Chili Red

Chili Red: the signature red of the modern Mini

Chili Red, MINI code 851, has been the signature colour of the BMW-era MINI since the new car launched in 2001, famously paired with a white roof and mirror caps in homage to the rally-winning Mini Cooper S of the 1960s. It is a bright, solid, slightly warm red with no metallic flake, giving a clean, cheerful look that suits the car's playful design. For modelers it is the obvious choice for modern MINI kits, and it doubles as an excellent all-purpose bright red for road and race cars.

The problem with bright colours

Reds, oranges and yellows are naturally translucent. Over a grey primer they go patchy or dull, and by the fifth coat the panel lines are gone. This colour is ground for strong coverage, so you reach full colour in fewer, thinner coats and the detail stays crisp.

How to apply

1. Shake the bottle for at least 60 seconds.
2. Prime with a white primer and let it dry fully.
3. Airbrush straight from the bottle, no thinning needed. Use a 0.2–0.4 mm nozzle at around 20 PSI (1.4 bar) and apply light, cross-hatched coats, letting each one flash off before the next.
4. Let the paint cure overnight before masking or clear-coating.
5. Seal with a water-based clear coat: gloss for a factory shine, or satin or matte for work vehicles and interiors.
6. Clean the airbrush with water before the paint dries.

Why modelers choose Koloi Aqua

• Ready to spray: no guessing thinning ratios, the same result from every bottle
• Cleans up with water, so there are no strong solvent fumes at the bench
• Fine pigment grind for 1:8 to 1:72 scales, so panel lines and detail stay crisp
• One system: primer, colour and clear designed to work together

Shelf life

Estimated shelf life of more than 12 months when stored tightly closed between +10 °C and +28 °C, away from frost and direct sunlight. Shake well before use; if the paint has thickened or separated and does not remix, do not use it.

💡 Need a colour we don’t list? Our colour lab matches RAL, RLM and OEM paint codes on request.

The on-screen image is indicative: the final tone depends on the primer, the number of coats and the clear coat. Keep out of reach of children. Safety Data Sheet available on request.

Vehicle, manufacturer, team and sponsor names are used only to identify the colour reference. Fire Scale Modeler is not affiliated with or endorsed by the trademark owners.