I am planning to build both an M1A2 and a Challenger 2 (both Tamiya kits) in the near future and since I paint almost exclusively with Tamiya paints for the usual reasons (cleanup , safety etc). I need to mix some paint for these and I am not aware of Tamiya making either color in a bottle form (I know there is a spraycan available for the M1).

Does anyone have a mix for Tamiya paints that will give me the colors I need for US Sand and for British Sand? I would prefer either a formula I can mix from Tamiya colors or some other out of the bottle airbrush friendly paint I can order or pick up locally and avoid mixing altogether.

Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks
Rob

No idea on the Tamiya paints or British color, but... Testors Model Master Sand, Testors #1706, FS # 33531 is an exact, out of the bottle, match for modern US CARC Sand. It is all I use for US Sand colored vehicles. Once weathered, it looks great. I believe that it comes in both enamel and acrylic, I only use the enamels.

Tamiya Desert Yellow is fairly close for the British Op Telic color. This can also be mixed down with white to get fairly close to US OIF color. I prefer Polly Scale for US color as it is closest one.

Hi Rob..I used equal amounts of white and buff paints with a few drops of flat yellow added to get my British sand color...I was quite pleased with the results...but ..



as you can see the color can vary a great deal..

Rick

Hi Rob,

I used this exact mixture for my sand colour as i am mainly Tamiya paint exclusive as well. Ive placed approximate percentages just to give you an indication on how much to put.

XF-2 Flat White - 50%
XF-3 Flat Yellow - 20%
XF-57 Buff - 30%

I would be most careful with the flat yellow as placing too much would make your tank look like a taxi.

If you place too much yellow and only realise it after you sprayed it on the model, dont worry, add more flat white and buff to lighten the mixture and apply a second coat. It actually turns out better if you do it this way as i found out.

The end result was this:


All the best!

Thanks all that gives me plenty of info to get started. That Chally picture to me it looks as though the tank is at least 3 different colors. Anyone else see the same thing?

Well I'd say 2 sand colors and the dark green base color at the back end where the number was not painted over...On the hull top it looks more like the paint is worn off and it is the mix of dust and dark green that we see...That sand paint did not stand up to the harsh desert conditions very well...

Rick

The different colours are also attributed to old parts mixed with new replacements. The older one being more weathered than the new.

Weathering your tanks in certain areas more than other parts would give you a similar result.