UA592 - FS 36118 Gunship Grey

FS 36118 Gunship Grey, the dark gray of American aircraft

The darker position of gray is just as important in the schemes of modern aviation as the light one, because only a pair of tones will give an area depth. Gunship Grey carries the number of the American Federal Standard 36118 in its name and it is a rich neutral gray that a number of other paint makers list under the same number.

Where the shade belongs

• the dark component of low-visibility gray schemes of American aircraft
• areas that are meant to gain depth in contrast with a lighter gray
• a ground under lighter grays where the lightening of fields is the method
• accentuating panels, gaps and shadowed parts over large areas

Working with a dark gray

A dark neutral tone behaves differently on a model than on a color chart. Over a small area it looks almost black; over a large smooth area, on the other hand, it will quickly give away every uneven pass. It therefore proves worthwhile to lay it down in thin steps and to let the area even out before another coat is added. Neighboring panels can be distinguished by a barely noticeable shift of tone; that is precisely the difference between a faithful model and an area colored all at once. The shade takes a combination with a dark wash in the engraving well, because the contrast stays fine and the lines do not stand out excessively.

Who it is for

For modelers of modern jet aircraft who build schemes composed of two or more close grays, and for everyone looking for a dark neutral gray without a blue or brown undertone.