MRP-A057 RLM 65 Hellblau

Mr.Paint RLM 65 Hellblau — Acrylic Modeling Paint

A water-thinnable acrylic paint from Slovak manufacturer Mr.Paint, from the acrylic Aqua line. It is a modeling paint, not a kit — the package contains only the paint in a dropper bottle. Mr.Paint's main line is a lacquer (nitro) intended only for an airbrush; the Aqua line, by contrast, is an acrylic thinnable with water, applied with both a brush and an airbrush, practically odorless, and cleaned with water or the same manufacturer's acrylic thinner.

What the RLM 65 shade is for

Unlike marking colors, RLM 65 Hellblau is a camouflage shade: it is the light blue of the lower surfaces of German aircraft from the early period of the war. It is typically combined with the dark upper surfaces RLM 70 Schwarzgrün and RLM 71 Dunkelgrün — that is how the schemes looked over Poland, France, and in the Battle of Britain. In early 1941, day fighters switched to a newer combination with a lighter underside, while bombers and other types kept the RLM 65 scheme longer. Without this shade, you simply cannot finish an early German aircraft scheme.

Use and tips

• Apply over a light (white or light gray) primer — light blue holds its tone best on it.
• For an airbrush, it is usually sprayed straight from the bottle; depending on the nozzle and pressure, it can be thinned further with Mr.Paint acrylic thinner or water.
• Spray the lower surfaces first, then mask and do the upper camouflage — the transition on the fuselage sides was often only lightly blurred on early schemes.
• To finish the scheme, you also need the upper shades RLM 70 and RLM 71 from the same line.
• Apply masking tape only once the paint has cured fully, and shake the bottle before use.

Who the paint is for

For modelers of early German aircraft of the Second World War — fighters, bombers, and dive bombers from the first years of the war. It is a basic camouflage shade that anyone building early-period Luftwaffe subjects needs on hand.

Water-thinnable acrylic — flammability and odor are significantly lower than with lacquer paints. Even so, ventilate and use respiratory protection when airbrushing; paint aerosol should not be inhaled. Protect from freezing.