WWII USAAF AIRCRAFT COLORS VOL.2

A paint set for aircraft of the US Army Air Forces

This set addresses one particular job: the finish of American aircraft from the end of 1943 onward, when most machines flew in bare natural metal. It contains two olive shades, used on the anti-glare panels ahead of the cockpit, and three different metal tones. Those three are not interchangeable: a real aircraft had panels from different batches of sheet and fabric control surfaces painted with aluminum dope, so the surface never had the same sheen throughout. It is precisely that difference that makes a model convincing. The set suits machines such as the P-38, the P-47, the P-51, the B-17, the B-24, the B-25 or the B-26.

Use

• Metal shades call for a perfectly smooth base; every scratch is emphasized under them.
• Apply them at the very end, as they are harder to mask and are easily damaged by overspray.
• Divide the panels with masking and alternate the individual metal tones; a uniform surface looks artificial.
• Shake the bottles thoroughly before use, as the metal pigment settles to the bottom.
• Watch the chemistry: two paints in the set are acrylic, the three metal ones are not. Choose the thinner according to the particular bottle and do not mix them with one another.

Who it is for

The set is for modelers of American aircraft of the Second World War who are building a machine in bare natural metal. It is a more demanding way of finishing than a classic camouflage, because the preparation of the surface decides the result more than the paints themselves.

Keep tightly closed, out of the reach of children and away from sources of ignition. Ventilate when spraying and use respiratory protection.