Modern Luftwaffe paint set vol. 3

Norm 90J and Norm 95 on Luftwaffe aircraft

The third volume of the modern German series keeps to two late specifications. Norm 90J applied to the F-4F Phantom II fighter and to the MiG-29G and the two-seat GT that Germany took over from the East German Air Force. Norm 95 then applied to the Tornado. Six bottles are enough for both.

The base is a pair of grays: Light Ghost Grey (FS36375) for the lower surfaces and Dark Ghost Grey (FS36320) for the upper surfaces and the wingtips seen from below. The third shade, Medium Grey (FS35237), lies on the upper surfaces under both specifications and is at the same time the overall color of today's Tornado and Typhoon.

The remaining three bottles deal with the small details that show the difference between a well built and a badly built model. Stone Grey (RAL7030) is the closest match for the nose radar cover of the Phantom in the late Norm 90J finish, that is, in the form in which the type ended its service. Basalt Grey (RAL7012) fits the antenna cover on the vertical tail of the Tornado and the radome of the MiG-29. And Camouflage Grey to BS381C:626, also given as Barley Grey, is the standard color of the radome and the fin antenna cover on every Eurofighter Typhoon airframe.

The make-up of the box is unusual as a result: half the contents go on large areas, half on the small details that carry a different shade from the surrounding surface on these types.

During the build it pays to start from the lower surfaces and work toward the upper ones, because the lighter tone covers the darker one poorly. The antenna covers and the nose cover come last, usually over masking tape or liquid mask.