Mr. Color Paint Colors: Complete Reference

Introduction

Mr. Color is the gold standard of lacquer model paint. Made by GSI Creos (formerly Gunze Sangyo) in Japan, these paints have been the backbone of Japanese kit building since the 1970s. When you open a Hasegawa, Fine Molds, or Bandai kit, the painting instructions call out Mr. Color numbers — just as Western kits default to Tamiya. But Mr. Color’s influence extends well beyond Japan. Serious military modelers worldwide reach for Mr. Color when accuracy, durability, and finish quality matter most.

The formula is solvent-based lacquer. That means stronger fumes than acrylics — you need a respirator and ventilation — but the payoff is substantial: Mr. Color sprays smoother, dries harder, adheres better, and produces a finer finish than any acrylic on the market. The paint cures to a rock-hard film that resists handling, masking tape, and enamel washes without lifting. For large-surface spraying (fuselages, wings), there’s simply nothing better.

The catalog is organized into several sub-ranges. The original C-series (C1 through roughly C175) covers general colors plus early military matches. The 300 series (C301-C400+) provides precision-calibrated colors keyed to specific Federal Standard and British Standard numbers. The Metal Color line (C211-C218) offers buffable metallic lacquers for natural metal finishes. And for Japanese aircraft, Mr. Color is the definitive reference — their IJN and IJA colors were developed in consultation with Japanese historians and manufacturer records.

Mr. Color is priced at ~$3-4 per 10ml bottle, available from most online hobby retailers that stock Japanese products. US availability is solid through hobby shops and importers.

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Product Lines Explained

Standard Range (C-Series)

The original Mr. Color catalog, numbered roughly C1 through C175. This includes basic colors (blacks, whites, reds, blues), early military matches (C12 Olive Drab, C14 Navy Blue, C27 Interior Green), all the Luftwaffe RLM colors (C17-C18, C36-C37, C60, C113-C123), and the definitive IJN/IJA Japanese aircraft colors (C15-C16, C35, C56, C124-C131). Many of these colors have been in production for decades and are the references that Japanese kit instructions specify. Semi-gloss finish is standard for most military colors in this range.

300 Series (FS/BS-Calibrated Military Colors)

The precision military line, numbered C301 through C400+. Each color is calibrated to a specific Federal Standard (FS 595) or British Standard (BS 381C) number. Where the original C-series offers “close” matches, the 300 series targets exact specifications. For example, C12 is “Olive Drab” — a good general OD. But C304 is “Olive Drab FS34087” — specifically calibrated to the darker WWII standard. The 300 series also includes colors the original range doesn’t cover: the full USAF Compass Ghost greys, SEA Vietnam greens, and late-war RAF flats. Many colors exist in both the original and 300 series — modelers generally prefer the 300 series for accuracy.

Metal Color (C211-C218)

GSI Creos’s dedicated metallic lacquer line for natural metal finishes. These are buffable — spray them on, let them cure, then polish with a soft cloth to achieve anything from a satin sheen to a mirror-bright chrome finish. The range includes Chrome Silver (C211), Iron (C212), Stainless (C213), Dark Iron (C214), and Aluminium (C218). For WWII bare-metal P-51D Mustangs and P-47 Thunderbolts, Metal Color over a gloss black base coat produces competition-level NMF finishes that rival Alclad II.

Clear Coats

Three essential clear lacquers: C155 Super Clear (gloss), C181 Semi-Gloss Super Clear (satin), and C182 Flat Clear (matte). These are among the best clear coats available in any brand. C155 creates a glass-smooth surface for decal application. C182 produces a dead-flat finish without the white frosting that plagues some flat coats. Many modelers who paint with acrylics still use Mr. Color clear coats for their final finish — the lacquer formula self-levels beautifully.

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Color Reference Tables

All 116 Mr. Color entries organized by nation and use. Colors from both the original C-series and 300 series are grouped together so you can see all options for a given theater in one place.

