How much paint do I need?
How much paint do I need?
We recommend ensuring you purchase enough paint to finish your model from the same batch. The following is a rough guide for how much paint you may need. As every individual differs due to their technique and the colour scheme chosen, this is purely an indication for those who are unsure and would like some guidance on how much paint to buy. As ever, we trust in your experience and knowledge so if your usage differs, please stick to what you know. If in doubt we suggest overbuying as unopened tins of enamel paint will keep for years and years. We are also heavily involved in maintaining an accurate representation of the colours as such reserve the right to correct and amend our colours as new findings arise.
We have given common model sizes for a rough idea; however, these can differ depending on what the model is depicting. For example a 1/350 battleship is around 71cm/28” long whereas a 1/350 destroyer is around 36cm/14” – same scale but vastly different finished model sizes. Therefore, we have also given wingspan/length of model as an added guide. Please check the finished dimensions of the model and compare to the chart below.
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Model Size |
Spraying with an Airbrush |
Brush painting |
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1/700 ship – 33cm/13” (simple camouflage scheme assuming the bulk is a single colour) |
Main colour = 1 tin per scheme colour* Details = >1 tin Below waterline = >1 tin |
Main colour = 1-2 tin per scheme colour Details = >1 tin Below waterline = 1 tin |
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1/350 ship – 71cm/28” (simple camouflage scheme assuming the bulk is a single colour) |
Main colour =2 tins per scheme colour * Details = >1 tin Below waterline = 1-2 tins |
Main colour =2-3 tins per scheme colour Details = >1 tin Below waterline = 2 tins |
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1/200 ship - 132cm/52” (simple camouflage scheme assuming the bulk is a single colour) |
Main colour = 3-4 tins per scheme colour* Details = 1 tin Below waterline = 2-3 tins |
Main colour = 4-6 tins per scheme colour Details = 1 tin Below waterline = 3 tins |
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1/72 aircraft – 15cm/6” (basic 2-3 colour scheme) |
>1 tin per scheme colour |
1 tin per scheme colour |
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1/48 aircraft – 23cm/9” (basic 2-3 colour scheme) |
1 tin per scheme colour |
1 tin per scheme colour |
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1/32 aircraft - 33cm/13” (basic 2-3 colour scheme) |
1-2 tins per scheme colour |
2 tins per scheme colour |
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1/24 aircraft – 46cm/18” (basic 2-3 colour scheme) |
2 tins per scheme colour |
2-3 tins per scheme colour |
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1/72 Armour Vehicle (basic 2-3 colour scheme) |
>1 tin per scheme colour |
>1 tin per scheme colour |
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1/48 Armour Vehicle (basic 2-3 colour scheme) |
>1 tin per scheme colour |
1 tin per scheme colour |
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1/35 Armour Vehicle (basic 2-3 colour scheme) |
1 tin per scheme colour |
1 tin per scheme colour |
Ship example:
HMS Hood in the typical Home Fleet scheme - 1/350 scale
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Spraying Topsides: 2 x NARN21 – Home Fleet Shade/507A Below Waterline: 1 x Antifouling Grey Details: >1 x C02 Matt Black, >1 x C03 Matt White.
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Brush painting Topsides: 3 x NARN21 – Home Fleet Shade/507A Below Waterline: 2 x Antifouling Grey Details: >1 x C02 Matt Black, >1 x C03 Matt White.
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HMS Teviot - river class frigate in early-mid 1943 scheme (1/350 scale) is more colourful and would require less of each different colour in 1/350 scale.
*For a more complex camouflage scheme as per HMS Teviot it is common practice to spray the entire topsides with the lightest colour first, then mask off sections to paint the other two colours, hence the lightest grey may require 2 tins rather than 1 tin.
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Spraying Topsides: 1 x NARN28 – MS1, 1 x NARN30 – MS3, 1-2 x NARN31 – MS4, Below Waterline: 1 x NARN42 - Antifouling Red Details: >1 x C02 Matt Black
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Brush painting Topsides: 1-2 x NARN28 – MS1, 1-2 x NARN30 – MS3, 2 x NARN31 – MS4, Below Waterline: 2 x NARN42 - Antifouling Red Details: >1 x C02 Matt Black
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Aircraft example:
F6F Hellcat in US Navy Overall Glossy Sea Blue scheme - 1/48 scale.
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Spraying Scheme: 1-2 x ACUS34 ANA623 Glossy Sea Blue
Details Insignia/stars and bars: >1 x ACUS37 Insignia White ANA601 Interior: >1 x ACUS09 – USN/USAAF Interior Green Propeller tips: >1 x ACUS11 – Pre-war Chrome Yellow Propeller: >1 x C02 |
Brush painting Scheme: 1-2 x ACUS34 ANA623 Glossy Sea Blue
Details Insignia/stars and bars: >1 x ACUS37 Insignia White ANA601 Interior: >1 x ACUS09 – USN/USAAF Interior Green Propeller tips: >1 x ACUS11 – Pre-war Chrome Yellow Propeller: >1 x C02 |
Supermarine Spitfire in RAF Day Fighter Scheme (1/48 scale) is a more colourful scheme and would require less of each different colour in 1/48 scale.
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Spraying Scheme: 1 x ACRN04 – Medium Sea Grey, 1 x ACRN07 – Ocean Grey, 1 x ACRN09 – Dark Green
Details
Spinner/tail marking: >1 x ACRN01. Roundels/ID Bands: >1 x ACRN22 – RAF/FAA red, >1 x ACRN31 – Roundel Blue, >1 x ACRN21 – RAF/FAA Yellow. Interior: >1 x ACRN28 Propeller: >1 x C02 |
Brush painting Scheme: 1 x ACRN04 – Medium Sea Grey, 1 x ACRN07 – Ocean Grey, 1 x ACRN09 – Dark Green
Details
Spinner/tail marking: >1 x ACRN01. Roundels/ID Bands: >1 x ACRN22 – RAF/FAA red, >1 x ACRN31 – Roundel Blue, >1 x ACRN21 – RAF/FAA Yellow. Interior: >1 x ACRN28 Propeller: >1 x C02 |
We hope this guide helps you decide how much paint you require. As always, if you are unsure, please email us and we'll advise you as best as we can.