Tamiya Enamel Paint Guide for Scale Modellers — Brush Painting and Panel Line Washes

Wheels & Wings Hobbies · Paint Reference

Tamiya Enamel Paint Guide for Scale Modellers

XF & X Enamel Series · Brush Painting, Washes & Weathering · By Vehicle, Theatre & Time Frame

Tamiya enamels — the most versatile formula in the range

All Tamiya enamels listed in this guide are stocked at Wheels & Wings Hobbies — browse the full Tamiya range here. Every SKU links directly to the product page. We ship across Canada.

Tamiya enamels serve two distinct roles in scale modelling — and this guide covers both. First, as a primary brush-painting medium: enamels are the most forgiving Tamiya formula for direct hand painting, with a slow-drying, self-levelling consistency that reduces brush marks and allows blending. Second, as a weathering and panel line wash applied over a cured acrylic or lacquer base coat: thinned enamel flows into recesses and panel lines naturally, and excess is removed cleanly from flat surfaces using X-20 enamel thinner without disturbing the underlying colour.

Each section in this guide notes which technique applies. Technique callouts appear in italics within each subject description.

Enamel thinner compatibility: Tamiya X-20A enamel thinner (available in 10ml, 40ml, and 250ml) is required for thinning, cleaning, and wash removal. Enamels are not compatible with water or acrylic thinners. For panel line washes, thin approximately 5:1 thinner to paint. Ensure adequate ventilation when using enamel thinner.

For the same subject-organised guide using X/XF Acrylics, see the Tamiya XF Acrylic Vehicle Guide. For LP Lacquers, see the Tamiya LP Lacquer Vehicle Guide. For a complete listing of every enamel by number, see our Tamiya Complete Colour Chart.

Formula Oil-based enamel

Finish Flat (XF) / Gloss & Metallic (X)

Bottle size 10 ml

Thinner X-20 Enamel Thinner (required)

Primary use Brush painting & panel line washes

Sections 11 theatres, techniques & subjects

WWI 1914–1918

Western Front aircraft, early tank operations, and Royal Navy warships. Tamiya enamels are ideal for WWI subjects as primary brush painting paints — the slow-drying, self-levelling formula produces smooth, streak-free finishes on the fabric and wood surfaces typical of Great War aircraft.

RFC & RNAS Aircraft — PC10, PC12, Linen Undersides

SE.5a (No.56 Sqn RFC — Arras, Ypres 1917–18), Bristol F.2B (No.48 Sqn RFC), Sopwith Camel (No.3 Sqn RNAS — Dunkirk 1917), Sopwith Pup (No.8 Sqn RNAS). Technique: primary brush coat. Enamels' self-levelling formula is ideal for fabric surfaces.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — PC10 Protective Khaki upper surfaces; brush-apply in thin coats
TAMEXF49	Enamel Flat Khaki	EF-49 Flat Khaki — PC12 Khaki Brown, darker RNAS variant
TAMEXF57	Enamel Flat Buff	EF-57 Flat Buff — clear-doped linen undersurface colour
TAMEXF2	Flat White	EF-2 Flat White — roundel white and serial number markings
TAMEXF7	Flat Red	EF-7 Flat Red — roundel red inner ring
TAMEXF8	Flat Blue	EF-8 Flat Blue — roundel blue outer ring
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — engine cowlings, strut fittings, exhaust staining
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — exhaust staining wash over cured base coat

German Luftstreitkräfte — Fokker Dr.I, Albatros D.V

Fokker Dr.I (Jasta 11 — von Richthofen; Jasta 6), Albatros D.V/D.Va (Jastas 5, 12, 28 — Ypres 1917–18). Technique: primary brush coat for lozenge fabric segments and streaked finishes.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF61	Enamel Flat Dark Green	EF-61 Flat Dark Green — Dunkelgrün streaked scheme, upper fuselage
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — brown-green streaking component
TAMEXF27	Enamel Flat Black Green	EF-27 Flat Black Green — dark segment of four-colour lozenge fabric
TAMEXF19	Enamel Flat Sky Grey	EF-19 Flat Sky Grey — light grey underside on most Luftstreitkräfte aircraft
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — engine, cowling details, Balkenkreuz outline
TAMEXF2	Flat White	EF-2 Flat White — Balkenkreuz white segments