WWII United States — USAAF

Covers camouflage colors, interior colors, insignia, and primers for USAAF aircraft. Where both an original and 300-series version exist, both are listed.

Product #	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Notes
C12	Olive Drab (1)		Semi-Gloss	Olive Drab	Original range — good general OD
C38	Olive Drab (2)		Flat	WWII Olive Drab	Flat version, slightly different hue
C304	Olive Drab FS34087		Semi-Gloss	FS 34087 (WWII Dark OD)	300-series — FS calibrated
C13	Neutral Gray		Semi-Gloss	FS 36251	Standard Neutral Gray
C27	Interior Green		Semi-Gloss	FS 34151 / ANA 611 (Zinc Chromate)	Cockpit interior — direct match
C351	Zinc Chromate Type1 FS34151		Flat	FS 34151 / ANA 611	300-series — flat finish version
C352	Chromate Yellow Primer FS33481		Flat	FS 33481 (Yellow Zinc Chromate)	Primer/wheel well color
C311	Gray FS36622		Semi-Gloss	FS 36622 (Camouflage Gray)	USAAF underside gray (late OD scheme)
C302	Green FS34092		Semi-Gloss	FS 34092 (Dull Dark Green)	Medium Green 42 equivalent
C303	Green FS34102		Semi-Gloss	FS 34102 (Medium Green)	SEA Medium Green
C316	White FS17875		Gloss	FS 17875 / ANA 601 (Insignia White)	Gloss Insignia White
C381	Insignia White FS17925		Gloss	FS 17925 (Insignia White)	Alternate FS number
C326	Blue FS15044		Gloss	FS 15044 / ANA 605 (Insignia Blue)	Gloss Insignia Blue
C327	Red FS11136		Gloss	FS 11136 / ANA 619 (Insignia Red)	Gloss Insignia Red
C377	Aluminized Silver FS17178		Metallic	FS 17178 (Natural Metal Finish)	NMF — FS-calibrated aluminum
C73	Aircraft Gray		Gloss	—	General aircraft gray

WWII United States — USN / USMC

All Navy tri-color scheme colors, Glossy Sea Blue, and support greys.

Product #	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Notes
C14	Navy Blue		Semi-Gloss	FS 35042 (USN Sea Blue)	Original range Sea Blue
C11	Light Gull Gray		Semi-Gloss	FS 16440 / ANA 620	Original range
C72	Intermediate Blue		Semi-Gloss	FS 35164 (Intermediate Blue)	Original range
C365	Gloss Sea Blue FS15042		Gloss	FS 15042 / ANA 623 (Glossy Sea Blue)	Late-war overall scheme — FS calibrated
C366	Intermediate Blue FS35164		Flat	FS 35164 / ANA 608	300-series — flat finish
C367	Blue Gray FS35189		Flat	FS 35189	USN Blue-Gray
C315	Light Gull Gray FS16440		Gloss	FS 16440 (USN Light Gull Gray)	300-series — gloss, FS calibrated
C382	Light Gull Gray FS36440		Flat	FS 36440 (USN Light Gull Gray)	300-series — flat version
C317	Gray FS36231		Flat	FS 36231 (Dark Gull Gray)	Dark Gull Gray
C325	Gray FS26440		Semi-Gloss	FS 26440	Semi-gloss gull gray variant

Germany — Luftwaffe RLM Colors

Complete Luftwaffe palette from both the original C-series and the C113-C123 expansion range.

