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AFV Painting & Weathering
Answers to questions about the right paint scheme or tips for the right effect.
Modeler Input sought for New Colors
sgtreef
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Oklahoma, United States
Joined: March 01, 2002
KitMaker: 6,043 posts
Armorama: 4,347 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 23, 2017 - 05:18 PM UTC

Quoted Text

We want to thank all of the modelers who have responded so far to our question. Our decisions on what should be added for the latter 1/2 of 2018 will be made sometime in January (hard to believe we are already talking about the new year !). We asked the same question on other forums to garner as much input as possible. As we review the suggestions we should be able to see what modelers want.

We still have nearly 3 months to obtain intel on this subject and so far there has been no glaring area that seems to dominate (although British WW2 colors appears to be in the lead). Ask your friends to put in their thoughts on the subject.

As for several shades of the same color, we could do that. But since Tru-Color Paints are completely miscible with each other (they are all made with the exact same polymer and nearly identical solvent blends) the modeler has the ability to adjust the color lighter or darker as they wish using our generic white, off-white, grimy black, black, various grays, clear gloss and even clear flat is it really necessary to make 2-3 shades of the same Yellow Earth or Sand color, for example ? I can see the point of making a "freshly painted" tank color versus a "faded" paint color, but that can be achieved by adding a few drops of off-white or a lighter version by adding gloss or flat.

We understand that the modeler would like to purchase already blended colors or variations, but we have to think of the investment (dollar wise) the hobby shop (local or online) and our distributors have to make to stock multiple layers of the same color as well as the room that takes up. It also becomes an inventory and manufacturing nightmare in our factory. Right now we have 4 versions of Olive Drab for U.S. Armor and 2 versions of Olive Drab for British WWI aircraft. And yet, they all carry the same name - Olive Drab and a version number.

Thank you for listening to me and we look forward to more input and comments.

Martin Cohen, PhD
Tru-Color Paint







I have been advised to never add white to OD green as turns it a pea green.
So you add yellow to lighten it.

Any feedback on that.
iowabrit
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Iowa, United States
Joined: November 06, 2007
KitMaker: 585 posts
Armorama: 557 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 23, 2017 - 08:12 PM UTC
Is this Enamel or Acrylic paint? I searched the website but couldn't see any answer. I note that the previous reply mentions polymer and solvent so I'm guessing enamel, in which case I will pass.
trucolorpaint
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Joined: August 18, 2017
KitMaker: 240 posts
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Posted: Sunday, September 24, 2017 - 04:40 AM UTC
"I have been advised to never add white to OD green as turns it a pea green.
So you add yellow to lighten it.

Any feedback on that."

The best and most effective way to lighten any Tru-Color Paint color is to add either TCP-017, Flat, or TCP-018, Gloss to the color. This will reduce the pigment load to lighten the color, but not effect the hue. Also, neither will effect the spray properties of the paint.

Martin Cohen, PhD
Tru-Color Paint
babaoriley
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California, United States
Joined: June 23, 2017
KitMaker: 195 posts
Armorama: 179 posts
Posted: Monday, September 25, 2017 - 07:33 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Also as I understand Testor's is in the process of or already has discontinued the Model Master line, there is the obvious market to replace alot of the colors that only that brand really offered



I read about this recently. It appears they are discontinuing their Model Master II line - their military colors, about 130+/- colors. But I couldn't care less because when they discontinued their Polly Scale and Floquil lines, I discontinued being a Testors customer. I feel bad for the rest of you, though. Stinks to have your favorite brand go away.

So I am very interested in Tru-Color looking to increase their product line.



Big company buys little company equals kiss goodbye the products made by the little company (in most cases). I've seen this happen over and over, the big company is not in touch with the market served by the smaller company and often all they want is the brand name anyway so they can use it to sell made-in-China products under the old name. It's amazing that Testor thought buying competitors and then discontinuing those product lines made sense, all they did was clear the way for new brands to move in. Happily it looks like some of the new brands have as good or better ideas on serving the model market, yay.
babaoriley
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California, United States
Joined: June 23, 2017
KitMaker: 195 posts
Armorama: 179 posts
Posted: Monday, September 25, 2017 - 08:18 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Doug:

When we were developing the railroad colors we have (over 400 colors now in product line), we contemplated the idea of making aged, weathered colors for freight cars. The problem arises that my idea (and the rest of the Tru-Color Paint staff) of what a faded Southern Pacific boxcar should look like after 1 year,5 years, 10 years, etc. is vastly different from 1 modeler to another.