British & Royal Navy Armour and Ships

Mark IV Tank (Tank Corps — Cambrai November 1917), HMS Iron Duke (Grand Fleet flagship — Jutland 1916). Technique: enamels over acrylic base for weathering; or primary coat on metal and plastic surfaces.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — brown base, WWI British tank camouflage
TAMEXF61	Enamel Flat Dark Green	EF-61 Flat Dark Green — green component of disruptive two-tone scheme
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — Admiralty dark grey hull, Grand Fleet warships
TAMEXF20	Enamel Flat Medium Grey	EF-20 Flat Medium Grey — superstructure mid-grey
TAMEXF9	Flat Hull Red	EF-9 Flat Hull Red — underwater hull below waterline
TAMEXF64	Enamel Flat Red Brown	EF-64 Flat Red Brown — rust streaking wash on ships and vehicles
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — exhaust and funnel staining wash

Spanish Civil War 1936–1939

Legion Condor and Soviet-supplied Republican equipment. Enamel washes excel on the riveted, panel-heavy surfaces of early Spanish Civil War armour — a thin Dark Grey enamel wash deepens panel lines dramatically on Panzer I and T-26 models.

Legion Condor Aircraft & Armour

Bf 109B/C (1.J/88), He 111B (K/88), Panzer I Ausf.A (Panzerkampfwagen-Gruppe Drohne). Technique: enamel wash over cured acrylic/lacquer base for panel detail.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF27	Enamel Flat Black Green	EF-27 Flat Black Green — RLM 70/71 upper surface, primary brush coat
TAMEXF22	Enamel Flat RLM Grey	EF-22 Flat RLM Grey — RLM 63/65 undersurface and primer
TAMEXF63	Enamel Flat German Grey	EF-63 Flat German Grey — Panzergrau overall on Panzer I
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — panel line wash over cured Panzergrau base
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — tracks, shadows, and deep recesses
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — streaking and exhaust staining over cured base

Battle of Britain — July to October 1940

RAF Fighter Command versus Luftwaffe. Enamels are particularly well-suited to BoB aircraft as both a primary brush-painting medium and as post-shading filters. The slow-drying formula allows blending between Dark Green and Dark Earth camouflage zones for realistic demarcation softening.

RAF Fighter Command — Spitfire Mk.I & Hurricane Mk.I

Spitfire Mk.I (No.19 Sqn, No.54 Sqn, No.92 Sqn, No.609 Sqn), Hurricane Mk.I (No.501 Sqn, No.303 Sqn Polish, No.249 Sqn). Technique: primary brush coat OR post-shading filter over airbrushed lacquer/acrylic base.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF61	Enamel Flat Dark Green	EF-61 Flat Dark Green — BS Dark Green upper surface camouflage
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — BS Dark Earth upper surface camouflage
TAMEXF21	Enamel Flat Sky	EF-21 Flat Sky — Sky (Duck Egg Green) undersurface
TAMEXF25	Enamel Flat Light Sea Grey	EF-25 Flat Light Sea Grey — earlier Sky-type undersurface on Spitfire Mk.I
TAMEXF2	Flat White	EF-2 Flat White — code letter white and roundel white
TAMEXF7	Flat Red	EF-7 Flat Red — roundel red inner ring
TAMEXF8	Flat Blue	EF-8 Flat Blue — roundel blue outer ring
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — anti-dazzle panel, tyre black, exhaust staining
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — exhaust staining and panel line filter over cured base

Luftwaffe — Bf 109E, Bf 110C, He 111H, Ju 88A

Bf 109E-4 (JG 26 — Galland; JG 2 — Mölders), He 111H-2/3 (KG 26, KG 53), Ju 88A-1 (KG 51, KG 54). Technique: primary brush coat for small-scale, or enamel wash to deepen RLM panel lines.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF27	Enamel Flat Black Green	EF-27 Flat Black Green — RLM 70 Schwarzgrün upper surface
TAMEXF61	Enamel Flat Dark Green	EF-61 Flat Dark Green — RLM 71 Dunkelgrün upper surface
TAMEXF22	Enamel Flat RLM Grey	EF-22 Flat RLM Grey — RLM 02 Graugrün primer and base coat
TAMEXF23	Enamel Flat Light Blue	EF-23 Flat Light Blue — RLM 65 Hellblau undersurface
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — anti-dazzle panel, cowling
TAMEXF2	Flat White	EF-2 Flat White — Balkenkreuz and code letters
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — panel line wash over cured RLM base coat

North Africa & Mediterranean 1940–1943

Desert subjects are where enamel weathering techniques shine most visibly. A thinned EF-57 Buff wash applied over a cured sand base, followed by removal with thinner-dampened cotton swab, creates the characteristic dust accumulation and bleached finish of real DAK vehicles.