Product #	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Use
C60	RLM 02 Gray		Semi-Gloss	RLM 02 Grau	Interior/primer, early upper surfaces
C113	RLM 04 Yellow		Semi-Gloss	RLM 04 Gelb	ID markings, cowling bands
C114	RLM 23 Red		Semi-Gloss	RLM 23 Rot	Red band markings
C115	RLM 65 Light Blue		Semi-Gloss	RLM 65 Hellblau	Under surfaces (all periods)
C116	RLM 66 Black Gray		Semi-Gloss	RLM 66 Schwarzgrau	Cockpit interior, instrument panels
C18	RLM 70 Black Green		Semi-Gloss	RLM 70 Schwarzgrün	Upper surfaces (early/mid war)
C17	RLM 71 Dark Green		Semi-Gloss	RLM 71 Dunkelgrün	Upper surfaces (early/mid war)
C36	RLM 74 Gray Green		Semi-Gloss	RLM 74 Graugrün	Upper surfaces (mid/late war)
C37	RLM 75 Gray Violet		Semi-Gloss	RLM 75 Grauviolett	Upper surfaces (mid/late war)
C117	RLM 76 Light Blue		Gloss	RLM 76 Lichtblau	Under surfaces (mid/late war)
C118	RLM 78 Light Blue		Semi-Gloss	RLM 78 Hellblau	Tropical/Mediterranean under surfaces
C119	RLM 79 Sand Yellow		Semi-Gloss	RLM 79 Sandgelb	Tropical/Mediterranean upper surfaces
C120	RLM 80 Olive Green		Semi-Gloss	RLM 80 Olivgrün	Tropical/late-war upper surfaces
C121	RLM 81 Brown Violet		Semi-Gloss	RLM 81 Braunviolett	Late-war upper surfaces
C122	RLM 82 Light Green		Semi-Gloss	RLM 82 Hellgrün	Late-war upper surfaces (splinter)
C123	RLM 83 Dark Green		Semi-Gloss	RLM 83 Dunkelgrün	Late-war upper surfaces (splinter)

United Kingdom — RAF

Both original C-series colors and the 360-series flat WWII versions. The 360 series provides the same colors in flat finish — historically more accurate for operational RAF aircraft.

Product #	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Notes
C23	Dark Green (2)		Semi-Gloss	RAF Dark Green	Original range
C330	Dark Green BS641		Semi-Gloss	BS381C/641 Dark Green	300-series — BS calibrated
C361	Dark Green BS641		Flat	BS381C/641 Dark Green (WWII)	360-series — flat, WWII spec
C22	Dark Earth		Semi-Gloss	RAF Dark Earth	Original range
C369	Dark Earth BS450		Flat	BS381C/450 Dark Earth (WWII)	360-series — flat
C362	Ocean Gray		Flat	RAF Ocean Grey (WWII)	Day Fighter scheme upper surfaces
C25	Dark Seagray		Semi-Gloss	RAF Dark Sea Grey	Original range
C331	Dark Seagray BS638		Semi-Gloss	BS381C/638 Dark Sea Grey	300-series — BS calibrated
C335	Medium Seagray BS637		Semi-Gloss	BS381C/637 Medium Sea Grey	300-series — BS calibrated
C363	Medium Seagray BS637		Flat	BS381C/637 Medium Sea Grey (WWII)	360-series — flat
C364	Aircraft Grey Green BS283		Flat	BS381C/283 Aircraft Grey Green	Trainers, utility aircraft
C26	Duck Egg Green		Semi-Gloss	RAF Duck Egg Green	Under surfaces (alternative to Sky)
C21	Middle Stone		Semi-Gloss	RAF Middle Stone	Mediterranean/desert scheme
C368	Sky BS210		Flat	BS381C/210 Sky (WWII)	360-series — flat

Japan — IJN / IJA

This is where Mr. Color has no equal. These colors were developed in Japan with access to original manufacturer records. Each major aircraft manufacturer (Mitsubishi, Nakajima, Kawasaki, Kawanishi) had its own proprietary green — Mr. Color is the only paint brand that provides all of them as separate, researched colors.

