In 1976, Tactical Paint Schemes were adopted, an ambitious new camouflage technique proposed by Keith Ferris, a noted aviation artist. This so-called Ferris Scheme featured high-contrast fragment patterns as well as a false dome on the underside of the nose intended to deceive enemy pilots as to the aircraft’s orientation. The three colors used were Light Gull Gray FS-36440 and Dark Gull Gray FS-36231 for the sides and undersides, with Medium Gunship Gray FS-36118 on the upper side. The Ferris Scheme was applied to many USN fighters, particularly the F-4 and F-14, and was even tested on the then-new USAF F-15. However, it proved unsatisfactory and was never officially adopted, although some of its features, such as the false canopy, were later adopted by USMC F/A-18s as well as by many foreign air forces. The splinter pattern has also inspired many modern foreign camouflage designs.
F-15 Eagle
F-14 Tomcat
F-4 Phantom II
Northrop F-5
Painting Guide:
Dark Gull Grey FS-36231: This color is described in the Interiors section as it is best known as the main post-war US color.
Medium Gunship Grey FS-36118: Almost universally available with some versions slightly bluer than others, but this is also evident in the photos. I find Gunze H305 to be very inaccurate for FS-36118 (too light and lacking the blue-grey tint). In contrast, Tamiya’s XF-24 is suitable for FS-36118, although it is not marked as such. All other versions of FS-36118 that I have come across (Vallejo, AK Real Color) look close to the real thing.
| FS 36440 | FS 36231 | FS 36118 | |
| Light Gull Gray | Dark Gull Gray | Medium Gunship Gray | |
| Schemes | |||
| Ferris | Lower / Sides | Lower / Upper | Upper |
| Color matches | |||
| Gunze Aqueous | H325 | H317 | H305 (!) |
| Gunze Mr Color | C325 | C317 | C305 (!) |
| Humbrol | 140 | 140 | 125 |
| Model Master | 1730 | 1740 | 1723 |
| Revell | – | – | 74 |
| Tamiya | (X-20) | (XF-54) | (XF-24) |
| Vallejo Model Air | 71.121* | 71.277* | 71.097* |
| Vallejo Model Color | 70.986** | 70.991 | 70.868* |
| AKAN | 72014 | 62009 | 72040* |
| AK Interactive | AK 2051 | – | AK-2144 |
| AK Real Colors | RC220 | RC247 | RC-244 |
| AMMO by Mig | A.MIG-241 | A.MIG-205 | A.MIG-204 |
| Colourcoats | ACUS01 | ACUS02 | ACUS14 |
| Hataka | HTK-_048* | HTK-_044* | HTK-031 |
| Lifecolor | UA 025 | UA 033 | UA 022 |
| Mission Models | MMP-063 | MMP-064 | MMP-084 |
| Mr Paint | MRP-98 | MRP-100 | MRP-40 |
| Xtracolor | X137 | X131 | X130 |
| Xtracrylix | XA1137 | XA1131 | XA1130 |
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