XF-21 Sky 10ml

Tamiya XF-21 Sky (Enamel) - a Matte Enamel Paint, 10 ml

A modeling paint, not a kit. A Tamiya enamel (synthetic, solvent-based) paint in a 10 ml bottle with a matte surface (the XF designation). The Sky shade is a British aircraft color: a light greenish tone, not a gray. The manufacturer recommends it for the undersides of British aircraft. A note: XF-21 also exists in an acrylic version. This bottle is the ENAMEL and is thinned with X-20 (not X-20A).

Where the Sky shade is used

From June 1940 Sky was prescribed for the undersides of British fighters and it also appears as the identification band on the rear fuselage (the Sky band) on Spitfires and Hurricanes. That band is exactly what the shade is known for, and it turns up regularly in the instructions for building British fighters.

Use

• Airbrush and brush; stir the paint thoroughly beforehand, as the pigment settles.
• It is thinned with Tamiya X-20 enamel thinner, not with the acrylic X-20A. For spraying, the manufacturer gives roughly 2 parts thinner to 10 parts paint as a guide.
• Apply in thin coats; enamel dries more slowly than acrylic but flows beautifully and leaves a smooth, even matte surface.
• A number of modelers lighten the shade slightly with white to match their own idea of period Sky better, since the historical Sky shades differed between paint makers.
• Coat with a gloss varnish under decals, because a decal silvers on matte. Use a varnish compatible with enamel; the manufacturer warns that lacquer (cellulose) varnish should not be applied over enamel.

Who the paint is for

Above all for builders of British aircraft of the Second World War: the undersides of fighters and the identification band on the rear fuselage. Do not confuse it with XF-19 Sky Grey, which really is gray, whereas XF-21 Sky is a light greenish tone. Similar names are the most common cause of the wrong order.

Safety: a flammable liquid that irritates the airways. Use with good ventilation and with respiratory protection when spraying. Keep out of the reach of children and away from sources of ignition.