Tamiya Paint Colors: Complete Reference

Introduction

Tamiya is the reference standard in scale modeling paint. When you open a kit from any manufacturer — Tamiya, Hasegawa, Eduard, Airfix, Academy — the painting instructions almost always call out Tamiya color numbers first. That’s not an accident. Tamiya has been making model paints since the 1970s, and their numbering system has become the common language modelers use to talk about color.

The company offers four distinct product lines, each with a different formulation and purpose: XF flat acrylics and X gloss acrylics for bottled use, AS pre-mixed aircraft spray cans, and LP lacquers. For WWII aircraft work, you’ll spend most of your time in the XF range (camouflage colors, cockpit interiors, detail painting) and the AS range (pre-mixed military aircraft colors in spray cans). The X range provides gloss colors for markings, metallics, and clear coats. The LP lacquers mirror many XF/X colors in a lacquer formulation for modelers who prefer that chemistry.

Tamiya acrylics are alcohol-based — not water-based like Vallejo or AK. They thin with Tamiya X-20A thinner or isopropyl alcohol, spray beautifully through an airbrush, and dry fast. They’re available at virtually every hobby shop and online retailer, priced at ~$3-4 per 10ml bottle (XF/X) and ~$6-8 per spray can (AS).

One important note: Tamiya’s military color matches are generally “close” rather than exact. Their XF-62 Olive Drab, for example, leans slightly greener than true ANA 613. For the most accurate WWII US military colors, you’ll sometimes want to check our cross-reference charts for alternatives from brands like Vallejo, AK Interactive, or Mr. Color that target specific Federal Standard numbers more precisely.

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Product Lines Explained

XF Series — Flat Acrylics

The workhorse line for military modelers. “XF” stands for “extra flat” — these paints dry to a dead-matte finish ideal for camouflage colors, cockpit interiors, and any surface that shouldn’t shine. The range includes all major WWII military colors across multiple nations. Thin with X-20A or isopropyl alcohol for airbrushing; brush-paintable straight from the bottle (though a drop of retarder helps). ~$3-4 per 10ml jar.

X Series — Gloss Acrylics

Gloss and specialty colors. Use X-series for markings that need shine (gloss red, gloss blue), metallic finishes (X-11 Chrome Silver for natural metal work, X-10 Gun Metal for engines), and clear coats (X-22 Clear, X-21 Flat Base to kill gloss). Same alcohol-based formula as XF. Several clear tints (X-23 through X-27) are useful for tinting canopies and light lenses. ~$3-4 per 10ml jar.

AS Series — Aircraft Spray Cans

Pre-mixed spray cans formulated for specific military aircraft colors. These are lacquer-based (not acrylic like XF/X), deliver smooth, even coats, and are ideal for large surfaces like wings and fuselages. Each can is mixed to match a specific military color — AS-6 is USAAF Olive Drab, AS-8 is USN Sea Blue, AS-12 is Bare Metal Silver. No airbrush required, but you can’t adjust the color once it’s in the can. ~$6-8 per 100ml can. Requires ventilation.

LP Series — Lacquer Paints

Bottled lacquer equivalents of many XF/X colors, plus additional colors unique to the LP range. Lacquers offer harder, more durable finishes with better adhesion to plastic — no primer needed in most cases. They spray exceptionally well through an airbrush. The tradeoff: strong solvent fumes that require a respirator and proper ventilation. Thin with Tamiya Lacquer Thinner (LP-10). ~$3-4 per 10ml jar.

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XF Series — Flat Acrylic Colors

The complete XF range, organized numerically. Military references and cross-reference hints included where applicable.

