts
Posted: Friday, December 30, 2016 - 09:49 PM UTC
personally ,
I would start with a base of the AK True Metal in probably aluminum ,, maybe steel .
You can rub it down to a realistic , smooth metallic base .
Then use an acrylic filter coat ( sepia ? payne's ? ) if necessary to modify the appearance .
joegrafton
Visit this Community
United Kingdom
Joined: October 04, 2009
KitMaker: 1,209 posts
Armorama: 1,143 posts
Posted: Friday, December 30, 2016 - 09:53 PM UTC
Hi Keith,
Thanks for the heads up! That sounds like a good idea! I think I will try that!
So did you say you needed reference pics?
urumomo
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: August 22, 2013
KitMaker: 675 posts
Armorama: 667 posts
Posted: Friday, December 30, 2016 - 10:04 PM UTC
Post a pic of the figs with what you have already -- with the yellow strips .

Am I making sense with my approach ?
Would just a gray be more appropriate ?
I think I know what you're talking about ...
maybe start with a bright white base and apply a silver/grey glaze

A fire-fighter in London on New Year's Eve ...
Stay safe !
joegrafton
Visit this Community
United Kingdom
Joined: October 04, 2009
KitMaker: 1,209 posts
Armorama: 1,143 posts
Posted: Friday, December 30, 2016 - 10:20 PM UTC
Hi Keith!
I haven't actually started the figures yet. The efforts from Black Dog are US firefighters but not firefighters from New York as the clothing on the figures is slightly different. The helmets are wrong too! So I'm gonna need to do a bit of converting!
I will start in the New Year & will post my progress under the figures forum! I will let you know when I start!
And I will try to stay safe tonight! Thanks brother! Happy New Year to you!
AgentG
Visit this Community
Nevada, United States
Joined: December 21, 2008
KitMaker: 1,109 posts
Armorama: 1,095 posts
Posted: Friday, December 30, 2016 - 11:29 PM UTC
Unless you want the figure to actually reflect light, mix white paint with a drop or two of silver. They blend and give a pretty good scale representation of that reflective striping.

Vallejo acrylic "Model Color" has a fluorescent yellow color in the line up. I used that on my FDNY bust. Make sure you use it over white primer as it is slightly translucent.

G
white4doc
#429
Visit this Community
Massachusetts, United States
Joined: October 14, 2003
KitMaker: 1,086 posts
Armorama: 964 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 01, 2017 - 03:36 AM UTC
3M actually makes tape in those colors, might actually be easier than trying to mix up the right color you're looking for.
 _GOTOTOP