TAMXF28 - Tamiya - Flat Dark Copper Acrylic - 10mL Bottle

TAMXF28 - Tamiya - Flat Dark Copper Acrylic - 10mL Bottle

Tamiya XF-28 Dark Copper is a flat, non-reflective metallic copper-brown with a subdued sheen — distinct from the gloss XF-6 Copper in the range, which is a brighter, more polished metallic. The flat finish of XF-28 makes it specifically suited to applications where copper appears aged, heat-affected, oxidised, or patinated rather than freshly polished. It is one of the more specialised metallic colours in the Tamiya acrylic range, covering a wide spread of subjects: bronze and copper fittings on warships and historical models, exhaust heat colouration on engine components, ancient and medieval armour in copper-alloyed bronze, and natural metal weathering effects across AFV and aircraft subjects. Because it carries metallic flake pigment within an acrylic flat base, it achieves a tonal warmth and depth that standard flat browns cannot replicate, making it particularly effective for any application where oxidised or heat-stressed copper is the target appearance.

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.

• Aircraft exhaust heat staining — applied to exhaust stacks, manifolds, and the surrounding airframe skin on aircraft engine nacelles and cowling areas where exhaust gas and heat produces a characteristic dark copper-brown thermal discolouration; effective on Spitfire Merlin exhaust stubs, Fw 190 BMW 801 exhaust stacks, P-51 Packard-Merlin exhaust pipes, and Japanese radial engine cowlings across all scales
• AFV engine exhaust pipes — dry-brushed or airbrushed over dark grey or black base on the exhaust pipes, mufflers, and heat shields of WWII and modern AFVs; particularly appropriate for German vehicle exhaust staining on Tiger I, Panzer IV, and Sd.Kfz. 251 halftracks where exhaust rust and heat effects are a common weathering focus
• Warship bronze fittings — propeller shaft housings, capstans, anchor chain links, bollards, torpedo tube muzzles, and decorative stern badge fittings on 1/350 and 1/700 Royal Navy, Imperial Japanese Navy, and US Navy warship kits; at small scale, flat copper reads more convincingly than the gloss version under normal viewing conditions
• Ancient and medieval armour — bronze helmet plates, greaves, cuirasses, and shield boss fittings on Greek hoplite, Roman legionary, and Celtic warrior figures in 1/35, 54mm, and larger scales; XF-28 provides the muted, aged bronze appearance of antique metal rather than the bright finish of new-cast bronze
• Steam locomotive and engineering models — firebox doors, copper steam pipes, boiler fittings, and other copper-alloyed components on 1/35 and larger diorama subjects involving steam power, workshops, or industrial settings
• Chipping and non-metallic metal effects — used as a mid-tone in NMM (non-metallic metal) copper painting on fantasy and historical figures, applied between dark brown shadow tones and bright gold highlight tones to create convincing metallic copper effects without actual metallic flake
• Weathering washes and filters — thinned heavily and applied as a colour filter over grey or silver surfaces to introduce a warm, heat-affected copper tone on turbine blades, jet exhausts, and rocket nozzles on aircraft and spacecraft models; also effective as a pin wash on copper-plumbing diorama details
• Gun barrel browning — applied as a base layer under dark brown and black washes to simulate the heat-blued or browned steel of artillery and AFV gun barrels, providing warmth to the base metallic tone before weathering layers are applied

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