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Cross-Reference
XF-1	Flat Black		Flat	FS 37038	≈ Vallejo 70.950
XF-2	Flat White		Flat	FS 37875	≈ Vallejo 70.951
XF-3	Flat Yellow		Flat	—	≈ Vallejo 70.953
XF-4	Yellow Green		Flat	FS 34259 (Interior Green)	≈ Vallejo 71.137 (mix)
XF-5	Flat Green		Flat	FS 34230	≈ Vallejo 70.967
XF-6	Copper		Metallic	—	—
XF-7	Flat Red		Flat	FS 31136 (Insignia Red)	≈ Vallejo 70.957
XF-8	Flat Blue		Flat	FS 15183	≈ Vallejo 70.930
XF-9	Hull Red		Flat	FS 30075	—
XF-10	Flat Brown		Flat	FS 30045 / RAL 8017	≈ Vallejo 70.872
XF-11	J.N. Green		Flat	FS 34077 (IJN Green)	—
XF-12	J.N. Grey		Flat	FS 36496 (IJN Grey)	—
XF-13	J.A. Green		Flat	FS 14052 (IJA Green)	—
XF-14	J.A. Grey		Flat	FS 34417 (IJA Grey)	—
XF-15	Flat Flesh		Flat	FS 32648	—
XF-16	Flat Aluminium		Metallic	FS 17178	≈ Vallejo 70.997
XF-17	Sea Blue		Flat	FS 34058 (USN Sea Blue)	≈ Vallejo 71.295
XF-18	Medium Blue		Flat	FS 35177	≈ Vallejo 71.299
XF-19	Sky Grey		Flat	FS 36473	—
XF-20	Medium Grey		Flat	FS 34424	—
XF-21	Sky		Flat	FS 34554 (RAF Sky)	—
XF-22	RLM Grey		Flat	FS 36165 / RLM 02	—
XF-23	Light Blue		Flat	FS 35414	—
XF-24	Dark Grey		Flat	FS 36118 (Gunship Gray)	—
XF-25	Light Sea Grey		Flat	FS 36314	—
XF-26	Deep Green		Flat	FS 34128	—
XF-27	Black Green		Flat	FS 34079	—
XF-28	Dark Copper		Metallic	—	—
XF-49	Khaki		Flat	—	—
XF-50	Field Blue		Flat	RLM 65 (Luftwaffe)	—
XF-51	Khaki Drab		Flat	—	—
XF-52	Flat Earth		Flat	FS 30118 / FS 30219	≈ Vallejo 70.921
XF-53	Neutral Grey		Flat	FS 36173 (AMC Gray)	≈ Vallejo 70.992
XF-54	Dark Sea Grey		Flat	FS 36231 (Dark Gull Gray)	—
XF-55	Deck Tan		Flat	FS 36521	≈ Vallejo 70.986
XF-56	Metallic Grey		Metallic	—	≈ Vallejo 70.863
XF-57	Buff		Flat	FS 33531	—
XF-58	Olive Green		Flat	FS 34097	≈ Vallejo 71.092
XF-59	Desert Yellow		Flat	FS 30257	—
XF-60	Dark Yellow		Flat	FS 30266	—
XF-61	Dark Green		Flat	FS 34096	—
XF-62	Olive Drab		Flat	FS 34086 (WWII OD)	≈ Vallejo 70.887
XF-63	German Grey		Flat	FS 36076 / RAL 7021	≈ Vallejo 70.995
XF-64	Red Brown		Flat	FS 30108 / RAL 8012	≈ Vallejo 70.984
XF-65	Field Grey		Flat	FS 34159 / RAL 7009	—
XF-66	Light Grey		Flat	FS 36329	—
XF-67	NATO Green		Flat	FS 34094	—
XF-68	NATO Brown		Flat	FS 30117	—
XF-69	NATO Black		Flat	FS 37038	≈ Vallejo 70.862
XF-70	Dark Green 2		Flat	FS 34058	—
XF-71	Cockpit Green (IJN)		Flat	Nakajima Interior Green	—
XF-72	Brown (JGSDF)		Flat	JGSDF Brown	—
XF-73	Dark Green (JGSDF)		Flat	JGSDF Dark Green	—
XF-74	Olive Drab (JGSDF)		Flat	JGSDF Olive Drab	—
XF-75	IJN Gray (Kure Arsenal)		Flat	IJN Kure Arsenal Gray	—
XF-76	Gray Green (IJN)		Flat	IJN Gray Green	—
XF-77	IJN Gray (Sasebo Arsenal)		Flat	IJN Sasebo Arsenal Gray	—
XF-78	Wooden Deck Tan		Flat	IJN Deck Color	—
XF-79	Linoleum Deck Brown		Flat	IJN Linoleum Brown	—
XF-80	Royal Light Gray		Flat	RAF Light Aircraft Grey	—
XF-81	Dark Green 2 (RAF)		Flat	FS 34079 / RAF Dark Green	—
XF-82	Ocean Gray 2 (RAF)		Flat	RAF Ocean Grey	—
XF-83	Med Sea Gray 2 (RAF)		Flat	RAF Medium Sea Grey	—
XF-84	Dark Iron		Metallic	—	—
XF-85	Rubber Black		Flat	—	≈ Vallejo 70.306
XF-86	Flat Clear	—	Flat	—	—
XF-87	IJN Gray (Maizuru Arsenal)		Flat	IJN Maizuru Arsenal Gray	—
XF-88	Dark Yellow 2		Flat	German Dunkelgelb	—
XF-89	Dark Green 2		Flat	German Dark Green RAL 6003	—
XF-90	Red Brown 2		Flat	German Red Brown RAL 8017	—
XF-91	IJN Gray (Yokosuka Arsenal)		Flat	IJN Yokosuka Arsenal Gray	—
XF-92	Yellow-Brown (DAK 1941)		Flat	DAK 1941 Yellow-Brown	—
XF-93	Light Brown (DAK 1942)		Flat	DAK 1942 Light Brown	—
XF-94	Wood Brown		Flat	—	—