Product #	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Use
C15	IJN Green (Nakajima)		Semi-Gloss	IJN Nakajima Green	Kate, Jill upper surfaces
C124	Dark Green (Mitsubishi)		Semi-Gloss	IJN Mitsubishi Dark Green	Zero, Betty upper surfaces
C129	Dark Green (Nakajima)		Semi-Gloss	IJN Nakajima Dark Green	Nakajima-built aircraft
C130	Dark Green (Kawasaki)		Semi-Gloss	IJN Kawasaki Dark Green	Ki-61 Hien (Tony)
C383	Dark Green (Kawanishi)		Semi-Gloss	IJN Kawanishi Dark Green	H8K Emily, N1K Shiden
C35	IJN Gray (Mitsubishi)		Semi-Gloss	IJN Mitsubishi Gray	IJN under surfaces
C56	IJN Gray Green (Nakajima)		Semi-Gloss	IJN Gray Green	IJN naval aircraft
C126	Cockpit Color (Mitsubishi)		Semi-Gloss	IJN Mitsubishi Cockpit Green	Zero, Betty cockpit interiors
C127	Cockpit Color (Nakajima)		Semi-Gloss	IJN Nakajima Cockpit Green	Kate, Jill cockpit interiors
C125	Cowling Color		Semi-Gloss	Japanese Cowling Black	Engine cowlings (black-brown)
C131	Propeller Color		Semi-Gloss	Japanese Propeller Brown	Propeller blades
C16	IJA Green		Semi-Gloss	IJA Green	Hayabusa, Hien upper surfaces
C58	Orange Yellow		Semi-Gloss	IJA/IJN Trainer Yellow	Training aircraft, ID bands

Modern United States — USAF / USN

The 300 series provides comprehensive coverage of post-WWII US military colors, all FS-calibrated.

Product #	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Use
C74	Air Superiority Blue		Gloss	FS 35450	F-15 Air Superiority scheme
C301	Gray FS36081		Gloss	FS 36081	Engine gray
C305	Gray FS36118		Semi-Gloss	FS 36118 (Medium Gunship Gray)	A-10, AC-130, gunships
C306	Gray FS36270		Semi-Gloss	FS 36270 (Medium Gray)	General military gray
C307	Gray FS36320		Semi-Gloss	FS 36320 (Dark Ghost Gray)	F-14, F-15, F-16 (Compass Ghost)
C308	Gray FS36375		Semi-Gloss	FS 36375 (Light Ghost Gray)	F-14, F-15, F-16 (Compass Ghost)
C309	Green FS34079		Semi-Gloss	FS 34079 (Dark Green)	SEA camouflage (Vietnam)
C310	Brown FS30219		Semi-Gloss	FS 30219 (Dark Tan)	SEA camouflage (Vietnam)
C340	Field Green FS34097		Semi-Gloss	FS 34097	SEA camouflage (Vietnam)
C312	Green FS34227		Semi-Gloss	FS 34227	—
C313	Yellow FS33531		Semi-Gloss	FS 33531 (Sand)	Desert camouflage
C314	Blue FS35622		Semi-Gloss	FS 35622 (Light Blue)	—
C328	Blue FS15050		Gloss	FS 15050 (Navy Blue Angels)	Blue Angels display team
C337	Grayish Blue FS35237		Semi-Gloss	FS 35237	USN tactical schemes
C338	Light Gray FS36495		Semi-Gloss	FS 36495	—
C339	Engine Gray FS16081		Gloss	FS 16081	Engine/exhaust areas

Other Military Colors

Product #	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Use
C40	German Gray		Semi-Gloss	RAL 7021 Panzergrau	Panzer gray, U-boats
C52	Field Gray (2)		Flat	RAL 7009 Feldgrau	German field gray
C135	Russian Green 1		Flat	Soviet 4BO Green	Soviet WWII green
C29	Hull Red		Semi-Gloss	—	Ship hulls, waterline

Metal Color — Natural Metal Finishes

The crown jewel of Mr. Color’s lineup. These buffable metallic lacquers produce the most realistic natural metal finishes available in a bottle. Spray over a gloss black base coat, allow to cure, then buff with a soft cloth to the desired sheen. Each tone represents a different metal — use multiple across a bare-metal aircraft to simulate the panel variation of real aluminum skin.