Deutsches Afrikakorps — Panzer III/IV, Sd.Kfz.251

Panzer III Ausf.J (15th Panzer — Tobruk 1941; 21st Panzer — Gazala 1942), Panzer IV Ausf.F2 (15th Panzer — El Alamein 1942). Technique: EF-59/57 as primary brush coat OR as dust filter/wash over LP-76 lacquer base.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF59	Enamel Flat Desert Yellow	EF-59 Flat Desert Yellow — Gelbbraun RAL 8020 DAK base; primary coat or colour modulation filter
TAMEXF57	Enamel Flat Buff	EF-57 Flat Buff — dust accumulation wash over cured base; also sun-bleached highlight
TAMEXF60	Enamel Flat Dark Yellow	EF-60 Flat Dark Yellow — Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 alternative for later DAK vehicles
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — brown mud on lower hull; also wet mud wash
TAMEXF64	Enamel Flat Red Brown	EF-64 Flat Red Brown — rust streaking wash on tracks and lower hull
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — tracks, shadow areas, rubber fittings
TAMEXF2	Flat White	EF-2 Flat White — Balkenkreuz and tactical number markings
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — exhaust staining wash on engine deck and exhaust pipes

Desert Air Force & Luftwaffe Tropical Aircraft

Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop (No.92 Sqn Malta; No.601 Sqn North Africa), Hurricane Mk.IIC (No.6 Sqn anti-tank; No.208 Sqn), Bf 109F-4/Trop (JG 27 — Marseille). Technique: primary brush coat on 1/72 subjects; or enamel filter over airbrushed base on larger scales.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — BS Dark Earth upper surface component
TAMEXF57	Enamel Flat Buff	EF-57 Flat Buff — BS Middle Stone upper surface component; also dust filter
TAMEXF23	Enamel Flat Light Blue	EF-23 Flat Light Blue — Azure Blue / RLM 78 undersurface
TAMEXF59	Enamel Flat Desert Yellow	EF-59 Flat Desert Yellow — RLM 79 Sand Yellow tropical base coat
TAMEXF2	Flat White	EF-2 Flat White — roundel white and aircraft markings

Commonwealth & Italian Desert Armour

Crusader Mk.I (7th Armoured — Operation Crusader), M3 Grant (1st Armoured — Gazala), Carro M13/40 (Ariete — Tobruk 1941). Technique: enamel dust washes bring desert vehicles to life regardless of base coat formula.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF57	Enamel Flat Buff	EF-57 Flat Buff — Middle Stone base coat; also primary dust accumulation wash
TAMEXF59	Enamel Flat Desert Yellow	EF-59 Flat Desert Yellow — Italian Giallo Sahara and some Commonwealth vehicles
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — mud and terrain buildup on lower hull and suspension
TAMEXF64	Enamel Flat Red Brown	EF-64 Flat Red Brown — rust streaking and track rust wash
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — tracks, exhaust, and shadow
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — exhaust staining and oil streak wash

Eastern Front 1941–1945

Eastern Front subjects demand the most weathering work of any theatre — mud, rust, chipping, and winter whitewash. Tamiya enamels are the standard choice for the post-shading pin wash and streaking stages on Dunkelgelb, Panzergrau, and Soviet Green Eastern Front models.

