AK Interactive Paint Colors

AK Interactive Paint Colors: Complete Reference

Introduction

AK Interactive’s 3rd Generation acrylics are water-based paints that spray like lacquers — self-leveling, minimal tip dry, and ready to airbrush with zero thinning. Their Air Series targets specific military standards (FS, ANA, RLM) by name, so every color is purpose-matched rather than a generic approximation. Priced at ~$4-5 per 17ml bottle.

About AK Interactive paints

AK Interactive came into the hobby primarily through weathering products — washes, filters, pigments — and quickly earned a reputation for quality. Their paint line is newer than Tamiya’s or Vallejo’s, but the 3rd Generation acrylics released in 2019 represent a genuine leap forward in acrylic paint technology. These are water-based acrylics that spray like lacquers: self-leveling, fast-drying, minimal tip dry, and ready to airbrush with zero thinning.

The Air Series is their line specifically formulated for military aircraft modelers. Rather than offering a sprawling general-purpose catalog, AK focused the Air Series on curated sets organized by nation and theater — a WWII USAAF set, a USN set, a Luftwaffe RLM set, an RAF set, a Pacific Theater Japanese set, and several modern military sets. Each color targets a specific military standard (Federal Standard, ANA, RLM, or BS number), and the product names tell you exactly what you’re getting: “Olive Drab ANA613” rather than a generic “Olive Drab.”

For WWII American aircraft work, the Air Series covers all the essential colors: Olive Drab, Neutral Gray, the full USN tri-color scheme, Glossy Sea Blue, Interior Green, and all three insignia colors. It’s a focused range — 76 colors total across all nations — but that focus is a strength. Every color exists because a military modeler needs it, not because it fills a marketing gap.

AK 3rd Gen acrylics are priced at ~$4-5 per 17ml bottle, available from most online hobby retailers and an increasing number of brick-and-mortar shops. They’re less ubiquitous than Tamiya but growing fast.

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WWII US Aircraft Colors — Quick Reference

Here’s how AK Interactive’s Air Series maps to the most common WWII American aircraft builds. The strength of this range is that every color targets a specific FS/ANA number — no guessing.

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	Paint	Accuracy	Tips
Olive Drab (upper)	AK11858 Olive Drab ANA613	Targets FS 34088 / ANA 613 directly — excellent match	One of the best OD representations in acrylic
Dark OD 41 (upper, alternate)	AK11860 Dark Olive Drab 41	Targets darker FS 34087 variant	Use for early-war aircraft or weathered upper surfaces
Neutral Gray (under)	AK11862 Neutral Grey 43	Targets FS 36251 / ANA 603 — clean match	—
Interior Green (cockpit)	AK11870 US Interior Green FS34151	Targets ANA 611 directly — no mixing required	Significant advantage over Tamiya, which requires a mix
Zinc Chromate Yellow (primer)	AK11859 Interior Yellow Green	FS 33481 — good match	For visible primer areas, landing gear bays, wheel wells on early aircraft
Anti-glare panel	AK11002 (flat black)	Standard flat black	Forward of windscreen
Insignia Blue	AK11863 Insignia Blue FS35044	Direct ANA 605 match	—
Insignia White	AK11864 Insignia White FS17875	Direct ANA 601 match	—
Insignia Red	AK11865 Insignia Red FS31136	Direct ANA 619 match	—

AK’s advantage here: Every color is purpose-matched to a specific military standard. You don’t need to eyeball it, mix, or adjust. AK11858 is ANA 613 Olive Drab — period. Compare to Tamiya XF-62, which leans slightly green of the true standard.

USN Tri-Color — Navy 1943-1944

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

Role	Paint	Accuracy	Tips
Sea Blue (upper)	AK11868 Non-Specular Sea Blue FS35042	Targets ANA 607 precisely — no greenish cast	Solves the common complaint about Tamiya XF-17’s green tint
Intermediate Blue (sides)	AK11867 Intermediate Blue FS35164	ANA 608 match — slightly greyed blue, exactly right	—
Insignia White (under)	AK11864 Insignia White FS17875	ANA 601 — same paint used for USAAF insignia	—
Interior Green (cockpit)*	AK11870 US Interior Green FS34151	Standard USN cockpit color	—

*Note: Grumman cockpits (F6F, TBF) trend more towards grey — use AK11862 Neutral Grey as a base with a hint of green, or check Grumman-specific references. Vought F4U Corsair interiors used a salmon/red-brown primer that differs from standard Interior Green.

