Vallejo vs Lifecolor? help needed!

[Guest]

Before I start my first aircraft, the Eduard bf 109, I need some accurate RLM paints.

I'm undecided between the Vallejo set of Luftwaffe colours or Lifecolors' sets 1 & 2.

I've heard that the Vallejo colour matches can vary or not be as accurate as they should be?

And what are Lifecolor paints like in use?

Many thanks in advance guys!

Cheers

Patrick

[BarryW]

Patrick - there is no point is worrying about accurate colours as such. The problem we face is that paints fade, dirty, wear and in wartime are often of varying quality.... This is one reason for the shades to vary between paint companies. Actual colour chips of the same colour used by the companies to match their paint will vary and that is why each manufacturer has a different interpretation. Add into the mix the scale effect as well means a confusing situation. Vallejo and Lifecolour may interpret, say RLM02, differently but both could be a right as each other. It is not something to worry about. I use Vallejo myself almost exclusively (Gunze for metallics).

[Guest]

Anyone know where you can buy single pots of Lifecolor paints.

What I found amazing was that Lifecolor paints where £1.90 from say the model shop in Ipswich (which is now gone)

A box of six paints was £13.30, which made them more than the single price.

Mental

For me Lifecolor dries as mattt as you can get and is generally better then vellajo.

I saw a video the other day and the bloke pronounced it vell ley icol,

Mental

[Guest]

Building a Merlin Helicopter at present. I have gathered loads of pictures.

https://www.google.com/search?q=merlin+helicopter+photos&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=com.yahoo:en-GBfficial&client=firefox&channel=sb

If you look at the first picture in this group you can see the hotch potch of colours of the plates on the fuselage. Added bits such as the engine cowl the cowl on the nose. All are different hues some very distinct.

Do not think it is Vallejo or Life Colour you should be suspicious of. It is Airfix Revell and Tamiya. They all market their paints and seems to me, from experience, that they sort colours to suit their range. Plus some give 40% plus 60% of different colours. My bet is they are not correct.

Laurie

[BarryW]

To follow up on what I said about colour here is a good reference guide.

On the page that opens you will see some notes about colour accuracy and the factors that vary. You can also click to other pages to see a lot of info about aircraft paint schemes for most major nations. I find this an important reference guide.

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/stuff_eng_colorcharts_accuracy.htm

Incidentally - I use the FS numbers as a reference between colours/brands. Vallejo publish the FS number applicable to their range and there are a lot of guides around online helping to translate FS numbers to any brand you want.

[Guest]

Thanks for your input Barry, Laurie & Harry! I've decided to go with what I know & get some vallejo RLM colours.

Usually with armour I mix mine by eye according to the model I'm building, but I guess with aircraft I'm still learning & trying to avoid silly mistakes

Cheers

Patrick

[Ian M]

Patrick. Been there done that. Still do it as well

After striving to get THE colours for aircraft correct. For a fairly new or well kept look I go for Xtracryix. They spray well, give a good semi gloss finish and are just translucent enough to enable a good pre shade to show.

Other wise I use Vallejo Model Color, Close enough and after allowing for fading, scale and weathering no one will be able to tell anyway!

I have read that the new Humbrol RLM colours are pretty good as well.

I have now become an advocate of the close enough or in the same ball park paint charts.o_O

Ian M

[Guest]

I always use Vallejo...

John