Mr. Color - racčí šedá

The light gray of British naval schemes

The shade named after the seabird is a very light, slightly warm gray. It appears on the machines of the British Fleet Air Arm, where it formed the lower surface against darker colors on the upper side, and in the postwar period on trainer types as well. Light grays are rewarding on a model, because even very subtle panel shading shows on them.

Paint properties

It is a lacquer solvent-based paint from the Mr. Color range, not a water-thinnable acrylic. It is thinned with the thinner of the same brand in a ratio of roughly one to two parts to one part of paint. The package holds 10 ml. Once dry the surface stays hard and smooth, which is useful with light shades, because masking tape can be lifted off them without risk.

Recommendations for work

• Even out the base with a light filler, as dark joints would show through
• Apply thin coats, as unevenness of coverage shows most on light tones
• Do the panel shading with a drop of white added to the remaining paint
• Choose a wash only slightly darker, as a pronounced one would look coarse on a light gray

The paint has to be stirred before work and during it, as the pigment of light shades settles to the bottom particularly markedly.

Where the color appears

• The lower surfaces of British Fleet Air Arm machines
• Postwar trainer types with a uniform light finish
• The inner faces of undercarriage doors

Light grays are among the shades where laying an even base pays off most. Unevenness of coverage and filler showing through are visible on them sooner than on dark colors.