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X Series — Gloss Acrylic Colors

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Notes
X-1	Black		Gloss	—	Gloss black base coat
X-2	White		Gloss	—	Gloss white base coat
X-3	Royal Blue		Gloss	FS 15050	Mix with XF-17 for Glossy Sea Blue
X-4	Blue		Gloss	FS 15056	—
X-5	Green		Gloss	FS 14062	—
X-6	Orange		Gloss	—	—
X-7	Red		Gloss	—	Formation lights, markings
X-8	Lemon Yellow		Gloss	—	ID bands, wing edges
X-9	Brown		Gloss	—	—
X-10	Gun Metal		Metallic	—	Engine details, weapon barrels
X-11	Chrome Silver		Metallic	—	NMF work, landing gear, prop hubs
X-12	Gold Leaf		Metallic	—	—
X-13	Metallic Blue		Metallic	—	—
X-14	Sky Blue		Gloss	FS 15200	—
X-15	Light Green		Gloss	—	—
X-16	Purple		Gloss	FS 17100	—
X-17	Pink		Gloss	FS 11630	—
X-18	Semi Gloss Black		Semi-Gloss	—	Instrument panels, tires
X-19	Smoke	—	Clear	—	Tinting, exhaust stains
X-20	Thinner	—	—	—	Tamiya acrylic thinner — essential
X-21	Flat Base	—	Flat	—	Mix into gloss paints to flatten
X-22	Clear	—	Gloss	—	Gloss coat for decals/washes
X-23	Clear Blue	—	Clear	—	Tint canopies, light lenses
X-24	Clear Yellow	—	Clear	—	Tint light lenses
X-25	Clear Green	—	Clear	—	Tint navigation lights
X-26	Clear Orange	—	Clear	—	Tint signal lights
X-27	Clear Red	—	Clear	—	Tint navigation lights, flares
X-28	Park Green		Gloss	—	—
X-31	Titanium Gold		Metallic	—	—
X-32	Titanium Silver		Metallic	—	Subtle silver for NMF variation
X-33	Bronze		Metallic	—	—
X-34	Metallic Brown		Metallic	—	Weathered metal effects

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AS Series — Aircraft Spray Colors

Pre-mixed lacquer sprays organized by nation and use. These are the colors Tamiya specifically formulated for military aircraft — each can is mixed to approximate a historical color standard.

