common paint colors for allied/axis aircraft?

Tom - thanks again.  Looking at Tamiya's site it does appear to have colors listed; I need to do a bit more research sometimes.  Still can't find hasegawa but I think I'll do as you suggested and set up a starter-pack of sorts.  Then, maybe I'll need to order a wee bit here or there, but I should be set up for most jobs.  I've put together a fair amount of stuff already and its been nice to have stuff on hand; allows for more choices, opportunities.

As far as the AB is concerned (and compressor/tank), I have been debating.  Curious as to your opinion.  I want flexibility for the future; even though I'm a beginner I want to be able to stick with this first brush for a while.  Something reasonably versatile and capable.  I have been eyeballing the Thayer & Chandler omni 4000 and the badger 360.  Both seem to be great brushes that might suit me for now and in the immediate future, and allow me to do a fair amount of different stuff with them.  I'm leaning towards the T&C simply because it's a bunch cheaper than the badger.  We'll see what effect the holiday sales have on this decision.  And as far as compressor goes, I'm in limbo debating between a potential tank (CO2) or small compressor like the badger cyclone II or iwata's sprint jet pro.  I think a tank would work well once I'm up to speed and can get everything setup and just spray, but as a beginner I have a feeling I'll be fiddling with the thing and spraying paper and other objects just trying to get the handle of it before I actually butcher a model, and then I might drain the tank too darn fast.  Again, any suggestions?  I live in an apartment and don't want a 144dB beast lurking in the corner ready to scare the living daylights out of me whenever it kicks in.  I'll probably get something reasonably soon.  I'm midway through my P-61 and have plenty of other ones in the lineup and I am eager to get working on them all.  Thanks again for the help and take it easy!  Jon

hmmm I think I saw some on Tamiya's site, at the very bottom of the page.. HOWEVER since Tamiyas paints arent always named the same thing as everyone elses and since Tamiya also gives custom mixes to mix batches of standard colors available in other brands you might have problems.

Basically go for all the primary colors including white (like the 8 box of crayons in first grade) red,green,blue,black,yellow etc... then the ones I mentioned as pretty much standard US and British colors on Testors site will suit you well, UNLESS you are doing a German WWII AC... they had a variety of paint jobs.  Getting that Testors set for German AC is pretty safe to bet MOST kits will use the colors in there.. (of listing them out and ordering the acrylic versions of them) ... you can get those on www.greatmodels.com and I am sure www.squadron.com...

If you are thinking of doing a certain kit you could always go into the aircraft forum and ask them what colors they think you would need so you can order any you don't have when you order the kit.  I kind of do that a lot...

Good luck!

And which airbrush are you getting?  Just curious...

Well, getting ready to order me up some paints.  Plus an airbrush, compressor, and all sorts of other little goodies!  Thanks for the help folks - your advice has been really helpful.  Since I'm doing most of my shopping through the mail, I will order a stash of paints that could suit me as a starter kit of sorts.  Try and save a bit on shipping that way.  One more question.  I know on some websites (I think Ravellogram and Ravell Germany) I was able to click on a certain model and it would also have a list of the colors used for that kit.  Haven't been able to find something similar online for Hasegawa or Tamiya (or others), except through Tower hobbies, I think.  Just curious if Tower's suggestions were accurate.  Any suggestions?  Since I have some kits on order, this way I could order the paints at the same time.  Again, as always, merci buckets people!

I don't build many modern AC... but from just after WWII up in to the 50's the typical paint sechmes would be either Gloss Sea Blue for USN with exceptions, or NMF for USAF depending on the AC...  Maybe someone more into the newer aircraft can help you. 

Alclad2 isn't "easy" but neither is it hard.  It's what you use underneath it, as well as how smoothly you sanded it that makes the top coat glow...  www.alclad2.com has an application chart telling what is the best thing to use under the differet paints made by them as a guide.

My thought is to buy the basics for the main type of AC you build, then as you get to a kit look at what it needs beforehand and order the colors you don't have.  slowly you'll build up your paint stash.

Oh yeah.. get some yellow chromate and green zinc chromate as well as your basic colors (red/yellow etc... ) as these were used on a majority of US aircraft.  RAF Interior green on the british, and RLM 02 and RLM66 for the German interiors depending on what period of the war they served in....

Tom - you're the man.  Thanks so much for your help on both questions (so many questions...).  I had seen the testor packaged paints, but I had wondered whether or not these were REALLY common colors for each era, for either aircraft or armor, or what have you, or just a marketing device.  Any thoughts on more contempary US aircraft schemes?  Haven't seen any packages addressing this, but looking through testors' catalog (as a representative sample of sorts) and at people's presentations of these aircraft I've noticed a tremendous variety of possibilities.  Any thoughts?  Also, Alclad 2 is at the top of my current list for trying NMF as many seem to prefer it for ease of use and durability.  Thanks again folks

Well that is a tall order... the US aircraft is a little easier as they had a fairly standard scheme through the war.  follow this link, in there you'll see some pretty standard sets of paint for different countries for different AC through the war, you don't have to order them but it will give you some names and possibly FS numbers on them for reference with other brands. 

http://www.testors.com/catalog_browse.asp?ictNbr=68

After looking at it, for the US sets you'd need Light Gray added to the set as well as Flat Dk Sea Blue, Intermediate blue and Gloss Sea Blue.  For the German set to do early war camo, RLM02 Grau. For the British set they are pretty much complete.  Be careful and look at the German sets... one is for aircraft, one for armor.

If you have questions about a particular countries color schemes or even ones that are different than the standard ones feel free toc ome back and ask!  The best place for specific questions on aircraft is the aircraft forum.

Good luck!

P.S. for NMF I believe Alclad2 to be the best in my experience, others use Bare Metal Foil and SNJ powders with good results as well...