Question about sinai grey...

Zero Enna wrote:

I have the Academy Merkava Mk- III, and the painting guide calls for "Sinai Grey"... well, Model Master makes an Israeli sand grey, but it looks more like sand than grey, and in the reference pics I have, It looks like a grey... That's the point: I can't start with my kit because I don't have the color... Is there a mix for the color?... Or a close match in Model Master or Humbrol?... There is, or used to be a French website about IDF modelling, but I can't access any French websites from my server, I think in that website there is the color mix... Maybe someone can remenber that mix... Well, as I've said, I only can purchase Tamiya, Model Master and Humbrol paints, please don't tell me about any other brand. Thanks in advance. Most regards.   José

Look here for ideas...  http://idfmodelling.free.fr/article01.html

Yeah, I remember, It has some color mixes, but I've already said that I can't access FRENCH sites from my server, and this one is French... I supose it because the direction has ".free.fr/" within... Well, I'll try some color mixes, like adding dark grey or black to the Model Master Israeli sand grey...

I kind of thought it looked like RLM 02.

Henry

Jose

Here's the colour mixes for IDF Armour, I pulled down off that site (all Tamiya):

1956 Sinai War: XF62 Olive Drab

1967 6 Day War: 50% ea XF60 Dark Yellow & XF57 Buff

1973 Yom Kippur War: 33% ea XF59 Desert Yellow, XF57 Buff, XF20 Med Grey

1982 Lebanon War: 50% ea XF57 Buff, Xf20 Med Grey

current: MM's Israeli Sand Grey is pretty close.

Don't read too much into the photos. IDF Armour colours (esp the current one) is meant to absorb & reflect the light at setting sun such that the tank blends into the environment. I'm not certain, but I think this website might show some dusk photos with Merk's lurking:    www.israeli-weapons.com In any case, if not totally convinced once the tank is painted, you could always run a wash of med grey over the entire model.

HTH

Shaun

ok a topic that I can finally reply to!  Sinai grey isn't really a colour at all, and the term doesn't exist.  As for ratios, I do it like this.. base coat your merk in Green Drab. Do a heavy wash with Raw Umber.  Then mix some Israeli Sand into the mix, about 30%  I can't give too many specifics as the colour is more of a shifting colour in that it doesn't stay the same... so I replicate that by just adding the sand to it, spraying it on, with less coverage.  Then I add some to about a 50 50 mix and spray that in creating a fade.  then a final dry brush with just the Israeli sand.  I only use Model master paints and it works just fine.  Infact many people on Israeli forums state that this really hits the colour on the spot...   Here's my Merk IV if it's any help

I use MM's SAC Bomber tan or green for early and later "sand grey" as applicable. After washes,  dusting, chipping, etc, you can control whatever tint you want the final result to be. I saw a troop (?-group of four) of Merks (probably 2s) on exercise back in '96 that were so dark they looked like they were dark gray/green. It was dusk, but they were almost un-noticable against a freshly turned field. Their exhaust smoke caught my eye, or I would have missed them completely.

Well, thanks for your replies... I'll try some mixes in ruined kits...

shaun68: Thanks for the color mixes that's what I was talking about...

CDNTanker25: Your Merkava IV is just outstanding... That's the color I want to achieve.

Most regards and thanks to all of you.

José

Here is a mix that has worked well for me and I used Tamiya paints:

XF-25 (light gray), XF-62 (olive drab), XF-65 (field gray), mix in a ration of 6:3:1. 

I just wish I could remember where I found this paint mix as it looks very good and I would like to give credit where credit is due.  HTH.

Serious blast from the past......

I'm using Krylon rattle can "camo" colors now, cheap and they go on well, and tough enough to stand up to "aggressive" weathering.