The same is true for armor and other army vehicles which seem to have more wear and tear than ships or planes. Sure, we could say take 20 drops of TCP-1401 Olive Drab and add 5 drops of TCP-157 Soo Line Off-White (a yellowish green light white), for example, and get a aged looking olive drab. However my idea of an aged olive drab may not be the same as another modeler. So I guess we could devise a chart as a starting point for a modeler. Is this something you would like to help with ? If so, let us know.

Martin Cohen, PhD
Tru-Color Paint

PS - We have over 100 automotive colors !



What I had in mind was a system that would take into account what individual modelers want to achieve, e.g. to age a green base color add two drops of yellow for mild weathering/fading, four drops for moderate weathering, six drops for heavy weathering. I didn't think that either multiple faded versions of standard colors or just one aged version would be a good idea for the very reasons you have mentioned.

Providing "fading" instructions for the common base colors-- U.S. OD, British green, Soviet green, panzer grey and panzer yellow etc.--would presumably cover most of what modelers would need as there wouldn't be much difference in fading panzer yellow as opposed to 8th Army desert yellow or IDF yellow or whatever. Ditto with the green base colors, the same approach would presumably work equally well with them all.

Anyway, that about exhausts my expertise on the subject. A system such as this appeals to me as I haven't yet been able to convince my wife that every modeler needs a minimum of 500 bottles of paint on hand at all times. BTW, I have a bottle of your paint on my desk which my wife won with a car model in a raffle at a model contest a couple of weeks ago--alas, it's one of your railway colors.

I assume you folks will have a heavy presence at the IPMS Nationals next August; we're hoping to be there both for the convention and to see the Giants beat the Diamondbacks. ;^)
trucolorpaint
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Joined: August 18, 2017
KitMaker: 240 posts
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Posted: Monday, September 25, 2017 - 10:31 AM UTC
Yes, we will have a heavy presence at the IPMS Convention in Phoenix next year. We are one of the sponsors of a few awards plus we will have the majority of our military and automobile product lines for sale there. Not a big baseball fan, prefer football - go Univ. of Penn.

Anyway, getting back to fading colors it seems most modelers know about adding white, yellow off white to cause shifts in hues. Again, each modeler's perception of what is a "good" faded appearance is different.

So we will leave changing the color up to each individual. As you add white, yellow, or off-white you will change the hue and somewhat lighten the color. To lighten the color without changing the hue, add Clear Flat, TCP-017 or Gloss, TCP-018. To darken any color which can happen with paints exposed to sunlight over time add black, grimy black or even brown - all these will change the hue as well.

Looking forward to seeing ALL modelers at the IPMS National in 2018 in Phoenix, AZ. Come by our tables and say hello !

Martin Cohen, PhD
Tru-Color Paint

chauvel
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Queensland, Australia
Joined: February 14, 2015
KitMaker: 155 posts
Armorama: 154 posts
Posted: Monday, September 25, 2017 - 01:26 PM UTC
Hey Martin
The colours I would love to see:
The range of USN Yards & Docks colours the USMC used as camo on AFV's during their Pacific Campaigns in WW2. I don't think a company has had a go at reproducing these.

+1 for a range of colours worn by the vast asst of AFV's the various Arab States used from the 50's onwards

If you decide to branch out & look at a/c, then I would love to see ww2 RAAF colours

Thanks
trucolorpaint
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Joined: August 18, 2017
KitMaker: 240 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 - 06:08 AM UTC
All of the U.S. WWII Navy colors from TCP-1000 to TCP-1024 have already been released along with all the modern navy colors from TCP-1042 to TCP-1045.

All 4 U.S. Army Olive Drab colors; all of the MERDC armor colors have shipped; by the end of Feb. all of the NATO colors will be in hobby shops.

Israeli armor colors will be shipping toward the end of 2018, but we will have production material on hand at the IPMS National Convention for your perusal.

Every U.S. Air Force color from TCP-1200 to TCP-1222 is at hobby shops.

WWII U.S. Army and Navy colors will start shipping in March, 2018 and will include colors for the Inter-war years, 1930 to 1941 such as Light Blue 23, Yellow #4 and 2 versions of Neutral Gray - # 32 and # 43.

The R & D lab is working on RAF colors for early 2019 release.

Every currently available military color will be on display and for sale at the IPMS National in Phoenix, AZ on August 1-4, 2018.

Looking forward to any comments from the readers on this thread.

