Su-27 1996 RIAT colour codes

[Adrian Parker]

Greetings,
I am in the process of building an Su-27 to that flown by the Ukranian AF during the 1996 RIAT at Fairford (see pic - from e-Bay, seller is aviationbooks - no copyright info stated). The Cutting Edge decal sheet has the 3x camo colours as:-
FS15187
FS15526
FS15450
I have searched every possible conversion chart on the internet but the closest I get to FS15187 is Vallejo 70.841 and for FS15526 is Vallejo 71.334. Then FS15450 closest is Hataka A505. (I have not used either of these paints as my normal line of paints is Mr Hobby / Mr Color).
Has anyone done this scheme? I see Hataka has a set (HTK-AS96 Ukrainian AF paint set vol. 1) but this set appears to be a darker set of colours (possibly the newer block camo versions).

Anyone out there got info to assist with more accurate colours? Greatly appreciated.

 

[Wurger]

I would try these ...

Here the Akan colours mentioned in the list above ..

83031

83033

83035

83036

83046

Also , as the FS *5450 you may use the AMMO MIG 271 FS35450 Air Superiority Blue

A note though. I'm not sure if the FS*5450 should be used. It might be a mistake or typo in the instruction because the mix for the FS *5440 may match better than the FS *5450 colour IMHO. Anyway which colours are you going to use, it depends on you only. Just my two cents.

 

[Adrian Parker]

View attachment 671471 View attachment 671472 View attachment 671473

I would try these ...

View attachment 671431

Here the Akan colours mentioned in the list above ..

83031
View attachment 671426

83033
View attachment 671427

83035
View attachment 671428

83036
View attachment 671429

83046
View attachment 671430

Also , as the FS *5450 you may use the AMMO MIG 271 FS35450 Air Superiority Blue
View attachment 671433

A note though. I'm not sure if the FS*5450 should be used. It might be a mistake or typo in the instruction because the mix for the FS *5440 may match better than the FS *5450 colour IMHO. Anyway which colours are you going to use, it depends on you only. Just my two cents.

Thanks for the valuable info Wurger. It certainly looks like the Cutting Edge sheet has the incorrect FS number, starting with 15 instead of 25. I will do some more delving today together with your references.
Many thanks.

 

[Wurger]

Adrian Parker

No, the FS numbers by the Cutting Edge started with the 15 are correct. And also the ones with the 25. It is just the FS system.

The first digit of the FS number indicates the kind of a paint ...

1 - gloss paint
2 - semi-gloss ( semi-matt ) paint
3 - matt (dull) paint.

The second digit indicates the colour range of the paint. In the case the "5" means the blue range.

0 - Brown
1 - Red
2 - Orange
3 - Yellow
4 - Green
5 - Blue
6 - Grey
7 - Others (white, black, metalic)
8 - Fluorescent

The last three digits are the paint code and are assigned in the approximate order of increasing reflectance, meaning the percent of incident light reflected from a colored area, where zero percent reflectance is black and 100 percent is white.

Most of military planes are painted with matt colours. But the gloss ones happen as well. However these get faded usually and become initially the semi-gloss and then the matt coats. So the semi-matt ( semi-gloss) are seen more often. Therefore the "2" digit starts the FS numbers.

Looking at all pictures of the Su-27 1996 RIAT ( both 48 and 57 ) I would say these paints weren't too shiny. This may suggest that the coats were semi-gloss ( semi-matt) rather.

 

[Adrian Parker]

Adrian Parker

No, the FS numbers by the Cutting Edge started with the 15 are correct. And also the ones with the 25. It is just the FS system.

The first digit of the FS number indicates the kind of a paint ...

1 - gloss paint
2 - semi-gloss ( semi-matt ) paint
3 - matt (dull) paint.

The second digit indicates the colour range of the paint. In the case the "5" means the blue range.

0 - Brown
1 - Red
2 - Orange
3 - Yellow
4 - Green
5 - Blue
6 - Grey
7 - Others (white, black, metalic)
8 - Fluorescent

The last three digits are the paint code and are assigned in the approximate order of increasing reflectance, meaning the percent of incident light reflected from a colored area, where zero percent reflectance is black and 100 percent is white.

Most of military planes are painted with matt colours. But the gloss ones happen as well. However these get faded usually and become initially the semi-gloss and then the matt coats. So the semi-matt ( semi-gloss) are seen more often. Therefore the "2" digit starts the FS numbers.

Looking at all pictures of the Su-27 1996 RIAT ( both 48 and 57 ) I would say these paints weren't too shiny. This may suggest that the coats were semi-gloss ( semi-matt) rather.

Thanks so much Wurger. I didn't know the FS codes worked as you have explained so that's great information. Agree with your thoughts considering the photos of 57 and 48.

 

[Wurger]

My pleasure.

the pic source:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FM6kF7VXEAAtGvF?format=jpg&name=large