ATOM Modern USAF-NAVY Colors Set

Modern American grays in one box

Postwar American machines differ from the color schemes of the Second World War in that color gave way to graded gray. That is exactly why one can of paint will not do for them: a tactical scheme rests on pairs and trios of very similar tones that differ from one another by only a little and create the familiar low-visibility look only together.

What the set contains

Twelve shades cover that whole range. Alongside the light and the dark variant of Ghost Gray there are the tones Light Gray, Seal Grey, Shadow Grey, Blue Gray and Light Grey Green, a set from which both the gray of fighters and the darker schemes of naval aircraft can be put together. They are rounded out by a satin white and a satin black for lettering and anti-glare areas, an earthy shade and two green tones for interiors and landing gear bays. Each item has the Federal Standard code given in the contents, so a shade can be compared with documentation.

How to work with it

• Low-visibility schemes take a soft transition; a hard edge looks unnatural on them.
• The differences between the tones are small, so it pays to spray a test card before building.
• The satin black serves mainly for the area ahead of the cabin, not for the whole fuselage.
• Grays are sensitive to the surface beneath; a uniform filler evens the result out.
• The Federal Standard codes given in the contents make comparison with period documentation easier.

The shades are acrylic and can also be bought individually later.