No colour family causes more squinting at instruction sheets than the greys — and Humbrol's range has several with "sea" in the name. So let's be precise: this is No. 27 Sea Grey, its own colour in the range — a medium neutral grey with a maritime lean, distinct from Humbrol's separately numbered Dark Sea Grey, Medium Sea Grey and Ocean Grey. If your kit's paint guide says "27", this is exactly the tin it means; if it names one of those other greys by number, check the rack for that number instead. Right grey, first time.

The Versatile Neutral

On its own merits, No. 27 is one of the most useful greys on the bench: ship hulls and superstructures, deck fittings, undercarriage bays and general aircraft detail, rolling stock roofs, weathered concrete and stonework on layouts and dioramas. As a true mid-grey it also earns constant work as a mixing base — nudge it blue, green or brown with other colours in the range and it becomes whatever weathered shade a project needs.

Classic Solvent-Based Enamel

The traditional fast-drying Humbrol formula: high-density pigment, strong coverage, durable matt film. It adheres to most plastics, wood, glass, ceramics, metal, cardboard and sealed surfaces (test a small area first on anything unusual), with a 14ml tinlet covering roughly 0.3 square metres.

Brush or Airbrush

Brush straight from the tin — two thin coats beat one thick one. Airbrush thinned with Humbrol Enamel Thinners at 2 parts paint to 1 part thinner. Matt is touch dry in 20–40 minutes and hard dry within 24 hours; recoat after 6 hours minimum, preferably overnight. Clean brushes and airbrush with Humbrol Enamel Thinners.