Soviet Armour — T-34/76, T-34/85, IS-2, ISU-152

T-34/76 Model 1942 (Stalingrad 1942), T-34/85 (Kursk 1943; Berlin 1945), IS-2 (Berlin 1945). Technique: EF-58/62 as primary brush coat; or dark grey/brown enamel washes over acrylic 4BO base.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF58	Enamel Flat Olive Green	EF-58 Flat Olive Green — 4BO Protective Green; primary brush coat or colour modulation filter
TAMEXF62	Enamel Flat Olive Drab	EF-62 Flat Olive Drab — alternative 4BO interpretation, slightly darker
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — panel line wash over cured 4BO base coat
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — mud wash on lower hull; road dust filter
TAMEXF64	Enamel Flat Red Brown	EF-64 Flat Red Brown — rust streaking on tracks and hull edges
TAMEXF2	Flat White	EF-2 Flat White — winter whitewash; also Soviet Guards badge
TAMEXF7	Flat Red	EF-7 Flat Red — Red Star national marking
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — tracks, exhaust, deep shadow recesses
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — exhaust staining and oil streak filter

German Armour Early — Panzer III, Panzer IV in Panzergrau

Panzer III Ausf.F/H (Barbarossa June 1941), Panzer IV Ausf.D/E (Moscow 1941). Technique: EF-63 as primary Panzergrau coat; EF-24 dark wash deepens panel detail dramatically.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF63	Enamel Flat German Grey	EF-63 Flat German Grey — Panzergrau RAL 7021; excellent brush-painting primary colour
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — pin wash over cured Panzergrau to deepen panel lines
TAMEXF66	Enamel Flat Light Grey	EF-66 Flat Light Grey — dry brush highlight over Panzergrau base
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — mud weathering on running gear and lower hull
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — tracks, exhaust, deep shadow
TAMEXF2	Flat White	EF-2 Flat White — Balkenkreuz and tactical markings

German Armour Late — Panther, Tiger I, Tiger II, Jagdpanther

Panther Ausf.D/A/G (Kursk July 1943; Normandy), Tiger I (sPzAbt 503 — Kursk), Tiger II (sPzAbt 506 — Hungary). Technique: enamel three-tone OVER lacquer base; or full primary brush approach. EF-64 Red Brown wash on Zimmerit texture is essential.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF60	Enamel Flat Dark Yellow	EF-60 Flat Dark Yellow — Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 base; excellent primary brush colour
TAMEXF70	Enamel Flat Dark Green 2	EF-70 Flat Dark Green 2 — Olivgrün three-tone component
TAMEXF64	Enamel Flat Red Brown	EF-64 Flat Red Brown — Rotbraun three-tone; also rust/chipping wash on Zimmerit
TAMEXF57	Enamel Flat Buff	EF-57 Flat Buff — dust accumulation filter on Dunkelgelb upper surfaces
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — mud on running gear and lower hull
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — pin wash over Dunkelgelb to define panel lines
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — tracks, exhaust, deep recesses
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — exhaust staining and engine deck oil wash

VVS & Luftwaffe Aircraft Eastern Front

IL-2 Shturmovik (Kursk 1943), La-5FN (Kozhedub, 62 victories), Bf 109G-6 (JG 52 — Barkhorn 301 kills), Fw 190A-8 (SG 2 — ground attack). Technique: primary brush coat at 1/72; enamel filter and wash at larger scales.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF58	Enamel Flat Olive Green	EF-58 Flat Olive Green — AMT-4/4BO Green VVS upper surface
TAMEXF23	Enamel Flat Light Blue	EF-23 Flat Light Blue — AMT-7 / AII Light Blue VVS undersurface
TAMEXF27	Enamel Flat Black Green	EF-27 Flat Black Green — RLM 70 Schwarzgrün Luftwaffe upper
TAMEXF22	Enamel Flat RLM Grey	EF-22 Flat RLM Grey — RLM 74/75 grey upper surface tones on Bf 109G
TAMEXF23	Enamel Flat Light Blue	EF-23 Flat Light Blue — RLM 76 Lichtblau undersurface
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — exhaust staining filter over cured base

Pacific Theatre — IJN, IJA & US Forces 1941–1945

Pacific subjects have some of the most distinctive enamel weathering opportunities — tropical weathering, salt water corrosion, and fuel staining on carrier decks. EF-11 IJN Green and EF-12 IJN Grey are dedicated enamel shades matching the most common IJN ship and aircraft colours.

