Raptor painting

ACMIguy · by **ACMIguy** » 30 Oct 2007, 19:34

I would like to know if anyone has come up with a good paint technique for the Raptor yet?

If you notice the post I sent http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-9182.html
You can see how there is a very shinny silver sheen.

When I was up close to the jet it looked almost like a clear based metal fake was added to the base color.

Has anyone replicated that yet?

Habu · by **Habu** » 01 Nov 2007, 21:05

Well the thing is...it only has that sheen under oblique lighting. The actual paint itself does not have metaline flakes or finish. Most pics I've taken of the bird also reflect this. I have seen good work on this, but the guy painted the jet in sliver type colors, and thus it looks that way at any angle. So it's a case of either or...matte grays, or shiny silvers.

ACMIguy · by **ACMIguy** » 02 Nov 2007, 03:47

So what paint code are you using or what is the mix ratios?

Habu · by **Habu** » 05 Nov 2007, 02:22

I dunno I haven't painted mine yet. I started a Model Hobby kit, but aborted...it was too much trouble thatn it was worth. Waiting for the RoG release, to see if it's any better. I do know it's mod eagle gray for the dark patches though.

ViperEnforcer · by **ViperEnforcer** » 10 Nov 2007, 02:14

Habu is right, as it's merely a reflection that give it a "metallic" appearance. In subdued lighting it the gray tones that stand out.
I've seen some Raptor models painted in pure metallics, which looked cool but is not correct.

You're going to have to play around with some mix ratios and do some test palllets yourself.

I made some test pallets using both the Ghost gray and Mode Eagle MM paints, with a Metalizer mix. I've have some successful matches, ubt do not recall the mix ratios, as I mixed till i got a tone and sheen that scaled out to the real finsish.

The two Raptors I've built have been in the non LO scheme, so standard Mod Eagle colors were dead on matches. My next build will be a later production jet, which will sport the typical line jet finish.

Mike V

psychmike · by **psychmike** » 26 Jan 2008, 06:11

On another thread on this site comparing the YF-22 and YF-23, there's a link to someone's model of what the F-23 might look like in production. That model has been closest in capturing that matte-from-some-angles, shiny-from-another look of the -22's paint job. Details on the technique are provided as well. Check out:

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php?page=9

Mike

Habu · by **Habu** » 26 Jan 2008, 07:35

Hmmm it does look pretty cool. But in none of the pics of that YF-23 does it not look metallic. In fact, there was little non-metallic paint used, it was mostly all MM metalizers. So it remains, either you paint it grey, or metallic.

ahaley · by **ahaley** » 14 Feb 2008, 20:51

Here is someone who got real close. I am working on the 1/32 YF-22 and and diverging from the front / back gray scheme to try a current paint job with this recipe.

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/t ... tnt151.htm

Habu · by **Habu** » 14 Feb 2008, 20:58

Ah yes, I've seen those, very nice. But again, metallic colors.