How to Paint with AK Interactive Real Colors

Using AK Interactive Real Colors Acrylic Lacquer Paint

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced

Real Colors Development

AK Interactive created a gold standard in acrylic lacquer paint based on research, actual colour chips and equipment samples used by different nations.

ANALYZING THE ORIGINAL COLORS

For the study of preserved equipment, recognized and independent laboratories undertook the colour analysis. Usually, these pieces have suffered from weather and exposure, but some fairly protected parts show clearly how these colours looked when new. These match the original colour chips, sometimes differing just a little due to the variety of paint components used.

The composition of the colour can be found by using colorimeter equipment with a + -1% error, depending on the pigments used, the specific colours and the state of conservation. The technique used to discover the originally used pigments is based on the colour curve in the visible spectrum band. The perception of the colour depends on the type of illuminant or light that affects the object, and the human eye that observes the object.

Various factors can alter the perception of colour, so a spectrophotometer is used to apply the light (daylight, incandescent and fluorescent) in the same way every time to collect a consistent, objective colour curve. That colour curve would be of a determined colour, with a determined illuminant and composed of several pigments. The lab must find out the pigments and their combination to get a colour curve which matches the curve generated by the original sample.

A database maintains the characteristics of each original pigment and its specific curve, so a program can match and select the right ones for the colour curve to be the same under all three illuminants. It could be possible to reach a certain colour along different paths and pigment mixtures. But only one of them is the one that will reproduce, exactly, the original mixture of pigments with the exact same curve under all of the illuminants. That’s the Real Color.

For those interested in a deep dive into the world of military colours and capturing them in scale using authentic colours, these books are for you. Rather than guessing at a colour or using a colour used in a model colour chart, an actual colour representation can be used, something with a historical story behind it.

Serious modellers dedicated to historically accurate vehicles, these colours are for you. Advanced builders will appreciate the high-quality acrylic lacquer performance characteristics.

REAL COLORS OF WWII ARMOR

To round up the Real Colors presentation to the modelling community, we thought about preparing a special book.

A limited edition and accurately printed book devoted to the original colours of WWII, authored by experts Jürgen Kiroff, Przemyslaw Skulski, Mike Starmer & Steven Zaloga.

A real travel through the research of official, private, and industry archives about the development and use of colours on German, Russian USA and British AFVs. 200 pages full of text, colour photographs, camouflage schemes, profiles, general camouflage rules, etc. A must book for modellers who like to know more about the real thing, and THE definitive guide for WWII AFV Colors.

This book is a true must-have for anyone with even a slight interest in WWII AFV colours.

REAL COLORS OF WWII AIRCRAFT

The Real Colors for aircraft models could not be introduced without releasing a special book devoted to this subject. Renowned researchers Maciej Góralczyk, Gerald T. Högl, Jürgen Kiroff, Nicholas Millman and Mikhail V. Orlov teamed up in order to produce the most up-to-date reference book on the aircraft colours of the main WWII adversaries: Germany, United States, Great Britain and the Soviet Union.

The resulting study is a comprehensive guide to the colours and camouflage schemes, presented on over 200 pages and illustrated with several colour profiles, document reprints and dozens of b/w and colour photos, many of which are very rare. Included is the latest information on the Luftwaffe’s late war colours, which have been reproduced as scale colours on the basis of the original paint factory recipes by Gerald T. Högl and Jürgen Kiroff. For the very first time, the unparalleled research on the Soviet Air Force colours done by Mikhail V. Orlov is introduced to non-Russian readers. Nicholas Millman’s archival research brings us accurate reproduction and description of the colours used by the USAAF, US Navy and RAF/FAA.

This book is a true must-have for anyone with even a slight interest in WWII Aircraft Colours.

Why use Real Colors Lacquer Paint?

Real Colors is an authentic colour formulation. Furthermore, it’s an actual high-quality acrylic lacquer paint with superior surface adhesion and paint-film cohesion, making it a very strong, and durable paint. Forget about clogging and problematic, tip-dry, it’s a joy to airbrush.

Authentic colour means the paint colours are based on historical research and actual colour chips. The Germans, Soviets, British, and Americans, for example, used different colours for armoured fighting vehicles, aircraft, and seagoing vessels. Colours changed through time. There are colours used in the late ’30s, early ’40s, mid-’40s and late war paint colours.

