Hobby color - FS36622 šedá

The water-thinnable version of the pale gray

The shade FS 36622 is a pale, almost white gray with a neutral cast. The shade is made in two lines: a lacquer one and a water-thinnable one. This product is the water-thinnable one, so working with it does not call for thorough extraction and the tools clean up more easily, at the price of a somewhat softer dry film.

Paint properties

The dry film holds a satin level of sheen. On an absorbent surface water is enough, whereas on smooth plastic the thinner of the same line does a better job. Peel masking tape off slowly and at a shallow angle, water-thinnable films are less durable than lacquer ones.

Advice on application

• Light tones give away every irregularity, so sand filled areas carefully
• Apply thin coats, a heavy coat crawls into engraved lines
• Shade it with white, not with gray, otherwise the surface turns dull gray
• Stir the paint, the pigment of light shades settles markedly

Choosing between the series

Anyone painting at home without extraction will reach rather for the water-thinnable version. Anyone who needs a durable surface under extensive masking or wants to polish the surface will be happier with the lacquer one. The shade is the same in both cases.

Where the color is used

• Undersides of American aircraft of the postwar period
• Overall airframe finish of transport and training types
• Interiors where the surface should be light and neutral

With pale grays the biggest mistake is usually an overdone wash. Panel lines on the real aircraft were not dark, only a shade more distinct, so strong contrast reads as a drawing rather than as a seam.