White Ensign Models' WWII Allied Aircraft Colourcoats Paint First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

A number of years ago, White Ensign Models undertook a new venture - color-accurized hobby paints. These colors were initially focused on naval subjects (I wonder why) and used the excellent research of the Snyder & Short naval color references as their baseline. Since then, they've expanded into armor and aircraft subjects, and as with the naval series paints, the armor and aircraft colors were based on recognized color data to ensure that we have the best representation available to color our hard work.

In this series, White Ensign Models developed a series of colors that were used by allied air forces during World War II. While the colors are divided into US and UK standards, it is amazing how much each used the colors of the other.

In their US ANA matched colors:

• ACUS01 Light Gull Gray
• ACUS02 Dark Gull Gray
• ACUS03 Light Compass Ghost Gray
• ACUS04 Dark Compass Ghost Gray
• ACUS05 WW2 USN Light Gray
• ACUS06 WW2 USN Blue-Gray
• ACUS07 WW2 USN Sea Blue
• ACUS08 WW2 USN Intermediate Blue
• ACUS09 WW2 USN/USAAF Interior Green
• ACUS10 WW2 USN Non-Specular White
• ACUS11 Pre-War Chrome Yellow
• ACUS12 Olive Drab (ANA 613)
• ACUS13 Neutral Gray
• ACUS14 Gunship Gray (FS26118)
• ACUS15 Olive Drab 41
• ACUS16 Medium Green 42
• ACUS17 USAF Gray FS36622
• ACUS18 USAF Tan FS30219
• ACUS19 USAF Green Olive Drab FS34102
• ACUS20 USAF Dark Green FS34079
• ACUS21 USAF ADC Gray FS16473
• ACUS22 US Zinc Chromate Green
• ACUS23 US Zinc Chromate Yellow
• ACUS24 Dull Dark Green
• ACUS25 US Army Helo Drab (FS34031)

In their RAF/FAA/Coastal Command Colours:

• ACRN01 Sky Type S (BS210)
• ACRN02 Extra Dark Sea Gray (BS640)
• ACRN03 Dark Sea Gray (BS638)
• ACRN04 Medium Sea Gray (BS637)
• ACRN05 Light Slate Gray (BS639)
• ACRN06 Dark Slate Gray (BS634)
• ACRN07 Ocean Grey
• ACRN08 Barley Grey (BS18-B-21)
• ACRN09 Dark Green (BS241)
• ACRN10 Dark Earth (BS450)
• ACRN11 Middle Stone
• ACRN12 Azure Blue
• ACRN13 Sky Grey
• ACRN14 PRU Blue
• ACRN15 RAF Green BS641
• ACRN16 RAF Gulf Pink/Sand FS20279
• ACRN17 Night Bomber Black
• ACRN18 Olive Drab (BS220)
• ACRN19 RAF Blue-Gray (BS633)
• ACRN20 Light Aircraft Gray (BS627)
• ACRN21 Yellow
• ACRN22 Dull Red
• ACRN23 Light Mediterranean Blue
• LE01 RAF Anti-Flash White
• LE02 RAF Hemp

Not a bad variety of colors and this line-up appears to be growing. Stand by for more good things from White Ensign Models! I've compared the US colors to the FS color chips that I have handy and found no surprises (would you expect anything else?) and the FAA/Coastal Command colors are a great match for similar colors that I have from other manufacturers. What's nice about the tins is that their shelf life is generally longer and you have the built-in paint chips for color-matching on the lids.

You can purchase these and any of the Colourcoat line directly from the White Ensign Models website. They have great service and are a unique resource for the ship modeler - give them a try!

My sincere thanks to White Ensign Models for these review samples!