Martin Cohen, PhD
Tru-Color Paint
P.O. Box 74524
Phoenix, AZ 85087-4524

714-488-9779
email: [email protected]
BruceJ8365
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Kansas, United States
Joined: December 25, 2012
KitMaker: 441 posts
Armorama: 441 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 25, 2018 - 10:37 AM UTC
No one (other than a rattle can by Midel Master) seems to have the current factory tan available for current factory paint, FS33722.

Modelers are using FS33446 which is not a match for vehicles rolling off the assembly line today.

The current new Tan is more yellow than it was a few years back, and no it’s not from fading.

I tested color chips against new vehicles in the flesh and found FS33722 to be the match. I have access to vehicles shipped straight from the factory here at Ft Riley.

Of course, the current paint isn’t identified by FS numbers, but only by a set of specs, so this leaves open contraversy among modern US modelers. Unfortunately, many base their “facts” on matching paint to monument tanks (painted with the old color) and often national guard/reserve equipment that is at least a few years older.






trucolorpaint
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Posted: Friday, March 02, 2018 - 06:15 AM UTC
Bruce:

Thank you for your message. Sorry it took so long to reply, had computer issues. Our schedule for 2018 production is completed and very full. However, we will add the FS 33722 color into the 2019 product mix. On what vehicles is this color being painted ?

Nearly all of the Israeli armor and their uniform colors will be on display at the IPMS National Convention In August. If you or any other forum members plan to attend, drop by our tables for a chat.

Martin Cohen, PhD
Tru-Color Paint
P.O. Box 74524
Phoenix, AZ 85087-4524

714-488-9779
trucolorpaint
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KitMaker: 240 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, March 06, 2018 - 11:22 AM UTC
Just to everyone know we have already increased the number of countries we are making military colors for (besides an extensive amount of U.S. colors for armor, aircraft, uniforms, figures and ships).

Imperial Japanese Naval colors (the 10 most popular) have already been released during the latter 3 months. Under development for release later in 2018 is Israeli armor (armor expert Ethan Dunsford has already our color matches) and uniforms and the Israeli Air Force. Scheduled for 2019 are colors for German armor and the Kreigsmarine plus the RAF WWII colors and British Flying Corps for WWI. Other countries may be added as time and demand warrant.

More U.S. Aircraft colors are in development for the interwar years of 1919 to 1941.

Lots of colors currently available and new colors are being added each month !

Check out our website (trucolorpaint.com) or watch for our announcements in these forums - Armorama, Model Shipwrights and Aerospace on Kit Maker.

Martin Cohen, PhD
Tru-Color Paint
P.O. Box 74524
Phoenix, AZ 85087-4524

714-488-9779
email: [email protected]
BruceJ8365
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Kansas, United States
Joined: December 25, 2012
KitMaker: 441 posts
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Posted: Saturday, March 10, 2018 - 02:52 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Bruce:

Thank you for your message. Sorry it took so long to reply, had computer issues. Our schedule for 2018 production is completed and very full. However, we will add the FS 33722 color into the 2019 product mix. On what vehicles is this color being painted ?

Nearly all of the Israeli armor and their uniform colors will be on display at the IPMS National Convention In August. If you or any other forum members plan to attend, drop by our tables for a chat.

Martin Cohen, PhD
Tru-Color Paint
P.O. Box 74524
Phoenix, AZ 85087-4524

714-488-9779



This color is for all new US production vehicles. I verified it on M1A2, HMMWV, LMTVs and Bradley’s. Its the curent factory color. Although a lot of old reserve and monument items are painted in the older Sand, this one is the new production color.
trucolorpaint
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Posted: Saturday, March 10, 2018 - 09:20 PM UTC
Bruce:

Thank you for the info. Will order the FS color chip this week. Is there any other color(s) we should be looking to develop in 2019 ?

We just added Cockpit Interior Green, ANA 611, Intermediate Blue 608 and Light Gray, 602 for U.S. WWII aircraft into the schedule. The Intermediate Blue and Light Gray are very important colors for early USN & USMC WWII aircraft. These are the colors on the planes that were on the Lexington and other Pre-WWII and early WWII aircraft carriers. And since the Lexington was just found there might be more interest in the modeling community for these planes.

Lots of colors - so little time !

Looking forward to seeing EVERYONE at the IPMS National in Phoenix on August 1-4. Drop by our tables for discussions, buying our paint and looking at the display !

Martin Cohen, PhD
Tru-Color Paint
P.O. Box 74524
Phoenix, AZ 85087-4524

714-488-9779

PS - ALL ideas for NEW colors for any military subject and country are always welcome. Don't be shy - tell us your idea.
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