IJN Carrier Aircraft — A6M Zero, B5N Kate, D3A Val

A6M2 Zero Model 21 (Pearl Harbor December 1941; Midway June 1942), B5N2 Kate (Pearl Harbor torpedo attack), D3A1 Val (Coral Sea). Technique: primary brush coat at 1/72; enamel wash over airbrushed base at 1/48.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF11	Flat IJN Green	EF-11 Flat IJN Green — Hairyokushoku J3 upper surface; also IJN ship anti-slip deck
TAMEXF12	Enamel Flat IJN Grey	EF-12 Flat IJN Grey — light grey undersurface, IJN carrier aircraft standard
TAMEXF71	Enamel Flat Cockpit Green	EF-71 Flat Cockpit Green — A6M2 cockpit interior Aotake blue-green
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — panel line wash over cured IJN green/grey base
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — anti-dazzle panel, engine cowling, exhaust
TAMEXF7	Flat Red	EF-7 Flat Red — Hinomaru red national marking

IJN Warships — Yamato, Destroyers, Cruisers

Yamato (Operation Ten-Go April 1945), Fubuki-class destroyers, Mogami-class cruisers. Technique: EF-12 primary coat at 1/700; dark grey enamel wash dramatically improves panel definition and rivet detail on IJN ship models at any scale.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF12	Enamel Flat IJN Grey	EF-12 Flat IJN Grey — standard IJN ship grey; primary brush coat or base
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — pin wash for panel lines and rivet detail on ship hulls
TAMEXF55	Enamel Flat Deck Tan	EF-55 Flat Deck Tan — wooden deck planking
TAMEXF9	Flat Hull Red	EF-9 Flat Hull Red — underwater hull below waterline
TAMEXF64	Enamel Flat Red Brown	EF-64 Flat Red Brown — rust streaking wash on lower hull and waterline
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — funnel staining and exhaust wash on smokestacks

IJA Aircraft & US Pacific Forces

Ki-43 Hayabusa (Burma 1943), Ki-61 Hien (Tokyo defence 1944–45), F6F Hellcat (VF-15 — Marianas June 1944), M4A2 Sherman (USMC — Iwo Jima). Technique: primary coat or weathering over acrylic/lacquer.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF13	Enamel Flat IJA Green	EF-13 Flat IJA Green — IJA Hairyokushoku upper surface, Ki-43 and Ki-61
TAMEXF14	Enamel Flat IJA Grey	EF-14 Flat IJA Grey — IJA light grey undersurface
TAMEXF17	Enamel Flat Sea Blue	EF-17 Flat Sea Blue — USN Glossy Sea Blue late-war carrier aircraft
TAMEXF62	Enamel Flat Olive Drab	EF-62 Flat Olive Drab — USMC M4A2 Sherman, all US Pacific ground vehicles
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — coral dust and red earth weathering wash
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — panel line wash over cured OD or IJA base

Normandy, NW Europe & Italy 1943–1945

The most popular subjects in scale modelling. Dunkelgelb, OD Sherman, and Bronze Green Allied armour. Enamel washes are the standard finishing step for virtually every NW Europe armour build regardless of the base coat formula used.

German Armour — Panther, Tiger I, StuG III, Panzer IV

Panther Ausf.G (Panzer Lehr — Villers-Bocage; 12th SS — Caen), Tiger I (sPzAbt 101 — Wittmann, Villers-Bocage), StuG III Ausf.G (1st Parachute Division — Monte Cassino). Technique: full primary brush approach OR enamel three-tone over LP/acrylic Dunkelgelb base.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF60	Enamel Flat Dark Yellow	EF-60 Flat Dark Yellow — Dunkelgelb RAL 7028; excellent primary brush colour
TAMEXF70	Enamel Flat Dark Green 2	EF-70 Flat Dark Green 2 — Olivgrün three-tone component
TAMEXF64	Enamel Flat Red Brown	EF-64 Flat Red Brown — Rotbraun three-tone; rust and chipping wash
TAMEXF57	Enamel Flat Buff	EF-57 Flat Buff — dust filter and fading on upper surfaces
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — standard pin wash over Dunkelgelb panel lines
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — bocage mud on lower hull
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — tracks, deep shadow, exhaust
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — exhaust staining and oil streak wash
TAMEX10	Gun Metal	X-10 Gun Metal — metallic detail on gun barrels and machine guns

