TAMXF19 - Tamiya - Flat Sky Gray Acrylic - 10mL Bottle

TAMXF19 - Tamiya - Flat Sky Gray Acrylic - 10mL Bottle

Tamiya XF-19 Flat Sky Gray is a cool, light grey with a subtle blue undertone, designated in Tamiya's original range documentation as "Overall painting of Navy plane." It represents the United States Navy's Non-Specular Light Gray (ANA 620, approximately FS 36440) — the overall finish applied to US Navy and Marine Corps aircraft in the pre-war and early war period from 1940 through late 1941, before the Blue-Gray over Light Gray two-tone scheme was introduced. ANA 620 Light Gull Gray subsequently became the undersurface colour of the two-tone scheme, worn by the majority of USN carrier aircraft from late 1941 through early 1943. Tamiya's original catalogue confirms XF-19 as the designated colour for the overall USN aircraft finish, and it remains the standard choice for this application across the range. Mixed approximately 2:1 with XF-2 Flat White it approaches ANA 620 (FS 36440) for the undersurface of the two-tone Blue-Gray scheme; used straight it represents a slightly darker pre-war grey. Beyond US Navy applications, XF-19 is one of the most useful general-purpose light greys in the Tamiya range, serving widely as a mixing base for ghost greys, pale blue-greys, and weathering highlight colours across aircraft, naval vessel, and AFV subjects.

Tamiya Acrylic paints are a hybrid acrylic formula built on water-soluble resin — they can be thinned with water, isopropyl alcohol, or lacquer thinner, and clean up easily with water before curing. When thinned with Tamiya Lacquer Thinner, the paint lays down faster, dries harder, and bonds more aggressively to the substrate. The hybrid resin chemistry means the paint film remains slightly soluble after initial drying — subsequent brush strokes can reactivate and lift the layer below if applied without restraint. For this reason, airbrushing is strongly recommended for large surface coverage. Brush painting is workable for detail and touch-up work, but requires a gentle, deliberate stroke and a fully cured base layer. See our Tamiya Acrylic vs. Enamel vs. Lacquer guide for a full breakdown of paint type differences.

• USN pre-war overall Light Gray — overall finish on F4F-3 Wildcats, SBD-1/2 Dauntlesses, and TBD-1 Devastators in service with USN carrier air groups prior to the two-tone scheme directive of December 1940; aircraft in this overall grey finish served aboard USS Lexington (CV-2), Saratoga (CV-3), and Yorktown (CV-5) through 1940–41
• USN two-tone scheme undersurface (Light Gray) — lower surface colour on F4F-3/4 Wildcats, SBD-3 Dauntlesses, and TBF-1 Avengers under the Blue-Gray over Light Gray scheme in use from late 1941 through early 1943; mixed 2:1 with XF-2 Flat White to match ANA 620 closely; this scheme was worn at Pearl Harbor (December 1941), Coral Sea (May 1942), and Midway (June 1942)
• Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat undersurface — Light Gray lower surfaces on Wildcats of VF-3 (USS Saratoga/Yorktown) and VF-42 (USS Yorktown) at Coral Sea, and VF-6 (USS Enterprise) and VF-3 (USS Yorktown) at Midway; the F4F's backwards-hinging wings meant the entire lower wing surface was painted Light Gray rather than the topside blue-gray
• Douglas TBD-1 Devastator — overall and lower surface grey on the torpedo bomber that suffered catastrophic losses at Midway (June 1942) while attacking the Japanese carrier fleet; the TBD was largely withdrawn from frontline service after Midway
• USN tricolour scheme undersurface — lower surface Non-Specular White (ANA 601) base; at 1/72 scale XF-19 lightened with XF-2 (3:1 white) serves as a practical approximation for the off-white lower surfaces of F6F Hellcats, F4U Corsairs, and SBD Dauntlesses in the 1943 tricolour scheme
• Mixing base for US ghost greys — XF-19 forms the foundation for Light Ghost Gray (FS 36375, 8:2 with XF-2) and contributes to Light Gull Gray (FS 36440) mixes used on post-war and Cold War USN aircraft including the F-86 Sabre, F9F Panther, and early F-4 Phantom II
• USAF and USMC aircraft lower surfaces — general-purpose light grey for lower surface applications on Korean War-era USAF jets, post-war naval aircraft, and modern grey-scheme subjects where a pale, cool grey is required as a base tone before weathering washes
• General weathering and modulation — used straight or mixed with XF-2 as a zenithal highlight layer over darker grey camouflage schemes on AFVs and naval vessel superstructures; its cool blue-grey character makes it particularly effective as a fading simulation on WWII and Cold War subjects

For full Tamiya paint colour references and modelling compatibility charts, visit our Tamiya Paint Colour Chart — Complete Guide for Scale Modellers.

Thin and airbrush with Tamiya Lacquer Thinner, Mr. Color Thinner, or Mr. Color Leveling Thinner.

• 10ml glass jar
• Part of the Tamiya Acrylic paint range