Hi ;
As many are aware this has been talked about in just about every modeling group I've been involved with .What's the right color ? is one of the most asked questions, I do believe .
This said now ,there is this too . How many want to duplicate the box art ? I don't usually . Unless it would be a fascinating challenge to come close . I usually only do this on Natural Metal birds for instance.( those in my personal collection ) Why ? Well, I just like the look of a natural metal airplane .
For ships it's a different challenge . As we all know there was a period when every Navy ship was Blue . ( Well, various shades of it anyway . ) I have learned the hard way that " Scale Effect " plays an all important role here. Hmmm, I have a lot of little ( 1/350 ) ships that are a very " Pretty " mix of dark and lighter blue paint ..Guess What ? You have to actually lift them to the light to see all the hard work I've done .
So in comes that " Scale Effect ". It's fairly easy in Grey ,or shades there-of . Besides , unless I paint four or five at once, they will all be different in color . Sounds like the real thing doesn't it ?
Now cars are easy . Want to catch someone's eye and get them to notice your model ? Just build Lamborghini's or Ferrari's. With those colors , you can't miss . Now paint something in say Chevrolet's " Tahitian Turquoise " Well, it sure is pretty isn't it ? Trouble is, in scale it's about three shades lighter and a little greener . See , " Scale Effect " again . Now go to Armor . Does the " inner you " want to do a diorama of , say , a Sturmgeschutz - 3 in plenty of mud and dirt ?
Aha , Remember " Scale Effect "? It's gonna really bite you now .You've let it loose . If the mud and guck is to bright and glossy it looks like you threw fresh mud pies at it . The first time I did Armor that's what I built with damaged Schurzen and lots of dirty camo .Well it looked like I had coated the whole thing with bottles of paint at random. Sorry , I didn't know about 'Scale Effect ' then and neither did my peers .
I do now . Do I follow the rules ? Nope .I just paint and weather till it looks good to the naked eye ( has anyone ever seen a dressed eye? ) . And everyone seems to like it . Point - Well , use the effects you've been taught if, and I say " IF" you are competing . Otherwise do as I do. Build for the sheer pleasure it gives you no matter which way you choose . T.B.