John Player Special Black

John Player Special Black: deep black for gold-lined racing liveries

Traffic Black is RAL 9017 Verkehrsschwarz, a deep, neutral black from the RAL Classic standard used on vehicles, signage and industrial equipment. In the modelling world, black with gold pinstripes means one thing above all: the John Player Special Lotus cars that raced in Formula 1 from 1972 into the mid-1980s, including the championship-winning Lotus 72 and 79. This solid black gives a dense, even base for those gold decals, and it is equally useful for chassis, trim, wheels and any build that needs a true black rather than a dark grey.

The problem with blacks

A black that goes on too dry turns grey and dusty; too wet and it pools in the recesses. This black is tuned to level out into a deep, even colour that takes a gloss clear beautifully.

How to apply

1. Shake the bottle for at least 60 seconds.
2. Prime with a black 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.