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Absolute Tamiya FS# cross reference?

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  • Member since
    February 2006
Posted by Neptune48 on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 2:36 PM
If you don't mind fussing with enamels, check Xtracolor.  It's made for Hannant's by Humbrol, but to me it seems to have a more finely ground pigment.  It goes on like butter, covers well, and levels nicely.  They have various national military aircraft colors, both WWII and modern, including AN colors, FS, etc.  Most are available as gloss, making decal application easier.  The paints come in Humbrol style cans, and though they're a bit messy, they seal well and the paints have a long shelf life, even after they've been opened.
"You can't have everything--where would you put it?"
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Reno, NV
Posted by espins1 on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 10:46 AM

I agree that it would be nice of them to make some additional colors that coincide directly with RLM colors and a few others. 

However, I've just spent the weekend painting my FW190A8, and I have to admit that mixing the colors was very easy and I'm very pleased with the results.  I bought a bag of little graduated plastic eye droppers off e-bay (100 droppers for just a few bucks) which makes it extrememly simple and easy to mix colors. 

Scott Espin - IPMS Reno High Rollers  Geeked My Reviews 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Melbourne, Australia
Posted by darson on Monday, February 20, 2006 7:17 AM
 ajlafleche wrote:

Tamiya paint is not matched to anything so there can be no definitive cross reference. One of my many peeves about this brand. And with all due respect, being a Japanese company should not preclude them from matching FS595a. Model Master has no problme matching RLM, ANA, British, Russian, Italiand and Japanese WWII colors. Tamiya give you their alchemist's recipe to match; you'd think with all the modern armor they've released, they'd have a proper modern US desert tan, instead of  5% of this 20% of that and 75% of something else.



You said it brother Thumbs Up [tup].  I really like Tamiya paint as a product but by their color selections suck.  You would think that with the investment they have made in their kits that they would expand their color range to include something other than Japanese colors.
Oh yeah I tried mixing RLM 75 to their recipe on my recent FW-190 D9 and the result was a disaster.


  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Chicago, IL
Posted by jcfay on Sunday, February 19, 2006 11:31 PM
thanks for all of the references; hadnt seen some of them before. i think they'll help me but it looks like i'll probably just end up using another brand in certain situations. Mixing paints is definitely not one of my favorite things to do; i try to match but it always ends up off a bit. I must agree that it is strange that tamiya is unwilling to conform on this topic, especially considering the huge number of u.s. based kits that the sell. I certainly like their product otherwise! thanks again for the input - Jon
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Sunday, February 19, 2006 7:26 PM

And with all due respect, being a Japanese company should not preclude them from matching FS595a. Model Master has no problme matching RLM, ANA, British, Russian, Italiand and Japanese WWII colors.

I agree, but apparently Tamiya doesn't see it that way.  Their lack of colors and lack of adherence to the FS standard is my biggest gripe with them.

Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Sunday, February 19, 2006 6:48 PM

Tamiya paint is not matched to anything so there can be no definitive cross reference. One of my many peeves about this brand. And with all due respect, being a Japanese company should not preclude them from matching FS595a. Model Master has no problme matching RLM, ANA, British, Russian, Italiand and Japanese WWII colors. Tamiya give you their alchemist's recipe to match; you'd think with all the modern armor they've released, they'd have a proper modern US desert tan, instead of  5% of this 20% of that and 75% of something else.

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Sunday, February 19, 2006 4:54 PM

Tamiya paints frequently don't adhere to FS numbers.  Think about it: Japanese paint manufacturer, US Federal Standard paint codes.  Not real surprising.  The reason that some color charts show the same color for two FS numbers is that it isn't exactly right for either one of them.

Here are several that might help though:

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/colorcharts.asp
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/colorcharts_2.asp
http://www.jpsmodell.de/dc/querfs_e.htm
http://www.airmodel.sk/indie_eng.html
http://models.magietec.com/infos.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/portland/971/reference/humbrol.htm
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2004/01/stuff_eng_interior_colours_us.htm
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2004/02/stuff_eng_interior_colours_us_part2.htm
http://www.xs4all.nl/~rhorta/jgrlm.htm
http://www.stormomagazine.com/RegiaAeronauticaColorsinWWII_3a.htm
http://www.dana-nield.com/tamiya/default.asp

Some of them aren't color references exactly, they are interior colors, but they still might be helpful.  I also included the IPMS references for those who might not have them.

Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Chicago, IL
Absolute Tamiya FS# cross reference?
Posted by jcfay on Sunday, February 19, 2006 1:22 PM
Hey folks - I'm trying to catalogue my paints, by manufacturer and FS# or other category (RLM, etc.) and I have been unable to find a reliable cross reference between Tamiya's acrylics and FS numbers.  The IPMS stockholm colorcharts (http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/stuff_eng_colorcharts_fs.htm), while a great reference, do not appear accurate, with multiple listings for each tamiya paint, and some are definitely inaccurate.  I have searched the web and the forums and I have yet to find a definitive source for cross reference.  I wish Tamiya had one available, like Testors.  Any suggestions?  Thanks as always! Jon Big Smile [:D]
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