Allied Armour — M4 Sherman, Cromwell, Churchill, M10

M4A1 Sherman (2nd Armored — Cobra), Cromwell Mk.IV (7th Armoured — Villers-Bocage), Churchill Mk.VII (Rhine crossing), M10 Wolverine (throughout NW Europe). Technique: EF-62 OD primary or enamel wash; D-Day invasion stripes in enamel over varnished base.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF62	Enamel Flat Olive Drab	EF-62 Flat Olive Drab — US Army OD; primary brush coat or modulation filter
TAMEXF61	Enamel Flat Dark Green	EF-61 Flat Dark Green — SCC 15 Bronze Green on Cromwell and Churchill
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — pin wash over OD or Bronze Green to define panels
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — bocage mud and terrain weathering
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — D-Day invasion stripe black segment
TAMEXF2	Flat White	EF-2 Flat White — D-Day invasion stripe white; Allied star marking
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — exhaust and oil staining wash over cured base

RAF 2nd TAF & USAAF Aircraft — Typhoon, P-51D, B-17G

Typhoon Mk.Ib (No.182, No.257 Sqn — Falaise), P-51D (4th FG, 354th FG), B-17G (91st BG, 100th BG). Technique: full primary coat at 1/72; filter/wash at 1/48 or 1/32.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF61	Enamel Flat Dark Green	EF-61 Flat Dark Green — BS Dark Green upper surface camouflage
TAMEXF25	Enamel Flat Light Sea Grey	EF-25 Flat Light Sea Grey — BS Ocean Grey and Medium Sea Grey tones
TAMEXF21	Enamel Flat Sky	EF-21 Flat Sky — Sky undersurface on RAF 2nd TAF aircraft
TAMEXF62	Enamel Flat Olive Drab	EF-62 Flat Olive Drab — USAAF OD upper surface on early 8th AF aircraft
TAMEXF16	Enamel Flat Aluminum	EF-16 Flat Aluminum — NMF base coat for P-51D and B-17G from late 1943
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — exhaust staining, panel line accent on NMF aircraft
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — anti-glare panel, invasion stripe black

Korea, Vietnam & Cold War 1950–1991

Post-WWII subjects where enamel washes are almost universally used as a finishing step. OD Shermans, SEA three-tone Phantoms, and NATO tri-colour Abrams all benefit from dark grey or brown enamel washes that define panel lines and add depth that flat base coats alone cannot achieve.

Korean War & NMF Jets — F-86 Sabre, M4A3E8, T-34/85

F-86A/E/F (4th FIW — Korea), M4A3E8 Easy Eight (USMC — Chosin Reservoir), North Korean T-34/85 (105th Armoured Division — Seoul 1950). Technique: EF-16 NMF primary; dark smoke wash for panel lines on bare metal aircraft.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF16	Enamel Flat Aluminum	EF-16 Flat Aluminum — NMF primary coat; excellent brush-painted bare metal finish
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — panel line wash over NMF to define aluminium panels
TAMEXF62	Enamel Flat Olive Drab	EF-62 Flat Olive Drab — US Army OD on M4A3E8 and all UN ground vehicles
TAMEXF58	Enamel Flat Olive Green	EF-58 Flat Olive Green — 4BO Green on North Korean T-34/85
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — pin wash over OD and green base coats
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — Korean terrain mud and dust weathering

Vietnam & SEA — F-4D Phantom, UH-1 Huey, M48A3

F-4D (8th TFW Ubon — Wolf Pack; 555th TFS Triple Nickel), UH-1B/D (229th Aviation Battalion — Ia Drang 1965), M48A3 (1st Battalion 69th Armor — Hue 1968). Technique: full primary coat at 1/72; enamel wash as finishing step on larger scales.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF61	Enamel Flat Dark Green	EF-61 Flat Dark Green — FS34079 Dark Green SEA camouflage component
TAMEXF58	Enamel Flat Olive Green	EF-58 Flat Olive Green — FS34102 Medium Green SEA camouflage component
TAMEXF51	Enamel Flat Khaki Drab	EF-51 Flat Khaki Drab — FS30219 Tan SEA camouflage component
TAMEXF19	Enamel Flat Sky Grey	EF-19 Flat Sky Grey — FS36622 Light Grey undersurface, SEA scheme
TAMEXF62	Enamel Flat Olive Drab	EF-62 Flat Olive Drab — overall OD on helicopters and ground vehicles
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — pin wash over cured SEA camouflage
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — red laterite dust and mud weathering
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — exhaust staining wash on aircraft and vehicle engines