German, Soviet, British, and American colours were not haphazard nor willy-nilly batches of paint. All belligerents had official colour directives and application policies. The German classification used RAL, the British S.C.C., and the American FS. As with German WWII RAL Colours, the Americans refined the Federal Standards Classification for consistent colour use in 1943.

Rather than calling for a tank to be painted olive green, whatever that meant or was interpreted to be, there was a specific green classification such as No9 Olive Drab FS33070.

As with the Luftwaffe, paint schemes, including drawings, were made available to factories and field crews. The same holds for the USAAF, US Army and USMC.

Paint is chemistry, much like baking a cake. Add the correct consistent measurements from a tested recipe and the outcomes are always predictable and standardized. With cooking, some of this and some of that, season to taste, always produces variable and inconsistent outcomes.

The internet abounds with colour myths and inaccuracies, recycled propaganda. For those who desire authentic colours, then REAL COLORS is for you.

KV-1 1940 Surface Detail

Preserving Fine Detail

Viewing images at high magnification, especially macrophotography, using paint that coalesces down onto the surface, like shrink wrap, while preserving the finest of detail is important to me.

Part of it is high-coverage quality paint that covers with very light coats, preserving the most minutiae detail. I’ve found, like REAL COLORS, 3G Acrylics coalesce down onto the surface, like shrink wrap, preserving the smallest detail.

The finer the pigment purity and quality, ensures the paint does not behave like filler, obliterating fine detail in the process is part of the secret sauce. 

Thinning Real Colors

REAL COLORS requires modelling lacquer thinners designed specifically for injection moulded styrene (styrenic polymers).

⚠️ Do not use any other type or brand of thinner.

There are no precise paint-to-thinner ratios because many variable environmental factors come into play. Height above sea level, temperature, humidity, airbrush type and needle size and lastly air pressure affect paint dilution requirements. The optimum compressor air pressure is 1.1 – 1.5 Bar or 16 – 22 psi.

That said, a dilution of 1:1 to 8:1 thinner to paint is acceptable. Keep in mind, higher dilution rates require advanced airbrush skills in order to apply correctly. Lacquer paints are not weakened with high dilution rates and can be applied with confidence.

Apply Real Colors in overlapping light coats to build up to the desired opacity. High dilution ratios created a more translucent colour. Light overlapping layers of paint preserve fine detail.

For absolute control over paint flow regardless of dilution and air pressure, learn how to use a MAC Valve. Some airbrushes come so equipped. If your airbrush does not have one, invest in a Quick Disconnect and MAC Valve. You will not regret it.

💡 Always use a test spray sheet to determine mix ratios before airbrushing your project.

⛓️ Real Colors acrylic lacquer cures to a hard, durable finish. Lacquer paints produce the hardest and strongest paint finish of all hobby paints.

Supplies

REAL COLORS requires any one of the following lacquer thinners. To clean tools and airbrush, use only TAMIYA AIRBRUSH CLEANER or Mr.TOOL CLEANER R.

• REAL COLORS Acrylic Lacquer Paint
• REAL COLORS THINNER
• TAMIYA LACQUER THINNER
• TAMIYA LACQUER THINNER RETARDER TYPE
• Mr.COLOR THINNER
• Mr.COLOR LEVELLING THINNER
• Mr.COLOR RAPID THINNER
• TAMIYA AIRBRUSH CLEANER
• Mr.TOOL CLEANER R

⚠️ Hardware and automotive lacquer thinners dissolve styrene.

Why Real Colors Matter

Real Colors Acrylic Lacquer high coverage cure to a hard finish. Advanced modellers will love how it seamlessly blends when modifications are made to the original paint.

The paint formulation is smooth and creamy and is a joy to airbrush. If authentic colour is important to you, look no further. You will not be disappointed.

Personally, I’ve used other lacquer paints and consider Real Colors superior in many regards. I demand a lot from my paint, and Real Colors delivers. A true Gold Standard.

Actual Paint Colour and Camouflage Specifications

Now in scale, authentic colours are available for your favourite aircraft. Taking paint colours to a new level of accuracy.