Sure. Read the Wiki article about the swastika, it explains pretty well how some countries have laws that prohibit the printing or sale of that. Germany is one example. 

Sometimes you'll get a kit where it's been cut out of the decal sheet, or blacked out on the box with an ink pen. In fact I believe FSM has a policy not to include it on models on the cover of the magazine, no doubt because they sell it in Germany.

That being said, the aftermarket for that reason is full of decal sets of swastikas in every size, color and style. Some of the simpler ones, such as no outline, are also pretty easy to make.

I hope that helps, 

Bill

Yes, due to laws in Europe, model kits produced there cannot include swastika decals. Some companies get around this by printing the swastikas  sections to be “assembled” to create the marking. Other companies simply forgo the marking completely. Your best bet is to get yourself an aftermarket decal sheet of swastikas to keep on hand for any kits that you buy that do not include them.

Once again I would like to thank those who have helped me on this thread. Everything is coming along and I did receive a new model to put together, however on an unrelated topic, this ....

PLASTIC MODEL BUILDING AIRPLANE JU 88A-11, WWII GERMAN BOMBER 1/48 ICM 48235

Seems to be missing any of the appropriate swastika insignia that should go on the tail end of the plane. Is it common that's some models omit these insignias, even though they are part of the original plane?  Of course, my question is not for political reasons, it is purely because I want my model to be representative of the original aircraft.

Thank you.

Thank you very much for all the information, it will definitely be put to use.

No problem. Glad to be of help.

to get you started, Vallejo have paint sets for the luftwaffe and others which are good starting points to increase your range.

I must point out that Vallejo Metal Color and AK Xtreme Metal don't like being handled or masked so you need to put a clear protective coat over them first.

AK have one for the job and It'is called Gauzy Agent or something like that and will do both paint ranges. Give the stuff a good 24 hours to cure properly to be on the safe side. Never be in a rush when dealing with paints, especially metals.

Take a look at my builds for the Shinden and Ki-45 Nick on here to get a sense of what I get up to And some of my methods.

Ok.

First of all, with the airbrushes, I use Harder and Steinbeck Evolution Silverline. It is their mid range mairbrush and is sturdy, easy to look after with drop in nozzles. they have 0.15, 0.2, 0.4 &0.6 available and you can buy a silverline with 0.2 and 0.4 nozzles in the set.

You need to think about a budget for these purchases and I can recommend some retaillers if you are in the UK.

You will also need a compressor too!

Vallejo Model Air is not available on the Vallejo website to buy, but there are many online retailers that sell the stuff.

Here are my most recent builds from the Zouki-Mura range painted with Vallejo model air, Vallejo Metal Color and AK Xtreme Metal paint ranges and with the 0.4 nozzle.

 Please give me chance to update my notes. I am away playing with my big toys this weekend!

I should update this as Vallejo have now released new paints that are original chipset matches.

Luftwaffe builder, welcome to the forum.

I would advise you to move to an airbrush as the updated listing will be for the Vallejo model air range. These are formulated for airbrush use and you will get much better results with them. You can use a paint brush, but the results will not be the same at all.

Glad this has been posted - it saves me raising a new topic that's been bugging me.

I have the AK Air Luftwaffe set and have used the RLM74/75 paints for camo. I never seem to get the right look. The two colours just seem to be to similar and any definition of the camo is lost.

Is it my clunky skills? is it these shades? Any other manufacturers have better versions?

Hi, would you have tested vallejo for the Ral paint change after 1943? The post is a great reference for modelers looking for an accurate paint chart. Late war, 1944-45 paint chips, color charts and their associated materials are very hard to find , there are lots of varations and original chip set cost an great deal of money. Because of the Ral paint change arfter the war lots of the colors aren't accurate if looking at their website.

Great information.  Wondering if you would be able to PM me the spreadsheet as the new format cuts off the text a bit.

Thanks,

Matt

Years ago MONOGRAM PUBLISHING did an extensive camoflage notebook of Luftwaffe Colours covering the periods Spanish Civil War through the end of WW2.

They also included paint chips!!!!!

Also Italian Colours were added as a bonus.

