Methuen replacement

berman · 27 March 2007, 03:20 PM

The problem with the Methuen Handbook of Colour is that it is quite scarce with prices ranging from $300 to $800. There are also many useless dark colors and shades of hot pink and chartreuse that do not apply to aircraft. It is also difficult to compare printed ink to a painted surface. The alternative would be to prepare a new color guide. Attention please color experts such as Greg, Dan, and Ray. This color chart should be printed using the type of Epson printer utilized by reproductive art shops. This printer uses a special acrylic ink that dries to a waterproof and highly fade resistant finish. Best of all it looks like paint rather than ink. Reproduction art printers use specialized computer software and very expensive spectrometers that can exactly match colors. They can also take one color and have their computer add percentages of white or grey or other colors. I visualize the new color chart containing all the basic colors of lozenge, Jasta colors, PC-10, and other camouflage colors plus a wide range of others for reference. Maybe 500 to 1,000 color chips. There would be a guide to match previously mentioned Methuen numbers. How many of you would like to see this guide produced?

mgtaylor · 27 March 2007, 03:25 PM

WHAT ! ??? HECK YEAH !!

I have to himble my self and ask if there is a conversion / translation chart availble to 'Convert" Methuen to FS (Federal Standard ?) ?

Does any one know if THAT exists ?

Yours mike

RAGIII · 27 March 2007, 04:23 PM

I see agreat need for this type of book! Perhaps now that DSA is finished with his book he could take a look at a mammoth project like this

RAGIII

Dan_San_Abbott · 27 March 2007, 05:04 PM

Gentlemen:
I have a mamoth project, I am converting my Jasta pencil drawings to watercolors. Since I started I have done 46 Pfalz D.III and D.IIIa aircraft. I have about 40 more.
As far as I know, no one has done a conversion chart for Methuen to Fed-Std 595a. The Fed-Std lacks the range of colors of the Methuen Handbook of Colour. By the way, lilac is pink, so is mauve!
Blue skies,
Dan-San

Sreiko · 7 April 2007, 10:27 AM

Methuen is general book and dedicated for quick reference match. You can use it for aircraft colors as well for the flowers. Good for matching is also industrial Pantone colors.

berman · 7 April 2007, 05:08 PM

Sreiko. The problem with using the Pantone color charts as a general reference for World War One aircraft colors is that the Pantone system is quite expensive. Most likely too costly for most modelers. A WWI specific color chart, even if it had one thousand color chips could be sold for $25. As I stated in the first part of this thread, an Epson printer with acrylic polymer printing medium would produce the closest thing to actual paint at a reasonable price. If there was one specific guide that replaced the Methuen Handbook then eveyone could easily communicate colors.

Sreiko · 7 April 2007, 10:45 PM

Berman- I am not sure anymore what is expensive and what is not. I have buy Methuen book in the 1989 and pay for it 30 BP + PP. The fact is that proof Epson printer could make very precise prints and the print is very durable and resistant.

What is the primary goal of your interest? To print color chips and sale it?

Makhpiyaluta · 8 April 2007, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berman

Sreiko. The problem with using the Pantone color charts as a general reference for World War One aircraft colors is that the Pantone system is quite expensive. Most likely too costly for most modelers. A WWI specific color chart, even if it had one thousand color chips could be sold for $25. As I stated in the first part of this thread, an Epson printer with acrylic polymer printing medium would produce the closest thing to actual paint at a reasonable price. If there was one specific guide that replaced the Methuen Handbook then eveyone could easily communicate colors.

For a Pantone color chart go to your local printshop and ask them to take over the older ones they don't use anymore. There replaced every year or so.
This reduces the costs.

Willem

Sreiko · 8 April 2007, 06:08 AM

Makhpiyaluta said right- every paint shop have it. And I don't believe that they are more then20 Euro one chip set.

In Photoshop I have all Pantone colors and I have also Methuen Handbook of color. If you need any chip just let me know.

jumpinjan · 8 April 2007, 07:21 AM

Do you understand how Methuen printed the 30 pages of colors? They are printed twice. The grays are individual inks and printed first, then each hue is printed over the gray in half-tones. Ink jet printers can't do all of this, the gray inks needs to set and not mix with the hues that are being laid down over the grays. The paper media needs consideration too. I think the Epsons use individual ink delivery systems, so they might be viable to do this. I have done some characterization of the Methuen gray levels and have those values, but I don't have the hues matched yet and I moved on to other projects.
Jan
PS I have tried to champion a reprint of the handbook (check the archives), I was able to contact Metheun and they replied that they lost the master plates to the handbook (They also seemed a little strange to me, from the way they acted).