Jump to content

F-14 low visibility paint scheme, which one is correct ?


Recommended Posts

Hi everyone, in the progress of painting my Fine molds F-14. I got some confusing info about which color to use for F-14 low visibility scheme.

The Fine molds instruction calls for FS35237 Grayish blue on the upper surface,  and light ghost grey for the bottom half.  But, in my opinion, FS35237 seems too dark (I used Vallejo paint) as compared to the reference photos as well as the stock photos of their own kits.

The Great wall kit instruction calls for dark ghost grey for the upper surface, which seems agree with other F-14 paint scheme references. Presumably, the GWH instruction is correct and the Fine molds instruction is not correct, right ?

Link to post
Share on other sites

This is the photo from anft.net, which is Dark ghost gray for top, light ghost grey for bottom, and FS35237 for the side of the front fuselage. 

f14-detail-colours-02.gif

Fine molds kit, FS35237 for top, light ghost for bottom and dark ghost grey for side of front fuselage.

10521582t3.jpg

GWH, light ghost grey on bottom and dark ghost for top, with FS35237 near the cockpit. Oh, my gosh, they are all different !

10627022t3.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

Official diagram is Lt. Ghost Gray on bottom, Dk. Ghost Gray on sides, and Medium Gray on tops. But you’re right - there were many variations. If you have a photo of the plane you’re doing, that’s helpful.
 

Unless you’re going for a fresh paint job, and depending on the paint brand, I would mix the Medium Gray about 1:1 with Dk. Ghost Gray. It faded rapidly and can be pretty intense put on full strength.

Edited by andrew.deboer
Link to post
Share on other sites

The official spec was for FS 35237 Medium Gray on the upper surfaces, FS 36320 Dark Compass Ghost Gray on the middle surfaces, and FS 36375 on the lower surfaces.  However, squadrons had variations on the paint scheme , so check your references.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Keep in mind the sea air, salt and sun bleached the TPS beyond belief, often to the point where it *almost* looked like one single shade of lightish gray overall.

 

Suggestion, paint the actual colors straight up.  Then take lighter shades, well-thinned, and bleach out each panel center (leaving a slightly darker outline to each panel).  Goes quicker than it sounds.  

Link to post
Share on other sites

From the diagrams it looks as if the outer surfaces of the vertical tails were also painted the middle color (officially 36320?), and I'm guessing the inner surfaces were the upper surface color (officially 35237?).

Link to post
Share on other sites
14 hours ago, seawinder said:

From the diagrams it looks as if the outer surfaces of the vertical tails were also painted the middle color (officially 36320?), and I'm guessing the inner surfaces were the upper surface color (officially 35237?).

No, both sides of the vertical stabilizers were 36320.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...