Mr. Color - FS36118 šedá

Gunship Gray to the federal standard

FS 36118 is a dark neutral gray that the US Air Force introduced for overall coats on combat machines. The five-digit number is not arbitrary: the first digit gives the degree of sheen and a three in that position means a matte finish, the second digit places the shade in the group of grays and the final three digits determine the lightness. FS 36118 is among the darkest grays in common use in aviation.

The machines you will find it on

It is best known from the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, from the AC-130 gunship versions of the Hercules and from the early overall gray schemes of the Strike Eagle. It also appears on the lower surfaces of the F-117, on helicopters and as the darker field of two-tone camouflage, where it is paired with lighter gray shades. Outside aviation it serves as a convincing deck or superstructure of modern warships and as a base for accentuating shades on ground vehicles.

Practical notes on spraying

Dark grays cover well even in a thin coat, so there is no reason to lay them on heavily; a heavy coat would blind the fine engraving of the panel lines and the riveting. Thinner from the same range is added as needed, the usual ratio being one to one up to two to one. The paint is applied with an airbrush, and for work with a brush the manufacturer recommends adding a retarder. Before spraying, the contents of the 10 ml bottle have to be stirred properly, because the pigment settles during storage. A matte surface is sensitive to fingerprints immediately after drying, so the model is handled through a glove or by a holder.