XF-14 J.A. Grey 10ml

Tamiya XF-14 J.A. Grey, a matte acrylic paint, 10 ml

Tamiya XF-14 J.A. Grey is an acrylic modeling paint in a mini bottle with a volume of 10 ml. It is not a kit but a paint for finishing models. The letters XF in the Tamiya designation mean a matte surface. The abbreviation J.A. refers to the Japanese Army Air Force, so this is the gray shade used above all on the undersides of Japanese army aircraft in the Second World War.

Watch out for the mix-up: XF-14 versus XF-12

This is the most common mistake with Japanese subjects. XF-14 J.A. Grey is the gray of the Japanese Army Air Force, whereas XF-12 J.N. Grey is the gray of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. These are not two packages of the same shade: they are two different colors for two different branches of the armed forces. The Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy each had their own air service during the war, with their own regulations on finishes, and their gray shades therefore differ. Before you buy the paint, make sure whether your model represents an army machine (then XF-14) or a naval one (then XF-12).

Use

• The undersides of Japanese army aircraft of the Second World War.
• Spraying with an airbrush as well as application with a brush.
• Thinning and cleaning with Tamiya X-20A thinner.
• A base gray tone for shading, lightening and modulating areas.
• Small parts, accessories and diorama elements in gray.

Application tips

Shake the paint thoroughly. For the airbrush, thin it with X-20A thinner and spray in thin coats so that the engraved detail is preserved. A matte surface matches the real look of military vehicles and aircraft, but a gloss varnish should be sprayed on first under the decals, because a decal silvers on matte and its carrier film shows around the motif. After the decals and the weathering, the model is evened out with a matte varnish.

Who the paint is for

For modelers of Japanese aircraft of the Second World War who need the shade of the Japanese Army Air Force. The 10 ml volume will cover a smaller model or serve to fill out a palette.

This is a modeling paint, not a kit. Use in a well-ventilated area; protect your airways (a respirator) when spraying with an airbrush. Keep out of the reach of children.