Color Equivalents?

Hi;

    Most companies do offer an equivalence .The thing is they are not that easy to get . For instance , I have never found an equivalent product For Testors - Model Master R.L.M. grey in Tamiya's line .Why ? well it seems that the paints do indeed reflect a difference , because one is an oil based enamel and the other is a water based acrylic .That results in quite a difference when dry . It also means a different way of application .

   The companies are well aware of this as they try for our dollars . My recommendation would be go to a paint store and ask for a favor and see if the fellow who's assisting you will scan the colors and give you a chart . It can be done . I don't know who else would make one available. I do know they are out there , Someone else in the forum might have the answer . Hey guys ! Help ?  T.B.

There are a number of web sites that give conversion charts.  One is by a European branch of IPMS and is very good, but forget which country.  Anyway, do a google search on something like model paint color conversion.

Don Stauffer

One is by a European branch of IPMS and is very good, but forget which country.  Anyway, do a google search on something like model paint color conversion.

That would be IPMS Stockholm - Link here: http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/colorcharts.asp

There's also an interactive tool that's frequently mentioned by members here at http://www.paint4models.com/paintchart/paintconversionchart20100101e.htm

There's a handy app out there called iModelkit.  It has a nice painting chart with all the major manufacturers called out.  It even has a mixing template for custom jobs.  last I looked it was still a free app.  I have it on my iPhone, I don't know if it's avaialbe on other platforms.

I use paint4models often. Thing is, you really have to get it down to science on which is the closest match to your liking. For example, not all Olive Drab Federal Standard number 34097 is the same.

Hello :

You are so right .The truth is, in a six bottle group ,The way I buy them , One or two of the bottles will be off enough,that when the light hits the model ,you Can see a difference . I usually transfer all those into one larger bottle and clean the little guys out for a special small area mix .   Tanker - Builder

Then you have to account for the "misses" by the model paint companies. I just love Aeromaster paint, it is my go to Acrylic.  But, their ADC gray is actually a completely different color than 16473 gray, it is a high numbered green instead. So, I am using those as the base paint for tinting to make the light green used for weapons stripes. One of their soviet grays is a perfect match to 16473, so I use that instead for the ADC paint.

I know that thousands of people don't believe this,,,,,,but, the paint "matching" sites don't open the jars of paint and match them to anything,,,,,,,they just compile lists based on the model paint companies' claims.  I found this out when I congratulated one of the best sites on his extra work,,,,,,he emailed me back to say that he uses paint brochures just like all the rest.

I'm 100% in  agreement with Tarnship's comment regarding paint "matching" sites that don't open jars of paint to match the colors. Again, it all comes down to what you feel is the best color to your liking.