XF-12 J.N. Grey 10ml

Tamiya XF-12 J.N. Grey (Enamel) - flat enamel paint 10 ml

This is a modeling paint, not a kit. XF-12 J.N. Grey belongs to the Tamiya Color Enamel range, that is among the solvent-based (synthetic, enamel) paints. The prefix XF means a flat shade and the bottle holds 10 ml. The abbreviation J.N. stands for Japanese Navy: according to the manufacturer it is the light gray shade for the undersides of the aircraft of the Imperial Japanese NAVY in the Second World War.

Do not confuse three similar colors

Tamiya's three Japanese shades are easily mixed up, yet they aim at different places:

• XF-12 J.N. Grey (this paint): the light gray of the undersides of naval aircraft.
• XF-11 J.N. Green: the dark green of the upper surfaces of naval aircraft, the typical counterpart to XF-12 on one model.
• XF-13 J.A. Green: the green of ARMY aircraft. A different branch of the armed forces, a different shade.

If you are building a carrier machine in the classic scheme, you will usually need XF-11 above and XF-12 below.

Enamel, not acrylic

This bottle is the enamel. It is thinned and cleaned with Tamiya X-20 thinner (without the letter A) or with mineral spirits; the acrylic X-20A is not suitable for it. An acrylic version of XF-12 with the same shade number exists alongside it (water thinnable, X-20A), so make sure you really have the enamel variant. Enamel should also not be coated over with lacquer paints.

Use and tips

• The undersides of Japanese naval aircraft of the Second World War (airbrush and brush).
• For spraying it is thinned with X-20; the manufacturer recommends roughly 2 parts thinner to 10 parts paint.
• Light shades cover less well, so apply several thin coats rather than one heavy one.
• Apply a gloss varnish under decals: the flat surface is the final look, but decals silver over flat paint. Once the decals have dried, even the model out with flat varnish.

Who the paint is for

For modelers of Second World War aircraft building machines of the Imperial Japanese Navy who need a correct light gray for the undersides. Suitable for airbrush and for hand painting with a brush.

Safety: flammable. It irritates the airways. Work in a well ventilated space and use respiratory protection when spraying. Keep away from open flames. Keep out of the reach of children.