Tamiya Paint Colors

Tamiya Paint Colors: Complete Reference

Introduction

Tamiya is the reference standard in scale modeling paint — kit instructions from virtually every manufacturer call out Tamiya color numbers first. The range spans four product lines: XF flat acrylics, X gloss acrylics, AS pre-mixed aircraft sprays, and LP lacquers. They’re alcohol-based acrylics (not water-based like Vallejo), priced at ~$3-4 per 10ml bottle.

About Tamiya paints

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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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	Paint	Accuracy	Tips
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)	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 — accurate	Forward of the windscreen
Insignia Blue (markings)	AS-8 (spray only)	Good ANA 605 match	No bottled XF equivalent; for brush work, mix XF-17 + XF-8
Insignia White	XF-2	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	Paint	Accuracy	Tips
Aluminum (base)	AS-12 (spray) or X-11 (airbrush)	Good overall silver	For multi-panel NMF variation, use X-11 + XF-16 in different mixes per panel
Anti-glare panel	XF-1	Accurate flat black	On cowling top
Gun metal (engine)	XF-56 or X-10	XF-56 flat gun metal, X-10 glossier steel	Try XF-84 Dark Iron for exhaust staining
Tire black	XF-85	Warm-toned rubber black — correct	Don’t use XF-1 for tires
Landing gear	X-11	Chrome Silver — good 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	Paint	Accuracy	Tips
Sea Blue (upper)	XF-17 or AS-8 (spray)	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; close enough	—
Insignia White (under)	XF-2 or AS-20 (spray)	Good match	—
Interior Green (cockpit)*	XF-4 + XF-5 (mix)	Standard USN cockpit color	See note below about XF-71

*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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