Quote from Ron Rollo on May 10, 2021, 10:07 pm

It looks like our run with Testors Model Masters Gunship Gray has come to a screeching halt.  I am not sure when it happened but it seems they are no longer making several military colors including the "Gunship Gray".  So this puts us in a position to find a new "go to paint"!

Years ago Eric Tomlin discovered that Rust-Oleum Primer Gray was a very close alternative.  As a mater of fact, it might even be closer to the real gray color found in the Lear45 depending on what panels you are comparing them to and how old and sun beaten they are.

Just to be sure the Rust-Oleum Primer Gray is the best option forward, I went out and found several paint prospects that can easily be found at local hardware and department stores.  The two main brands are Krylon and Rust-Oleum.

The only real panel I had to compare to is the ACP panel.  As you can see, several of these prospects were not even close.  As a matter of fact, my findings confirmed that the Rust-Oleum Primer Gray is the paint we need to be using forward.

Colors and lighting in photos can be tricky.  The one above is without a flash bulb.  The one below is using the flash bulb.

This primer is so close that it is nearly perfect.  As a matter of fact, compared to the Testors Gunship Gray, it is at least four times cheaper by volume, will probably never become obsolete, covers and applies great and has absolutely no sheen like a satin paint gives.

The only possible issue is mixing Testors Gunship Gray painted panels with Rust-Oleum Primer Gray painted panels.  And honestly, that is not going to be an issue either.  Take a closer look at the two side by side.

Here is an interesting photo.  This is a Ruscool CDR panel painted with Testors Gunship Gray.  One of the test pieces is painted with the same and the other is the Rust-Oleum Primer Gray.  This photo was taken in full ambient light with no flash.

(For the record, Testors is the left panel and Rust-Oleum is the right)  If they look this close in full light, once they are installed in a dimly lit cockpit, it becomes a non issue, which honestly, it really is not one to begin with.

One last point, if you were thinking, "Why not just paint match the original panels?"  A couple of us have tried that with poor results.  It can be done if you are working with an automotive paint shop, but the application would require a paint gun, compressor, etc... Things that some folks may not have access to.  So to keep things simple and affordable, we recommend the Rust-Oleum Primer Gray which can easily be found just about everywhere.

For you guys in Europe or Australia, let us know if you have access to this paint or what your preferred paint is.