Palantirion
Active Member
While I posted this info in my VP70 build I thought it might be good to post just the Brown Bess paint info as a standalone, since it's a significant topic for a variety of Aliens props.
In short, while there are many different options to substitute for the unobtanium Humbrol color(s!) the ones I found online were either not accurate enough for me or used paints I didn't have on hand for my build. I really like Tamiya acrylics for their durability, ease of use, and more importantly their accessibility and consistency. This company isn't going anywhere, and it's pretty easy to find most colors at most local hobby shops and super easy online.
This was my primary reference for the color. Understanding that this was NOT a hero prop, and it's been weathered during production and possibly had color shift since production.
After a fair bit of mixing this was my formula. Appx. 35% XF-51 and 65% XF-68. This was by eye, so not an exact value. If mixing again I'd start with 40% XF-51 and expect to mix in additional XF-68 until it looks good. REMEMBER that the color will shift as it dries, and may shift when cleared too. So have a hair drier handy when mixing to test samples!
This is my VP70 painted and without any clearcoat. It is slightly weathered, including an extremely light Starship Filth wash and wipedown. This pic was under slightly warm light. The color shifts slightly browner.
Also under slightly warm light, and maybe slightly over-exposed.
And under a cooler day light (combination of skylight and cold LEDs). Notice how it shifts greener.
In short, while there are many different options to substitute for the unobtanium Humbrol color(s!) the ones I found online were either not accurate enough for me or used paints I didn't have on hand for my build. I really like Tamiya acrylics for their durability, ease of use, and more importantly their accessibility and consistency. This company isn't going anywhere, and it's pretty easy to find most colors at most local hobby shops and super easy online.
This was my primary reference for the color. Understanding that this was NOT a hero prop, and it's been weathered during production and possibly had color shift since production.
Lot # 32 : ALIENS (1986) - VP70M Sidearm Pistol
A VP70M sidearm pistol from James Cameron's sci-fi sequel Aliens. The Colonial Marines, including Pvt. Frost (Ricco Ross) and Lt. Gorman (William Hope), wielded Heckler & Koch VP70Ms when they investigated the disappearance of the colonists on LV-426 with
propstoreauction.com
After a fair bit of mixing this was my formula. Appx. 35% XF-51 and 65% XF-68. This was by eye, so not an exact value. If mixing again I'd start with 40% XF-51 and expect to mix in additional XF-68 until it looks good. REMEMBER that the color will shift as it dries, and may shift when cleared too. So have a hair drier handy when mixing to test samples!
This is my VP70 painted and without any clearcoat. It is slightly weathered, including an extremely light Starship Filth wash and wipedown. This pic was under slightly warm light. The color shifts slightly browner.
Also under slightly warm light, and maybe slightly over-exposed.
And under a cooler day light (combination of skylight and cold LEDs). Notice how it shifts greener.