United States — USAAF

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	WWII Use
AS-6	Olive Drab (USAAF)		Flat	FS 34088 / ANA 613	Upper surfaces, all USAAF camouflaged aircraft 1941-1943
AS-7	Neutral Gray (USAAF)		Flat	FS 36173 / ANA 603	Under surfaces, all USAAF camouflaged aircraft 1941-1943
AS-12	Bare Metal Silver		Metallic	Natural Metal Finish	Unpainted USAAF aircraft January 1944 onward

United States — USN / USMC

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	WWII Use
AS-8	Navy Blue (US Navy)		Flat	FS 15042 / ANA 607	USN Sea Blue upper surfaces (tri-color), overall late-war
AS-19	Intermediate Blue (US Navy)		Flat	FS 35044 / ANA 608	USN tri-color fuselage sides
AS-20	Insignia White (US Navy)		Flat	FS 37875 / ANA 601	USN tri-color under surfaces, insignia

United Kingdom — RAF

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Use
AS-9	Dark Green (RAF)		Flat	RAF Dark Green	Upper surfaces
AS-10	Ocean Grey (RAF)		Flat	RAF Ocean Grey	Upper surfaces (late-war)
AS-11	Medium Sea Grey (RAF)		Flat	RAF Medium Sea Grey	Under surfaces
AS-22	Dark Earth (RAF)		Flat	RAF Dark Earth	Upper surfaces (temperate scheme)
AS-30	Dark Green 2 (RAF)		Flat	RAF Dark Green (Late)	Updated formula
AS-31	Ocean Gray 2 (RAF)		Flat	RAF Ocean Grey 2	Updated formula
AS-32	Medium Sea Gray 2 (RAF)		Flat	RAF Medium Sea Grey 2	Updated formula

Germany — Luftwaffe

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Use
AS-3	Gray Green		Flat	RLM 02 Gray Green	Interior/primer color
AS-4	Gray Violet		Flat	RLM 75 Gray Violet	Upper surfaces (late-war)
AS-5	Light Blue		Flat	RLM 65 Light Blue	Under surfaces
AS-23	Light Green		Flat	RLM 82 Light Green	Upper surfaces (late-war)
AS-24	Dark Green		Flat	RLM 83 Dark Green	Upper surfaces (late-war)

Japan — IJN / IJA

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Use
AS-1	Dark Green (IJN)		Flat	IJN Dark Green	Zero, Kate, Val upper surfaces
AS-2	Light Gray (IJN)		Semi-Gloss	IJN Light Gray	IJN under surfaces (early war)
AS-17	Dark Green (IJA)		Flat	IJA Dark Green	Hayabusa, Hien upper surfaces
AS-18	Light Gray (IJA)		Flat	IJA Light Gray	IJA under surfaces
AS-21	Dark Green 2 (IJN)		Flat	IJN Dark Green (Late War)	Late-war IJN aircraft
AS-29	Gray Green (IJN)		Flat	IJN Gray Green	IJN naval aircraft

Modern Military

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Use
AS-13	Green (USAF Vietnam)		Flat	FS 34079 / USAF SEA Green	Vietnam-era SEA camouflage
AS-14	Olive Green (USAF Vietnam)		Flat	FS 34102 / USAF SEA Medium Green	Vietnam-era SEA camouflage
AS-15	Tan (USAF Vietnam)		Flat	FS 30219 / USAF SEA Tan	Vietnam-era SEA camouflage
AS-16	Light Gray (USAF Vietnam)		Flat	FS 36622 / USAF SEA Gray	Vietnam-era SEA undersurfaces
AS-25	Dark Ghost Gray		Flat	FS 36320	Modern USAF/USN (F-14, F-15, F-16)
AS-26	Light Ghost Gray		Flat	FS 36375	Modern USAF/USN
AS-27	Gunship Gray 2		Flat	FS 36118	Gunship gray
AS-28	Medium Gray		Flat	FS 36270	Modern military gray