Natural Metal Finish — USAAF 1944-1945

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

The Air Series does not include metallic colors. For NMF work, you’ll need to look outside the Air Series:

Role	Paint	Accuracy	Tips
Aluminum (base)	AK Xtreme Metal AK477 Aluminium	AK’s dedicated metal line — lacquer-based, polishable	—
Panel variation	AK Xtreme Metal AK478 / AK481	Pale Burnt Metal and Burned Metal tones	Mix with Aluminium for tonal variation across panels
Anti-glare panel	Any AK 3rd Gen flat black	Standard flat black	On cowling top

NMF tip: For competition-level bare-metal finishes, consider Mr. Color Super Metallic, Alclad II lacquers, or Vallejo Metal Color 77.701. AK’s Xtreme Metal line is capable but requires more surface preparation than the lacquer metallics.

Overall Glossy Sea Blue — USN Late War

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

Role	Paint	Accuracy	Tips
Glossy Sea Blue (overall)	AK11869 Glossy Sea Blue FS15042	Direct ANA 623 match in gloss finish — correct hue and sheen	No need to gloss-coat a flat blue; one bottle, done
Insignia White (markings)	AK11864 Insignia White	ANA 601	Spray through masks for national insignia
Interior Green	AK11870 US Interior Green	ANA 611	Standard cockpit color

This is a standout color. AK11869 gives you the correct hue and the correct gloss level in one bottle. With Tamiya, you’d need to mix and gloss-coat. With Vallejo 71.300, you get the right color but in a satin finish that still needs a gloss coat. AK nails both in one step.

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Tips for Using AK Interactive 3rd Gen Paints

Thinning

AK 3rd Generation acrylics are designed to be sprayed straight from the bottle. That said:

• Airbrushing: No thinning needed at 15-20 PSI. For fine detail work or mottling, add AK Thinner (AK11500) at roughly 10-20% to drop the viscosity slightly.
• Brush painting: Add a small amount of AK Thinner to improve flow. The 3rd Gen formula is airbush-optimized, so it can feel slightly thin for brush work — use light coats and let each dry before the next.
• Compatible thinners: AK’s own thinner is recommended, but distilled water works in a pinch. Some modelers also use Vallejo Airbrush Thinner or isopropyl alcohol (70%) with good results.

Drying and Handling

These paints dry fast — touch-dry in under 10 minutes, handleable in 20-30 minutes, fully cured in 24 hours. Tip dry is minimal compared to Vallejo Model Air, but still happens if you leave paint sitting in the cup for extended breaks. The same common-sense rules apply:

• Wipe the needle tip with a damp cloth between color changes.
• Don’t leave mixed paint sitting in the airbrush cup for more than 10 minutes during breaks.
• Allow 24 hours before masking over 3rd Gen paint. Earlier masking risks lifting.

Common Issues

Coverage on first coat: AK 3rd Gen paints are formulated for thin, layered application. The first coat will look translucent — this is by design. Two to three thin coats build to full opacity with a smoother finish than one heavy coat. If you’re used to Tamiya’s one-coat coverage, trust the process.

Bottle separation: The paint settles in the bottle. Shake thoroughly before use — at least 30 seconds, ideally with a mixing ball dropped in. If the bottle has been sitting for months, shake for a full minute.

Adhesion over bare plastic: AK 3rd Gen acrylics benefit from a primer coat. They’ll stick to bare plastic, but a coat of AK Fine Primer, Mr. Surfacer, or Vallejo Surface Primer gives noticeably better durability, especially on handling surfaces like wings and fuselages.

Finish inconsistency: If some panels look shinier than others, it’s usually from inconsistent spray distance or coat thickness. The satin finish of most Air Series colors is forgiving, but a final unified clear coat (AK Ultra Matte Varnish or AK Semi-Gloss Varnish) evens everything out before weathering.

Compatibility

AK 3rd Gen acrylics are compatible with most other modeling products:

• Over 3rd Gen: Enamel washes (AK’s own, Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color), oil paints for dot filtering, lacquer clear coats. All work fine over cured 3rd Gen paint.
• Under 3rd Gen: Sprays well over lacquer primers, other cured acrylics, and its own primer line.
• Mixing: 3rd Gen paints mix with each other and with other water-based acrylics (Vallejo, Ammo by Mig). Don’t mix with Tamiya — the alcohol base doesn’t play well with water-based formulas.
• Stripping: If you need to start over, 3rd Gen paint strips easily with isopropyl alcohol (91%+) without damaging plastic. Soak the part for 30 minutes and scrub with an old toothbrush.

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This reference covers the complete AK Interactive Air Series 3rd Generation range as of early 2026. AK periodically expands the Air Series with new theater-specific sets. For equivalent colors in other brands, see our cross-reference charts or browse the Tamiya, Vallejo, Mr. Color, and Mission Models reference pages.

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