I have found this notebook to be extremely useful and the Smithsonian Silver Hill restoration folks make use of those chips also 

BUT 

What you found is a truly like a time machine to the past.

I too have recently (early this year) discovered Vallejo Paints and have to admit they are wonderful!! Easy to use, easy to thin and clean. I'm finding it hard to part with my extensive enamel collection of a couple 100 tins of Precision, Compucolour, and Humbrol paints!! I do have an exhaust booth set up in the basement but with time always at a premium the Vallejo wins out most of the time.

Also a company out of Poland "Hitaki" seems to have some promising colours too any opinion on them??

Thanks very much for taking the time to post these. Although new to the hobby, quite new actually, I want to endeavour to get the painting correct. This will assist me greatly. Great job!

Danny

Heck James, this is an amazing thread. Maybe I'm a bit impressionable seeing as I'm just beginning to dabble in the dark side (Luftwaffe camo colors) but as I see it your information is some of the most important on RLM colours I've seen in a while of prowling the net in search of the definitive RLM reference. While this may not be it, in fact I've come to believe the subject is so huge & at the same time ill defined there possibly cannot be such a thing, you have helped to put this in some sort of handy context. It is good to see that many of your matches agree with Peter Hawkins recently published chart, though a few do not. I's love to see some side by side matches of your Vallejo chips with the corresponding RLM chips. A side by side match like this goes a long way to compensate for differences in monitor settings. I guess I should now confess to being a great fan of Vallejo Model Color so my views might be a tad biased. I now need to get the ones I don't have & make up my own reference chart. Any chance of sharing the Vallejo RAF Sky match up? There was a long thread on this on Britmodeller not so long ago & from memery, Vallejo didn't do so well so maybe the right one wasn't tried. Thanks again for a truly valuable htread.

Steve.

Having surfed around Vallejo's website They do have a listing in the model air section for RLM colours

RLM-02 Grau 044
RLM-65 Hellblau 008
RLM-66 Schwartzgrau 055
RLM-70 Schwartzgrün 021
RLM-71 Dunkelgrün 015
RLM-73 Grün 016
RLM-74 Graugrün 054
RLM-75 Grauviolet 052
RLM-76 Lichtblau 046
RLM-79 Sandgelb 034
RLM-80 Olivegrün 017
RLM-81 Braunviolet 043
RLM-82 Lichtgrün 022
RLM-83 Dunkelgrün 013

I can also add These to the list

057 Black  RLM 22
001 White  RLM 21

There are quite a few colours and shades MIA in the model air range as of yet. If these colours are shade accurate then Battle of Britain fighters and bombers are doable, as is middle and late war. Cockpit interiors (RLM 02 & RLM 66) is in there. What is missing are colours for hydraulic, air, fuel lubricant and water lines, one of the seaplane exterior colours and the underside Med theatre colour to name but a few.

THere is a model air 16 box RLM set available. How close they actually are I have No idea, perhaps someone with an airbrush would like to do a comparison between the model Color and the model air or if some kind person has an airbrush that they could kindly donate to a military veteran???

James

As I don't yet use an airbrush ( but I am toying with the ideaI I have no real knowledge about the model air range. I do know that the range is not a big one at the moment. I would have thought that most colours would be matched with the Model Color range, but until I have a play with them myself I can't say.

I will have a look round Vallejo's website and see what I come up with and report back to this thread

James

STFD637

Snap:

Thanks for this post!! Very thorough. I have actually been toying with the idea of slowly replacing my paints (as they go out) with Vallejo. I have looked over the lines and they do have a very extensive selection. The charts you listed help are very helpful, as it is hard to gauge the colors by looking and "chips" online. Many thanks.

Like you, I've been slowly moving towards Vallejo paints.  After watching Mig's video on acrylic paints, the one where he finishes and weathers a Pz II completely with acrylics, I'm sold. 

Snap, are the Model Air colors the same as the Model Color ones?

Now thats interesting. We had this disscussion a few weeks ago about early war German armour being two colours upto the invasion of france. I had assumed it was Pz Grey, didn't realise it was 7016. Thanks for that info.

Nice find and work there! Any chance you can match the paint chips to Humbrol paints?