Humbrol Paint Converter

Description

Humbrol Paint Converter is an application for hobby modellers, cross-referencing hobby model paints from different manufacturers.

Using the application

Using the application is really simple. In the top bar there are buttons for selecting the first and second brands and for swapping them, as the paints are always sorted by the code of the first brand.

Windows Phone 8 screenshot of the main page

The search box allows filtering the paints list by name or by code.

Windows Phone 8 screenshot of the filters

On the bottom app bar is a View button with additional options:

show only matches: display only those paints from the first brand which have a correspoding paint from the second brand.
show discontinued: include paints which are no longer produced by the manufacturer. The discontinued paints are shown in gray italic text. Useful if you have an old model with a paint list and wish to find a new paint equivalent.
group by paint finish: allows to group the paints based on the paint finish (Gloss, Satin, Matt, Metallic, etc.)

Color match (Windows Phone only)

The color match is available through a button on the bottom app bar. It displays a control for selecting a color to list the nearest matching Humbrol paints.

Windows Phone 8 screenshot of the color match page

Camera capture

The camera capture is available through a button on the bottom app bar. It displays a capture control with a crosshairs. When the Capture color button is pressed, a list of the nearest matching Humbrol paints will be displayed.

Windows 8 screenshot of the camera capture page

Paints conversion list

The paints conversion list is displayed sorted by the code of the first paint brand. In the first column, a box with the approximate color of the paint is displayed. Next is the paint code. In the third column is displayed the paint name and the paint finish in parentheses i.e. (Gloss).
Next is a conversion accuracy indicator, consisting of five > marks. The more marks are filled, the more accurate the conversion can be considered. For example, Humbrol paint No. 14 (Gloss French Blue) is accurate equivalent of Revell No. 52 (Gloss Blue) and has been assigend five marks. On the other hand Humbroll No. 63 (Matt Sand) is only approximately similar to Revell No. 16 (Matt Sandy Yellow) and has only one mark.
In general, you should rely on the conversion with three or more marks, and use those with one or two marks only when accurate conversion is not very important, or when having no other option.
The last two columns show the code and name of the paint from the second brand.

Paints details

The paints details page is opened by tapping on the color box of a paint on the main page. It displays a list with the conversions for that paint to all other brands.

Windows Phone 8 screenshot of the paint details page

Windows 8 screenshot of the paint details page

Paints manufacturers and brands

Currently the application show conversion between Humbrol, Revell, Testors/ModelMaster, Tamiya, Vallejo, Italeri Acrylics, Gunze Sangyo and Citadel paints and the mapping to US Federal Standard, RAL and RLM colors.

Humbrol: Humbrol is one of the oldest model paint brands in Europe. Humbrol number are traditionally referred to in paint instructions of Matchbox, Airfix, Heller, MPM and other contemporary East European manufacturers.
Revell: Revell is the brand name today of two famous manufacturers (Revell-Monogram in USA and Revell in Germany) of scale plastic models and model paints.
Testors: Testors is an American manufacturer of model kits, tools and accessories. It offers Model Master and Testors brands of paints for model kits.
Tamiya: Tamiya is a Japanese manufacturer of plastic model kits, tools and acrylic and enamel model paints.
Vallejo: Vallejo is an Amercian company specialized in acrylic colors.
Federal Standard: Federal Standard is not a paint brand, but a color system officially named Federal Standard 595C - Colors Used in Government Procurement. Each color in the Federal Standard 595 range is identified by a five-digit code. The colors in the standard have no official names, just numbers. The names shown in the application are unofficial names gathered from various sources.
RAL: RAL is a color matching system used in Europe.

Sources

See the compiled list of links.

Review

Check the review at Born to Learn blog.