Product #	Color Name	Finish	NMF Role
C211	Chrome Silver	Metallic	Brightest silver — freshly polished panels, prop spinner
C218	Aluminium	Metallic	Standard aircraft skin — base tone for most panels
C213	Stainless	Metallic	Slightly warmer — exhaust-adjacent panels, engine nacelles
C212	Iron	Metallic	Darker steel — exhaust stains, engine components
C214	Dark Iron	Metallic	Darkest — heavy exhaust staining, gun ports

NMF workflow: Prime with Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 Black (or any gloss black). Spray C218 Aluminium as your base over the entire airframe. Then vary panels using C211 (fresh/bright), C213 (warmer), and C212/C214 (weathered/darkened) areas. Buff each section to the desired sheen. Seal with C155 Super Clear before masking or decaling.

Metallics, Clears & Utility Colors

General-purpose colors, clear coats, and metallics that support military builds.

Product #	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Notes
C33	Flat Black		Flat	FS 37038	Anti-glare panels, tires base
C62	Flat White		Flat	FS 37875	—
C137	Tire Black		Flat	—	Warmer than C33, correct for rubber
C20	Light Blue		Semi-Gloss	—	General light blue (≈ RLM 65 shade)
C44	Tan		Semi-Gloss	—	General tan
C8	Silver	—	Metallic	—	General silver metallic
C9	Gold	—	Metallic	—	—
C10	Copper	—	Metallic	—	—
C28	Steel	—	Metallic	—	Engine details, weapon barrels
C61	Burnt Iron	—	Metallic	—	Exhaust stains, heat-affected areas
C90	Shine Silver	—	Metallic	—	Bright silver
C104	Gun Chrome	—	Metallic	—	Gun barrels, chromed parts
C411	Classic Silver	—	Metallic	—	Alternative silver
C412	Brass	—	Metallic	—	Shell casings, fittings
C46	Clear	—	Gloss	—	Basic gloss clear
C47	Clear Red	—	Clear	—	Tint navigation lights
C48	Clear Yellow	—	Clear	—	Tint light lenses
C49	Clear Orange	—	Clear	—	Tint signal lights
C50	Clear Blue	—	Clear	—	Tint canopies, light lenses
C155	Super Clear	—	Gloss	—	Premium gloss coat — decal prep
C181	Semi-Gloss Super Clear	—	Semi-Gloss	—	Satin finish coat
C182	Flat Clear	—	Flat	—	Dead-flat final coat

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WWII US Aircraft Colors — Quick Reference

Mr. Color’s lacquer formula and FS-calibrated 300 series make it an excellent choice for WWII American aircraft. The harder finish handles masking and washes better than acrylics, and the clear coats are best-in-class.

Olive Drab / Neutral Gray — USAAF 1941-1943

For camouflaged P-40 Warhawks, P-47 Thunderbolts, early P-51B Mustangs, B-17F Flying Fortresses, and B-25 Mitchells:

Role	Mr. Color Paint	Notes
Olive Drab (upper)	C304 Olive Drab FS34087	300-series, FS-calibrated. Targets the darker WWII OD standard. Preferred over C12 for accuracy.
Olive Drab (upper, alternate)	C12 Olive Drab (1) or C38 Olive Drab (2)	C12 is semi-gloss, C38 is flat. C38 is slightly different in hue — some modelers prefer it for faded/weathered OD.
Neutral Gray (under)	C13 Neutral Gray	FS 36251. Clean, reliable match.
Interior Green (cockpit)	C27 Interior Green or C351 Zinc Chromate Type1	C27 is semi-gloss (as-manufactured look). C351 is flat (weathered/service look). Both target ANA 611 precisely.
Zinc Chromate Yellow (primer)	C352 Chromate Yellow Primer FS33481	Landing gear bays, wheel wells, visible primer areas.
Anti-glare panel	C33 Flat Black	Dead flat black forward of windscreen.
Insignia Blue	C326 Blue FS15044	Gloss, FS-calibrated. For flat insignia, add C182 Flat Clear.
Insignia White	C316 White FS17875	Gloss.
Insignia Red	C327 Red FS11136	Gloss.

