paulsbrown

Thanks. I have huge problem when it comes to the colors for Russian jets on those areas.

Here's some WIP shots, they might be helpful. I hear you on the color problems with Russian jets, I've spent more time than I'd like to think about comparing photos and working out colors. 

I'm a big fan of AKAN paints, the water based ones, they aren't perfect but the really specialized colors have been far more accurate than other brands I've compared (MRP's lacquer Su-35 colors are good, MIGs are terrible) and I've had no trouble with them. They need a bit more curing time than other acrylics but harden up fine.

These discussions are helpful https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235032930-eggplant-greypurple/  

AKAN's eggplant 73166 was much better to my eye as is the light blue 73170 underneath, I ended up weathering with lightening the eggplant with white in stages and then using Dk Ghost Gray for the most faded. 

The cockpit color, 73069 is perfect although needs just a little lightening for the Su-30/34/35 and a lot more lightening for Su-27s, particularly early ones.

As for gear, I ended up making a mix and using it on all of them. It's pretty much one of the flanker blues mixed into light gull gray. The gear color looks different in every photo of Flankers but when you see close ups with the light blue body color nearby you can see that the gear and wheel wells are a warmer gray, hence adding a little flanker blue to Light Gull gray. 

I made some kind of mix and put it in an old Testors bottle and just keep using it.

Flanker intakes I always painted some kind of aluminum. There are photos out there that show the insides being bare metal, even in the Su-35.

Good luck!

Thank you very much for your help Paul! I really appreciate it!. I already have several Akan paints in my hobby room but haven't started using on any single modern Russian jet yet for the primary reason that I wasn't sure yet of what's the correct colors/paints to use on those areas I mentioned.