Never Paint It Black

[Pete Nottingham]

I don't know how many of you use this technique, but early on when I returned to modelling, I saw a tip that was never to paint anything black, because black looks way out of scale, instead paint the part a very dark black/grey as this looks more realistic, so I use Vallejo Model Air Black/Grey 71056, what do you guys use?

Cheers

Pete.

[Ian from Doncaster]

I like Revell number 09 Antrhacite, which I would mist over the black.

[GAJouette]

  Pete ,
Like you I never use black either. Instead I use Model Master Cockpit black, and what remain stocks I have of Floquil Old Engine Black,or weathered black on occasion I'm use MM RLM 66 as well.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

[Pete Nottingham]

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one not to use black.

Cheers

Pete.

[gcn]

I use either Tamiya NATO black or black mixed with a little bit of buff

[lcarroll]

Very timely! I've been pondering what to use on my (in progress) DV. I'd settled on either MM Interior Black (has a slight grey tint) or if I try acrylic then Tamiya XF69 NATO Black. Nice to have reinforcement.
Cheers,
Lance

[Pete Nottingham]

I think that the Vallejo one is also known as Panzer Black.

Cheers

Pete.

[pepperman42]

Even using a grey/black I like to shift it around a bit with more white,blue, rlm02 etc from panel to panel depending on the app. Mostly use Tamiya paints and mix them based on whats on hand....uuuuh not very specific was I.....

Steve

[Whiteknuckles]

Thanks for the tips gents and to Pete for raising it.
As a newbie to this scene, it's not something I would have ever considered.

Cheers,
Andrew

[Jose Chaica]

Tamiya Nato Black as a base... 

[Fokker boy]

I tend to use Gunze tire black, but I also have some Tamiya very dark gray that I would also consider using.

[petrov27]

Polly S "Scale Black" is also a very good for this purpose if you can find it.

[Pete Nottingham]

Thanks for the tips gents and to Pete for raising it.
As a newbie to this scene, it's not something I would have ever considered.

Cheers,
Andrew

Glad to be of some help Andrew, it's something you never think of until you see it mentioned, but I think you will notice the difference.

Cheers

Pete.

[kornbeef]

I use black tinted with whatever colour suits whatever I'm painting ie: Take a black painted Albie fuselage, the wood areas would be tinted with a brown or buff, the metal areas with a slightly darker grey even a hint of blue, or green/grey of the underlaying colour (or as it would be).  Blacked metalwork, guns, cylinders etc I tint with greyBlue, quite heavily. Rubber items with red brown.

I've often used panzer grey, with a black ink wash to highlight details, it's a matter of taste really though.


Look at most black objects, see what the natural tint is, like tyres etc, never really black. 

Keith.

[JoeDxMB]

I just got a jar of Polly Scale "Grimy black"  that is primarily marketed to model railroaders. I used to use it a few years ago and it was one of the first colors I got when getting back into modeling.   It's a flat,  a water based off black,  almost a dark grey that brushes on easily and does not obscure any fine details.

BTW,  I  sometimes do use  "real" black on certain parts for contrast or, to simulate a "new"  part.