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LP Series — Lacquer Paints

The LP range provides lacquer-formulation equivalents of many XF/X colors, plus unique additions. Lacquers spray smoother, dry harder, and adhere better than acrylics — but require ventilation and a respirator. Below are the military-relevant and commonly-used LP colors; automotive/racing metallics and pearl finishes omitted for brevity.

Military Colors

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Acrylic Equivalent
LP-3	Flat Black		Flat	FS 37038	= XF-1
LP-4	Flat White		Flat	FS 37875	= XF-2
LP-12	IJN Gray (Kure Arsenal)		Flat	IJN Kure Arsenal Gray	= XF-75
LP-13	IJN Gray (Sasebo Arsenal)		Flat	IJN Sasebo Arsenal Gray	= XF-77
LP-14	IJN Gray (Maizuru Arsenal)		Flat	IJN Maizuru Arsenal Gray	= XF-87
LP-15	IJN Gray (Yokosuka Arsenal)		Flat	IJN Yokosuka Arsenal Gray	= XF-91
LP-16	Wooden Deck Tan		Gloss	IJN Deck Color	= XF-78
LP-17	Linoleum Deck Brown		Gloss	IJN Linoleum Brown	= XF-79
LP-25	Brown (JGSDF)		Flat	JGSDF Brown	= XF-72
LP-26	Dark Green (JGSDF)		Flat	JGSDF Dark Green	= XF-73
LP-27	German Gray		Flat	FS 36076 / RAL 7021	= XF-63
LP-28	Olive Drab		Flat	FS 34088 (WWII OD)	≈ XF-62
LP-29	Olive Drab 2		Flat	FS 34097	≈ XF-58
LP-30	Light Sand		Flat	—	≈ XF-57
LP-31	Dark Green 2 (IJN)		Semi-Gloss	IJN Dark Green	—
LP-32	Light Gray (IJN)		Semi-Gloss	IJN Light Gray	—
LP-33	Grey Green (IJN)		Semi-Gloss	IJN Gray Green	—
LP-34	Light Gray		Flat	FS 36329	= XF-66
LP-35	Insignia White		Flat	FS 37875 (USN Insignia White)	= XF-2
LP-36	Dark Ghost Gray		Flat	FS 36320	—
LP-37	Light Ghost Gray		Flat	FS 36375	—
LP-55	Dark Yellow 2		Flat	German Dunkelgelb	= XF-88
LP-56	Dark Green 2		Flat	German Dark Green RAL 6003	= XF-89
LP-57	Red Brown 2		Flat	German Red Brown RAL 8017	= XF-90
LP-58	NATO Green		Flat	FS 34094	= XF-67
LP-59	NATO Brown		Flat	FS 30117	= XF-68
LP-60	NATO Black		Flat	FS 37038	= XF-69
LP-64	Olive Drab (JGSDF)		Flat	JGSDF Olive Drab	= XF-74
LP-73	Khaki		Flat	—	= XF-49
LP-74	Flat Earth		Flat	FS 30118 / FS 30219	= XF-52
LP-75	Buff		Flat	FS 33531	= XF-57
LP-84	Camouflage Grey		Flat	—	—
LP-85	Medium Air Grey		Flat	—	—

