Question on Grigio Azzurro Scuro

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BobinVa
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Question on Grigio Azzurro Scuro

Post by BobinVa » Wed Dec 23, 2020 8:20 pm

Second project for 2021 will be the Alphaflight Z. 506. The Mr. Paint lacquer rendition of this color is a very dark gray while fellow site member Chris Busbridge depicted a much bluer hue in his box art for the kit. Did this color tend to fade and color shift rapidly? If so, any suggestions on a better starting point to recreate this color? In Chris’ artwork, the shade looks similar to the early war U.S.N. upper surface color found on Wildcats, Devastators, etc.

Thanks for any input,

Bob Asbury

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Re: Question on Grigio Azzurro Scuro

Post by Editor » Wed Dec 23, 2020 9:37 pm

Hello Bob, Welcome to Stormo.

Examine Stefano Lazzaro's VITO Charts and the CMPR equivalents for GAS:
Vito Charts by Stefano Lazzaro

Grigio Azzurro Scuro was a dark blue grey. Flying boats (e.g., Cant Z.501) and float planes/seaplanes began the war with an overall Aluminium scheme, the so-called "Allumina" varnish. The tri-colors on the rudder were painted over with a verde mimetico and the white cross of Savoy applied over top. Allumina colored Z.506Bs were painted with a red bolt on the fuselage sides and the pre-war high visibility red bands on the upper surface wings were removed. Some Z.506Cs were converted to white (with red cross) areo-ambulances/aeromedical aircraft. The directive issued in 1941 (Tavola X colors) required the upper surfaces of maritime aircraft to be painted a Dark Blue-Grey Grigio Azzurro Scuro 3 FS 36118. This color better suited combat missions over the Mediterranean Sea. Fading and discoloration had more to do with film exposure and lighting effects.

Image

Image

Image

Z.506 at Vigna di Valle AF Museum
https://www.stormomagazine.com/Referenc ... Valle.html

The Italeri kit specifies a flat gunship gray for 171-8 and 149-1 which is a shade close to what you find in ADI #5, but the color GAS in that book (the profiles) is not correct.

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Re: Question on Grigio Azzurro Scuro

Post by BobinVa » Sat Dec 26, 2020 11:06 am

Thank you for your input... based on your thoughts and photos, I must conclude that the Mr. Paint shade is an excellent starting point for this color prior to weathering...

Thanks,
Bob

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Re: Question on Grigio Azzurro Scuro

Post by Editor » Sat Dec 26, 2020 11:57 am

Use this:
MRP-304 - Grigio Azzurro Scuro Marino 1941 (Dark Blue Gray FS36118)

The MRP color is actually closer to the CMPR chip (according to the photo) than the VITO Charts but it looks right. I believe Vince Fiore on this forum uses MRP paints.

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