Sorry about all the questions today but I'm trying to move some stuff off the bench. I have been working on an old Matchbox 1/32 Bf109E-3, from all the info I could obtain RLM 02 Gray is the correct color for the pit. Having said that, I usually like to use Tamiya paints but I am finding a bit of a discrepancy with the shade of Gray compared to the Hobby Color line. Is Tamiya XF22 RLM 66 or 02?

I'll post a few pics below.





I have both brands of paint. The Hobby Color is clearly marked RLM 02, and I was thinking of just going with it and shelving the XF22 for a later model in the future. Any thoughts on this folks? I am clearly under the impression that the Tamiya gray is the later 66 shade, but I'm no expert on this stuff.

Yep the Hobby Color "RLM02" looks to be the correct colour. The Tamiya XF22 looks to be a bit light for RLM66, that is a very dark grey almost black. Although the XF22 may be intended to be RLM66? The XF22 is definitely the wrong colour for an early Bf109 cockpit.

I use the model master acryl RLM 02, but the advice I've had is to lighten the XF-22 with white (til it looks right I guess).
However I've found the Hobby Color paints spray as well, if not better, than Tamiya, so you should have no trouble with it.

66 is pretty dark and your XF22 picture looks a bit light for it to me, so I'd say that would be a better match for RLM02, if a bit neutral. 66 is closer to XF24, although even that might be a bit light. There was some variation though, as examination of the surviving He 219 shows pre-painted components from different subcontractors to differ in shades even though all should be in 66.

I should qualify the above with the comment that I'm no expert on this and only s recent arrival to wingy subjects.

Go with (Gunze/Mr Hobby) Hobby Color. The tint is right, I also use it. It's the same color used by Luftwaffe for wheel bays, chassis for instance and you can compare on the internet photos of wheel area, the color fits very well and the semi-flat color by Gunze are a joy to work with.
As you're building an early 109, keep in mind that parts such as the dashboard, were painted in a lighter version of RLM 66, so maybe here the XF-22 would come handy as it's quite a light shade

Thanks for all the help guys. I will go with the Hobby Color and perhaps as suggested use the XF22 on the dash.

I also just found this link which verifies my suspicions.
http://www.cybermodeler.com/color/rlm_comp.shtml

Tamiya makes fine paint, they really have not updated their paint line in quite a while. Just about every other paint manufacture has RLM 02 in their lines.

Both shades of RLM 02 are correct. Many companies supplied paint to the Lufftwaffe. That is one of the joys of painting Luftwaffe aircraft. Not many are likely to have the exact same shades and tones of paint.

The only thing that all Luftwaffe aircraft paints had in common was a chemical formula which helped them stick to aluminium without the use of primers.

Best Wishes,

Gaz

Tamiya itself doesnt call for xf-22 where RLM 02 is appropriate but does direct you to mix it 1:1 with xf-49 khaki to get the warmer look of RLM 02.