Metallic and Clear Coats

#	Color Name	Finish	Notes
LP-1	Black	Gloss	Gloss black base coat
LP-2	White	Gloss	Gloss white base coat
LP-5	Semi Gloss Black	Semi-Gloss	—
LP-9	Clear	Gloss	Gloss clear coat
LP-10	Lacquer Thinner	—	LP series thinner — essential
LP-11	Silver	Metallic	General silver metallic
LP-19	Gun Metal	Metallic	Engine details
LP-20	Light Gun Metal	Metallic	Lighter metallic steel
LP-22	Flat Base	Flat	Mix to flatten gloss lacquers
LP-23	Flat Clear	Flat	Matte clear coat
LP-24	Semi Gloss Clear	Semi-Gloss	Satin/semi-gloss clear coat
LP-38	Flat Aluminum	Metallic	NMF base coat
LP-54	Dark Iron	Metallic	Exhaust, weathered metal
LP-65	Rubber Black	Flat	Tires and rubber
LP-70	Gloss Aluminium	Metallic	Polished NMF panels

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WWII US Aircraft Colors — Quick Reference

Here’s where Tamiya’s range maps to the most common WWII American aircraft builds. Each recommendation includes what to look for and where Tamiya falls short.

Olive Drab / Neutral Gray — USAAF 1941-1943

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

Role	Tamiya Paint	Notes
Olive Drab (upper)	XF-62 or AS-6 (spray)	XF-62 leans slightly green. AS-6 is closer to true ANA 613. For the most accurate OD, see Vallejo 70.887 or AK11863.
Neutral Gray (under)	XF-53 or AS-7 (spray)	XF-53 is slightly lighter than ANA 603. Adequate for most builds.
Interior Green (cockpit)	XF-4 + XF-5 (mix)	No single Tamiya color matches ANA 611. Mix approximately 3:1 XF-4 to XF-5. Or use Vallejo 71.137 straight from the bottle.
Anti-glare panel	XF-1	Dead flat black forward of the windscreen.
Insignia Blue (markings)	AS-8 (spray only)	No bottled XF equivalent. For brush work, mix XF-17 + XF-8.
Insignia White	XF-2	Close — slightly cooler than true ANA 601.
Insignia Red	XF-7	Slightly more orange than true ANA 619.

Natural Metal Finish — USAAF 1944-1945

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

Role	Tamiya Paint	Notes
Aluminum (base)	AS-12 (spray) or X-11 (airbrush)	AS-12 gives a good overall silver. For multi-panel NMF variation, use X-11 + XF-16 in different mixes per panel.
Anti-glare panel	XF-1	Flat black on cowling top.
Gun metal (engine)	XF-56 or X-10	XF-56 for flat gun metal, X-10 for glossier steel. Also try XF-84 Dark Iron for exhaust staining.
Tire black	XF-85	Warm-toned rubber black — don’t use XF-1 for tires.
Landing gear	X-11	Chrome Silver for oleo struts and wheel hubs.

NMF tip: Tamiya metallics are decent but not best-in-class for serious NMF work. For competition-level bare-metal finishes, consider Mr. Color Super Metallic SM01-SM08, Alclad II lacquers, or Vallejo Metal Color 77.701.

USN Tri-Color — Navy 1943-1944

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

Role	Tamiya Paint	Notes
Sea Blue (upper)	XF-17 or AS-8 (spray)	The notorious one. XF-17 has a greenish tint that bugs many modelers. Add a drop of XF-8 to correct it, or use Vallejo 71.295 instead.
Intermediate Blue (sides)	XF-18 or AS-19 (spray)	Slightly more saturated than ANA 608, but close enough for most builds.
Insignia White (under)	XF-2 or AS-20 (spray)	Works well.
Interior Green (cockpit)*	XF-4 + XF-5 (mix)	Standard USN cockpit color.

*Important exception: Do NOT use XF-71 Cockpit Green for US cockpits. XF-71 is IJN Nakajima interior green — a completely different, much bluer shade. This is one of the most common paint mistakes in the hobby. Tamiya themselves label it “Cockpit Green” without specifying that it’s Japanese, and modelers grab it thinking it’s universal. It isn’t. For Grumman aircraft (F6F, TBF), cockpits should be grey — use XF-20 Medium Grey. For Vought F4U Corsair interiors, a salmon/red-brown primer was used.

