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Guide to painting Western Scale Models kits

Modelers continually marvel over the beautiful models on display at the Western Scale Models show tables.  These models have been built for us by Ray Sadler of Fullerton, California.  Ray has prepared this Paint and Finishing Guide to help you finish your models.

This list includes colors I have used on our display models and colors I feel are suitable for machine models.  Because most large machines have been repainted, they often are found in a variety of colors that were not the original factory color.  I use Testors Model Masters Enamels.  They are available in acrylics, but I prefer the enamels because they do not dry as fast as the acrylics.  Here is a list of potential colors:

Blacks        Flat Black                             FS37038
                Aircraft Interior Black            FS37031  (more gray)
Tans          Dark Tan                              FS30219
                Raw Sienna                           No # (same as Dark Tan)
Greens      Field Green                          FS34097
                Forest Green                        FS34127
                Medium Green                      FS34102
                Dark Green                          FS34079
Grays        Aircraft Gray                        FS16473
                Neutral Gray                        FS36270
                Aggressor Gray                     FS36251
                Dark Dull Gray                      FS36231
                German Uniform                   No # (Fieldgrau)
                Gunship Gray                       FS36118
                Euro 1 Gray                         FS36081
                Navy Gloss Gray                   FS16081
I feel that the darker grays look better on the machines.

                Steel                                   FS1780
I use steel on handles, shafts, etc., for bare metal that is not polished.

Belt pulleys, metal wear surfaces on lathes, drill press tables, etc. are polished using what I call foam core nail files.  You can buy these in a beauty supply store.  The one that I use is called Tropical Shine 4 way buffer.  It has four different grades of grit.  The coarse front is blue and pink in color while the finer back is white and gray in color.  You can clean up the casting using the coarse grit and then polish the csting with the finer grit.

                    Gun Metal                        FS1795
I use this color a lot.  Used full strength, it has a nice dark metal look.  When used as a stain on metal gears, etc., it gives a nice oily metal look.  I dip my brush into lacquer thinner then into the paint.  Then flow a very thin coat onto the metal.  If it is too dark, simply take off some of the paint using the thinner.

Copyright 2002-2008, Western Scale Models. For more information about products or Western Scale Models contact bill@westernscalemodels.com or call 509-942-8106.  Page last updated on April 18, 2008.