Mr. Color’s advantage here: The lacquer formula means you can mask aggressively over cured OD without lifting — critical for demarcation lines and invasion stripes. Acrylics can pull up under tape; Mr. Color won’t.

USN Tri-Color — Navy 1943-1944

For F6F Hellcats, F4U Corsairs, SBD Dauntless dive bombers, and TBF/TBM Avengers:

Role	Mr. Color Paint	Notes
Sea Blue (upper)	C14 Navy Blue	FS 35042 / ANA 607. No green cast — a clean, accurate navy blue out of the bottle.
Intermediate Blue (sides)	C366 Intermediate Blue FS35164	300-series, flat finish. Preferred over C72 for color accuracy.
Insignia White (under)	C316 White FS17875	ANA 601.
Interior Green (cockpit)	C27 Interior Green	ANA 611.
Light Gull Gray	C315 Light Gull Gray FS16440	Gloss, for early-war USN upper surfaces.

Tri-color masking note: The sharp demarcation between Sea Blue uppers and Intermediate Blue fuselage sides is where Mr. Color’s lacquer durability shines. Spray Sea Blue first, let it cure 24 hours, mask, spray Intermediate Blue. The Sea Blue won’t lift or react. With acrylics, this two-step masking sequence can be nerve-wracking.

Natural Metal Finish — USAAF 1944-1945

For bare-metal P-51D Mustangs, late P-47D Thunderbolts, and B-17G Flying Fortresses:

This is Mr. Color’s signature application. The Metal Color line was purpose-built for this:

Role	Mr. Color Paint	Notes
Gloss black base	Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 Black	Essential first step — smooth, glossy foundation.
Aluminum (base)	C218 Aluminium (Metal Color)	Standard aircraft skin tone. Spray over black, buff to sheen.
Bright panels	C211 Chrome Silver (Metal Color)	Fresh, polished panels — wing leading edges, cowling.
Warm panels	C213 Stainless (Metal Color)	Engine nacelle surrounds, slightly weathered areas.
Exhaust-stained panels	C212 Iron / C214 Dark Iron (Metal Color)	Aft fuselage near exhaust, gun ports.
Anti-glare panel	C33 Flat Black	Flat black on cowling top — mask after NMF curing.
Seal coat	C155 Super Clear	Protect NMF before masking for insignia.

NMF tip: The key to realistic Metal Color finishes is panel-by-panel variation. Don’t spray the entire airframe with one shade. Use C218 as your 80% base, then selectively spray C211, C213, and C212 on individual panels before buffing. Reference photos of real bare-metal aircraft show surprising tonal variation across the skin.

Also available: C377 Aluminized Silver FS17178 — a non-buffable metallic that’s easier to work with but less realistic than the Metal Color line. Good for quick builds where you want NMF without the multi-step process.

Overall Glossy Sea Blue — USN Late War

For late F4U-1D and F4U-4 Corsairs, late F6F-5 Hellcats, and F8F Bearcats:

Role	Mr. Color Paint	Notes
Glossy Sea Blue (overall)	C365 Gloss Sea Blue FS15042	Direct ANA 623 match in correct gloss finish. One bottle, correct color and sheen.
Insignia White (markings)	C316 White FS17875	Mask and spray national insignia.
Interior Green	C27 Interior Green	Standard cockpit color.

C365 is one of the best Glossy Sea Blue representations available in any brand. The gloss lacquer formula produces the correct deep, lustrous finish without needing a separate clear coat — though you can add C155 Super Clear if you want an even glassier surface for decals.