Overall Glossy Sea Blue — USN Late War

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

Tamiya has no direct match for Glossy Sea Blue (ANA 623 / FS 15042). Your best approach: spray XF-17 as a base, then apply a semi-gloss or gloss clear coat (X-22 thinned, or LP-24 Semi Gloss Clear) to bring up the sheen. Alternatively, mix X-3 Royal Blue + XF-17 for a closer hue. For a purpose-made match, see Vallejo 71.300 Glossy Sea Blue.

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Tips for Using Tamiya Paints

Thinning

Tamiya acrylics are alcohol-based. The correct thinners are:

• Tamiya X-20A Acrylic Thinner — the official option. Reliable, consistent.
• Isopropyl alcohol (91% or higher) — cheaper in bulk. Works identically. Some modelers prefer 99% IPA for faster evaporation.
• NOT water. Water causes Tamiya acrylics to separate and perform poorly. A tiny amount won’t ruin them, but don’t thin with water as your primary method.

Thinning ratios:

• Brush painting: Use straight from the bottle, or add 5-10% thinner plus a drop of Tamiya Retarder (sold separately) to extend working time and reduce brush marks.
• Airbrushing: Thin approximately 1:1 (paint to thinner) for standard coverage. For fine lines and mottling, go thinner — up to 1:2. Spray at 12-18 PSI.
• The milk test: Properly thinned Tamiya paint should flow like skim milk. If it sits in the airbrush cup without flowing toward the nozzle when you tilt it, it’s too thick.

Drying and Curing

Tamiya acrylics dry to the touch in 10-15 minutes at room temperature. They’re handleable within 30 minutes and fully cured in 24 hours. This fast drying is great for productivity but causes “tip dry” when airbrushing — paint dries on the needle tip, causing spattering. Solutions:

• Add a drop of Tamiya Retarder to slow drying.
• Keep a cotton swab dampened with thinner nearby to wipe the needle tip between passes.
• Don’t let paint sit unused in the airbrush cup for more than a few minutes.

Common Issues

Chalky finish: You over-thinned the paint, or your spray distance was too far. The paint dried before reaching the surface, creating a rough, powdery texture. Fix: spray closer (4-6 inches) and use less thinner.

Orange peel: Too much paint, too close. The surface looks bumpy and textured. Fix: spray lighter coats from slightly farther away.

Poor adhesion / peeling: Tamiya acrylics need a clean surface. Wash parts in warm soapy water before priming. Using a primer (Tamiya Fine Surface Primer, Mr. Surfacer, or Vallejo Surface Primer) dramatically improves adhesion.

XF-17 color shift: The greenish tint in Tamiya Sea Blue is well-documented. For accurate USN work, either correct it with a drop of XF-8 Flat Blue, or switch to Vallejo 71.295 USN Sea Blue which nails the color out of the bottle.

Compatibility

Tamiya acrylics play well with most other products:

• Over Tamiya acrylics: Mr. Color lacquer clear coats, Vallejo acrylics, enamel washes (Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color, AK washes). All compatible.
• Under Tamiya acrylics: Tamiya sprays well over lacquer primers (Mr. Surfacer, Tamiya Fine Surface Primer) and over other cured acrylics.
• Caution: Don’t spray Tamiya over uncured enamels — the alcohol solvent can reactivate the enamel underneath. Wait 48+ hours for enamels to fully cure before overcoating with Tamiya.

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This reference covers every current Tamiya paint available as of early 2026. Colors are occasionally added or discontinued — check Tamiya’s catalog for the latest. For equivalent colors in other brands, see our cross-reference charts or browse the Vallejo, AK Interactive, Mr. Color, and Mission Models reference pages.

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