SPA Modeler

What paint brand does Academy use for their kits? The instruction guide is pretty vague with the call out #s. I get it with Olive Drab, Medium Grey but which FS # for Dark Green, Light Blue, Light Brown. There are various shades of those colors.

The instruction guide with color call out on page 8….

https://www.scalemates.com/products/img ... ctions.pdf

You won’t get FS numbers on the correct colors because they are British.
This AK set has all the colors needed for Commonwealth vehicles in the Western Desert campaign.

https://ak-interactive.com/product/brit ... 1940-1943/

That helps a bit…

Here is a more in depth explanation of Commonwealth vehicle camouflage colors and schemes in WWII.


https://www.mafva.org/british-vehicle-c ... e-1939-45/

Let’s just say that the schemes worn during the Western Desert campaign were more varied, than those worn in Northwest Europe in either 1940 or 1944/45. Another factor is that lend lease built equipment such as the Stuart could be delivered in either a US sand color, or in OD and have the appropriate theater colors applied either before or after issue to the troops

Obviously the blue is inaccurate.

Overall color call out for the “BELLMAN” 8th King’s Royal Hussars, 7th Armored Division, Bir-Hakeim, Libya, 1942 are:

10 - Desert Yellow
11 - Dark Green
12 - Slate Grey

Yes, the colors used in that scheme, aka “Caunter” scheme were Slate and Silver Grey over Portland Stone or Light Stone. If you look at the AK set you’ll get a good idea of those actual colors.
Tamiya made the same error on their original Matilda kit long ago, based upon museum tanks. The Silver Grey was misinterpreted as a blue or blue gray color. Slate is a greenish gray color, similar to a field gray.

It makes sense now. Now I know what colors to get. Thank you.

I've had the same Headache Tom with my Matilda and Austin Ambulance - both of which I want to do in that scheme.

I have that AK paint set Stik mentions, I've not used it yet but it does look good.

If it helps I can scan the schemes/call outs from my kits for you?

Yeah, that would be a big help. I am curious if theres sort of a guide on the back or inside the package. I'm thinking of getting the set minus the desert pink color.

Before I forget, I did do a bit of research a couple nights back and they say the blue is totally inaccurate especially on restored Stuart tanks. There was never a blue scheme as shown on box cover but most likely Slate.

Any blue on the tanks out in the desert would be easy target for the Germans.