Cold War NATO & Gulf War — M1 Abrams, F-15C, M48 Magach

M1 Abrams (NATO exercises; Desert Storm 1991), F-15C (33rd TFW — 34 kills, Gulf War), M48A5 Magach (IDF — Lebanon 1982). Technique: NATO tri-colour enamel over LP or acrylic base; dark wash finishes all subjects.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF58	Enamel Flat Olive Green	EF-58 Flat Olive Green — NATO Green primary component or enamel over-coat
TAMEXF64	Enamel Flat Red Brown	EF-64 Flat Red Brown — NATO Brown three-tone component
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — NATO Black; also exhaust and track detail
TAMEXF57	Enamel Flat Buff	EF-57 Flat Buff — CARC sand desert base coat; also dust filter wash
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — standard pin wash over NATO green/grey base
TAMEXF20	Enamel Flat Medium Grey	EF-20 Flat Medium Grey — F-15C Ghost Grey; also modern aircraft grey wash
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — jet exhaust staining and panel filter on modern aircraft

Figures & Vehicle Crew

Tamiya enamels are one of the best figure-painting mediums available — the slow-drying formula allows blending skin tones, uniform highlights, and shadow glazes in ways that fast-drying acrylics do not. The self-levelling consistency produces smooth, even finish on small surfaces without the streaking that challenges many modellers.

German WWII Crew — Panzer, Luftwaffe, Wehrmacht Infantry

Panzer crew (black uniform), Luftwaffe pilot (Fliegerbluse), Wehrmacht infantry (Feldgrau). Technique: primary brush painting. Enamels' blendability makes them ideal for skin tones and uniform shading.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF65	Enamel Flat Field Grey	EF-65 Flat Field Grey — Wehrmacht Feldgrau infantry uniform base coat
TAMEXF50	Enamel Flat Field Blue	EF-50 Flat Field Blue — Luftwaffe Fliegerbluse blue-grey uniform
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — Panzer crew black uniform; also jack boots and holsters
TAMEXF49	Enamel Flat Khaki	EF-49 Flat Khaki — tan equipment, leather straps, holsters
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — leather equipment and brown webbing
TAMEXF15	Enamel Flat Flesh	EF-15 Flat Flesh — face and hands base skin tone; blend with white/brown for shading
TAMEXF64	Enamel Flat Red Brown	EF-64 Flat Red Brown — shadow wash on skin recesses; also hair colour
TAMEX10	Gun Metal	X-10 Gun Metal — metallic helmet fittings, weapon steel detail

Allied WWII & Modern Crew Figures

US Army (OD fatigue), British 8th Army (KD khaki drill), Soviet tanker (black coverall), modern NATO infantry. Technique: enamel primary coats; slow-drying allows wet blending on faces and hands.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF62	Enamel Flat Olive Drab	EF-62 Flat Olive Drab — US Army OD field jacket and USMC dungarees
TAMEXF49	Enamel Flat Khaki	EF-49 Flat Khaki — British KD uniform; US khaki drill base
TAMEXF57	Enamel Flat Buff	EF-57 Flat Buff — desert-faded British KD; also webbing highlight
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — Soviet tanker coverall and jack boots
TAMEXF15	Enamel Flat Flesh	EF-15 Flat Flesh — face and hands skin tone base
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — leather equipment, brown webbing
TAMEXF65	Enamel Flat Field Grey	EF-65 Flat Field Grey — German Feldgrau and modern grey-green uniforms

Panel Line Washing — Enamels Over Acrylic & Lacquer

This is the primary reason many modellers keep Tamiya enamels in their toolkit even if they base coat with acrylics or lacquers. Apply a heavily thinned enamel wash over a cured and varnished surface, let it flow into recesses and panel lines, then remove the excess from flat surfaces with a cotton swab dampened with X-20A enamel thinner. The varnished acrylic/lacquer base is not affected by the enamel thinner, making removal clean and controllable.

Armour Panel Line Washes

Works over any varnished base coat — Dunkelgelb, Olive Drab, Panzergrau, NATO Green. The most-used enamel wash colours for armour subjects, thinned to a watercolour consistency with X-20A enamel thinner (roughly 5:1 thinner to paint).