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Tips for Using Mr. Color

Thinning

Mr. Color is a lacquer paint. The correct thinner is:

• Mr. Color Thinner (T-101, T-102, T-103, T-104) — available in 50ml through 400ml sizes. T-104 (400ml) is the best value. This is the safe, consistent choice.
• Mr. Color Leveling Thinner (T-106, T-108) — contains a retarder that helps the paint self-level for an even smoother finish. Highly recommended for large panels and final coats. Many experienced modelers use Leveling Thinner exclusively.
• Generic lacquer thinner — hardware-store lacquer thinner works but is more aggressive and can attack plastic if too heavy. Use with caution and test first.
• NOT Tamiya X-20A, NOT water, NOT isopropyl alcohol. These are not compatible with Mr. Color.

Thinning ratios:

• Airbrushing: Thin 1:1 to 1:1.5 (paint to thinner) for standard coverage. Use Leveling Thinner for the smoothest results. Spray at 15-20 PSI.
• Brush painting: Mr. Color is usable from the bottle but benefits from 10-20% thinner plus Mr. Color Retarder for extended working time.
• Metal Color: Thin sparingly — these are already thin. Add 10-15% thinner maximum. Over-thinning causes poor metallic particle distribution.

Drying and Curing

Mr. Color lacquers dry extremely fast — touch-dry in 5-10 minutes, handleable in 15-20 minutes. Full cure takes 24-48 hours. The fast flash-off means less dust trapping in your finish. Key notes:

• Wait 24 hours before masking over cured Mr. Color — the lacquer solvents need time to fully gas out.
• Mr. Color can be safely masked with Tamiya tape after 24 hours. No lifting.
• Metal Color needs 48 hours before buffing. Rushing this step leaves finger marks in the finish.

Common Issues

Strong fumes: This is non-negotiable — use a respirator (organic vapor cartridge) and spray booth or open window. Mr. Color lacquer solvents are significantly more aggressive than Tamiya’s alcohol-based acrylics or Vallejo’s water-based acrylics. A well-ventilated spray booth is essential, not optional.

Crazing over acrylics: Mr. Color lacquer solvents can attack underlying acrylic paint if it’s not fully cured. Never spray Mr. Color over fresh acrylics. If you want to use Mr. Color over acrylics, wait at least 72 hours for the acrylics to fully cure, and mist a light first coat to avoid solvent attack. Better yet: use Mr. Color throughout, or spray acrylics over Mr. Color (that’s always safe).

Paint too thick/stringy: Mr. Color paints thicken in the bottle over time as solvent evaporates. If the paint has become thick, add thinner to restore it — it’s the same chemistry. Shake well after adding thinner. Old bottles that have partially dried out can be rescued this way.

Finish is too glossy for military subjects: Most Mr. Color military colors dry to a semi-gloss finish, which is shinier than real military paint. Apply a final coat of C182 Flat Clear to kill the gloss, or C181 Semi-Gloss Super Clear for a subtle satin that approximates worn military paint.

Compatibility

Mr. Color lacquers sit at the top of the “strong over weak” layering hierarchy:

• Under Mr. Color: Can be sprayed over bare plastic, primer, or other fully cured paints. Mr. Surfacer 1000/1200/1500 is the ideal primer.
• Over Mr. Color: Virtually anything is safe — acrylics (Vallejo, AK Interactive, Tamiya), enamels, oils, enamel washes. The cured lacquer film is impervious to weaker solvents.
• Clear coats: Mr. Color clear coats (C155, C181, C182) are widely used even by modelers who paint with other brands — the lacquer formula self-levels better than acrylic clears.
• Caution: Don’t spray heavy wet coats of Mr. Color lacquer over acrylics or enamels. Mist coats first.

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This reference covers the complete Mr. Color range included in our database as of early 2026. GSI Creos periodically releases limited-edition and collaboration colors not listed here. For equivalent colors in other brands, see our cross-reference charts or browse the Tamiya, Vallejo, AK Interactive, and Mission Models reference pages.

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