The Missing Gap

Transcript*

Skit

Life is brimming with questions that confound the enlightened mind. Is space truly endless? What do women want? And the most imperative question of all, why does Tamiya Paint skip from XF28 to XF49. Tonight on Loisirs vers le soleil, we will try to uncover as best as I can why one of the hobbies most popular paints has this strange numerical anomaly.

Other Paint Brands

Strap in. For the next 5 minutes, you’re going to be subject to the many things that only my active mind thinks about. So, take a look at any hobby paint brand out there, aka Two Thin Coats, Citadelle to some extent, they all have a numbering system that’s pretty straightforward and easy to understand. Uh let’s say with AK it starts at 11001 and goes all the way to 11200 largely intact. Stop before you even interrupt me.

I know exactly what you’re going to say. But David Vallejo Modèle Aérien has an interruption in its numbering system. Yes, it does. which is why I have brought out this example. So with Model Air the colors go from 71001 then they go to 71143 and then it skips all the way up to 71244.

And there is a reason for that. Aside from single paints, Vallejo also makes paint sets and they number them according to whether they’re Couleur du modèle, Modèle Aérien, Air de jeu. So in the Model Air line, their very first paint set is 71144 and that goes all the way to 71243 where it then reconciles with Model Air single paints. So that mystery is solved.

Why Does Tamiya paints skip from XF28 to XF49?

But that still doesn’t answer today’s question. Why does Tamiya paint skip from 28 to 49? Tamiya doesn’t make any paint sets. Well, upon researching this elusive topic, the most agreed upon answer is that Tamiya used to have a whole bunch of paints that have since been discontinued. Now, what were those paints?

David’s Research

According to my research, and I’m not even entirely sure if this is 100% accurate, but this is what I saw, and this is what I’m going by. XF29 used to be Semi Gloss Black, which is now X18. XF30 was Dark Green 2 RAF, which is now XF81. XF31 was Titanium Gold that is now X31. Uh 32 was Titanium Silver which is now X32. Now here’s where it gets interesting. XF33 was Black IJN. I assume that that is the cowling cover of Japanese naval aircraft.

Uh but as far as I know, Tamiya never recreated that one. Uh XF34 was White IJN. That’s another one I have never seen. Uh 35 Semi Gloss Clear. That is now X35. uh 36 Buff RAF. Um Tamiya does have a buff color now, but uh this one says it’s for RAF, so I don’t know how different that is. Uh 37 was Red Brown RAF.

Now again, Tamiya has a Red Brown in XF64, but being RAF, again, that could have a slight difference to it. Uh 38 was Dark Red RAF. No idea what that is. 39 Deck Brown. Uh they have Linoleum Deck color and Deck Tan, so I’m not sure what this one is either. Uh 40 was light gray, which is now XF66. 41 was Pale Green, which I assume was an RAF Interior Green Color. The closest to that is XF76, I believe. Uh 42 was RLM Grey, which is now XF22. 43 uh Yellow Green IJN.

I think that’s uh cockpit green for like Nakajima aircraft. Uh closest to that might be at XF4. Uh 44 Dark Sea Grey 2. There’s a dark sea grey but uh don’t know how different this one was. 45 Field Blue 2. Field Blue XF50. Uh 46 was Flat Clear, which is now XF86. 47 Red Brown IJN. Let’s just get through this. And the last one, 48 Khaki 2. So, as I pointed out, some of these paints do still exist uh with a new number, but uh many others are a mystery.

Why The Gap Will Not Be Filled

So, you’re probably asking yourself, if Tamiya repurposed these paints and gave them new numbers, then why doesn’t Tamiya just take the opportunity to make some new colors and slot them into place? Finally filling in that nasty gap. I mean, Tamiya could really use some new colors.

Well, the most common explanation I could find was millions of years ago in Tamiya’s really, really old kits, some of these paints are actually listed in their instructions. Now, since they are discontinued and they are of the belief that there are still people out there building Tamiya kits from the 60s, they fear that if they make a new paint with this old number, it’s not going to match and people are going to be confused. So, they feel the best option is to just pretend that these paints never existed.

David Spiralling

Well, I do not like that explanation. If that is the case, then why doesn’t Tamiya rebox these old old kits and uh update the instructions so that when they make some new paints and possibly put them in these old numbers, they’ll be up to date. there won’t be any confusion.

Normally, I know I’m against reboxes, especially the ones that don’t really change the contents of the kit, but you have no idea how much it bothers me when I’m picking an order and I come to Tamiya and I see that damn gap. I mean, doesn’t it bother you, too? Of course not. What was I talking about?

David’s Conclusion

Okay, this rant’s over.

So, feel free to check out our selection of Tamiya paints at Loisirs vers le soleil in store or online. We’ve got them all from XF1 to XF28 and from XF49 to XF93. Thank you very much for watching this video. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, follow us on our socials, and until the next one, adios.

About the Author:

David Peckam has built scale models since he was 12, specializing largely on military aircraft. He is a makeup artist and background actor for films and TV. He enjoys watching hockey and of course, movies. He has an excellent knowledge of hobby products and if you have questions concerning scale model airplanes.

*Video by David Peckham
Video Edited by Daniela Castellano
Transcript generated by youtube
Edited by Angelo Castellano