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — the standard all-purpose panel line wash for green, grey, and sand vehicles
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — brown wash for sandy/desert subjects; creates warm shadow tone
TAMEXF64	Enamel Flat Red Brown	EF-64 Flat Red Brown — rust and chipping detail; lower hull rust streaks
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — deep recess wash, track links, very dark shadow areas
TAMEXF57	Enamel Flat Buff	EF-57 Flat Buff — dust accumulation wash on upper surfaces; lightens and weathers
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — oil staining, exhaust residue, and general filter on all subjects

Aircraft Panel Line Washes

Applied over varnished acrylic or lacquer aircraft base coats. Aircraft washes require more controlled application than armour — use a fine brush to apply along panel lines rather than flooding the whole surface.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — standard aircraft panel line wash for grey and green schemes
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — warm brown panel wash for tan/sand aircraft and faded schemes
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — exhaust staining behind exhaust stacks; also panel accent on NMF
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — very dark recess wash for open cockpit areas and deep intakes
TAMEXF57	Enamel Flat Buff	EF-57 Flat Buff — dust and grime filter on desert and tropical aircraft

Ship Washing — Hulls, Decks & Waterline

Ship washes reward patience — grey hulls become dramatically more realistic with a single dark wash pass. IJN grey ships in particular benefit from dark grey washes that reveal the fine rivet and plate detail in modern 1/350 and 1/700 kits.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF24	Enamel Flat Dark Grey	EF-24 Flat Dark Grey — standard pin wash for grey warship hulls, all navies
TAMEXF64	Enamel Flat Red Brown	EF-64 Flat Red Brown — rust streaking wash below waterline and at anchor hawses
TAMEXF9	Flat Hull Red	EF-9 Flat Hull Red — rust staining at waterline and through-hull fittings
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — funnel staining; wash into exhaust and vent recesses
TAMEXF52	Enamel Flat Earth	EF-52 Flat Earth — warm brown wash on wooden deck planking

Natural Metal Finish — Primary Coat & Panel Detail

EF-16 Flat Aluminum is one of the best brush-painted NMF colours available. The self-levelling enamel formula covers smoothly without brush marks, and the flat finish takes dry-brushing and thinned smoke washes to create realistic panel variation on P-51D, B-29, and post-war jet subjects. X-10 Gun Metal and X-11 Chrome Silver add metallic variation for engines and fittings.

WWII & Korean War NMF Aircraft

P-51D (4th FG, 357th FG), B-29 Superfortress (509th CG — Enola Gay), F-86A/E Sabre (4th FIW — Korea). Technique: EF-16 primary coat; X-19 Smoke wash for panel variation; X-10 for engine details.

SKU	Colour	Application ↑ back to top
TAMEXF16	Enamel Flat Aluminum	EF-16 Flat Aluminum — overall NMF base coat; smooth self-levelling brush finish
TAMEX19	Smoke	X-19 Smoke — panel variation wash over flat aluminum for realistic metal appearance
TAMEX10	Gun Metal	X-10 Gun Metal — engine cowlings, exhaust collector rings, and darker metal areas
TAMEX11	Chrome Silver	X-11 Chrome Silver — polished metal highlights on propeller spinners and fittings
TAMEXF84	Enamel Flat Dark Iron	EF-84 Flat Dark Iron — exhaust discolouration and heat-darkened metal areas
TAMEXF1	Flat Black	EF-1 Flat Black — anti-glare panel, wheel well interior, tyre black
TAMEXF53	Enamel Flat Neutral Grey	EF-53 Flat Neutral Grey — low-visibility national insignia on NMF aircraft

Tamiya Enamels at Wheels & Wings Hobbies

Every Tamiya enamel listed in this guide is stocked at our Toronto store at 1880 Danforth Ave and ships across Canada. Enamels are sold individually in 10 ml bottles. X-20A enamel thinner is available in 10 ml, 40 ml, and 250 ml bottles — the 250 ml bottle is the most economical choice if you use enamel washes regularly.

For questions about enamel techniques — wash consistency, thinner ratios, or how to use enamels over specific base coat formulas — the staff at Wheels & Wings are modellers themselves and happy to advise in-store or by phone at (416) 752-0071.

Browse and purchase all Tamiya enamels and X-20A thinner in our online store.

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Apr 21, 2026 Wheels & Wings Hobbies