Vallejo Paint Colors: Complete Reference

Introduction

Vallejo is the most comprehensive paint range available to military modelers. Period. No other manufacturer offers the sheer depth of historically researched military colors, the breadth of product lines for different techniques, and the value per bottle that Vallejo delivers. If you’re building WWII American aircraft, Vallejo almost certainly has a paint mixed specifically for the exact color you need — not an approximation, not a “close enough,” but a paint formulated to match the Federal Standard or ANA specification on the label.

The Spanish company Acrylicos Vallejo has been making paints since 1965. Their model paint division spans four product lines that matter to scale modelers: Model Color (70.xxx) for brush painting, Model Air (71.xxx) pre-thinned for airbrushing, Metal Color (77.xxx) for metallic finishes, and Surface Primer (70.6xx) for preparation. Between them, the range covers over 500 colors — more than any competitor.

Vallejo paints are true water-based acrylics. They thin with water or Vallejo’s own airbrush thinner, clean up with water while wet, and produce minimal odor. The dropper bottles (17ml for Model Color and Model Air, 32ml for Metal Color) deliver more paint per dollar than Tamiya’s 10ml jars, typically at $3-4 per bottle.

The most important thing to understand about Vallejo: Model Color and Model Air are different formulas. Model Color is thick and opaque, designed for brush application. Model Air is pre-thinned for airbrushing. Don’t airbrush Model Color without heavy thinning, and don’t brush Model Air without expecting thin, transparent coats. They share some color names but they’re not interchangeable.

Kit instructions usually reference Tamiya numbers, not Vallejo. That’s fine — our cross-reference charts map every relevant Tamiya color to its Vallejo equivalent. And for WWII US military colors specifically, Vallejo’s Model Air range often provides a more accurate match than the Tamiya color the instructions call for.

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Product Lines Explained

Model Color (70.xxx) — Brush Painting Acrylics

The original Vallejo line — thick, heavily pigmented acrylics designed for brush application. Over 200 colors with excellent opacity and smooth, self-leveling coverage. The standard choice for cockpit details, wheel wells, figure painting, and any work done by brush. Can be airbrushed, but requires significant thinning (1:1 or more with airbrush thinner) and doesn’t atomize as cleanly as Model Air. Colors include military-specific shades like 70.887 US Olive Drab and 70.992 Neutral Grey. ~$3-4 per 17ml dropper bottle.

Model Air (71.xxx) — Airbrush Acrylics

Pre-thinned acrylics optimized for airbrush use. This is where Vallejo’s military color expertise really shines — the range includes dedicated WWII colors with ANA and FS numbers right on the bottle: 71.016 USAF Olive Drab, 71.295 USN Sea Blue, 71.137 US Interior Yellow Green, 71.299 Intermediate Blue, and dozens more. Spray straight from the bottle at 12-18 PSI, or thin slightly with 71.261 Airbrush Thinner for finer work. Can be brushed but applies very thin — multiple coats needed. ~$3-4 per 17ml dropper bottle.

Metal Color (77.xxx) — Metallic Acrylics

The best brush-on metallics in the hobby. Metal Color uses ultra-fine aluminum particles suspended in a water-based medium, producing genuinely metallic finishes that other acrylic metallics can’t match. 77.701 Aluminium is the industry standard for painting landing gear, propeller hubs, and bare-metal detail panels. For full natural metal finish work, the range includes Duraluminium (77.702), Dark Aluminium (77.703), Pale Burnt Metal (77.704), and more — each replicating a different aluminum alloy or finish condition. ~$5-6 per 32ml bottle.

Surface Primer (70.6xx) — Primer Range

Acrylic primers that airbrush beautifully and provide excellent adhesion for subsequent paint layers. Available in neutral colors (White 70.600, Grey 70.601, Black 70.602) and military-specific shades — 70.608 US Olive Drab Primer lets you prime and base coat in one step for USAAF camouflage schemes. ~$5-7 per bottle.

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Model Color (70.xxx) — Complete Reference

Organized by color family. Military references included where applicable.

Whites, Ivories, and Flesh Tones

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Notes
70.951	White		Flat	FS 37925	≈ Tamiya XF-2
70.919	Cold White		Flat	—	Bluish-white
70.842	Gloss White		Gloss	—	—
70.820	Off White		Flat	FS 17875	Warm white / Insignia White
70.918	Ivory		Flat	FS 37855	—
70.766	Cream White		Flat	—	—
70.993	White Grey		Flat	—	Nearly white with grey cast
70.928	Light Flesh		Flat	FS 31670	Figure painting
70.815	Basic Skin Tone		Flat	—	Figure painting
70.955	Flat Flesh		Flat	FS 32516	Figure painting
70.927	Dark Flesh		Flat	—	Figure painting
70.845	Sunny Skin Tone		Flat	FS 32544	Figure painting
70.860	Medium Flesh Tone		Flat	—	Figure painting

Yellows and Oranges

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Notes
70.949	Light Yellow		Flat	—	—
70.952	Lemon Yellow		Flat	—	≈ Tamiya X-8
70.858	Ice Yellow		Flat	—	—
70.915	Deep Yellow		Flat	—	—
70.953	Flat Yellow		Flat	—	≈ Tamiya XF-3
70.948	Golden Yellow		Flat	—	—
70.806	German Yellow		Flat	FS 32356 (Dunkelgelb)	—
70.764	Military Yellow		Flat	—	—
70.911	Light Orange		Flat	—	—
70.805	German Orange		Flat	FS 32356	—
70.851	Bright Orange		Flat	—	—
70.916	Sand Yellow		Flat	—	—
70.837	Pale Sand		Flat	FS 33798	—
70.917	Beige		Flat	—	—

Reds and Pinks

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Notes
70.957	Flat Red		Flat	FS 31136 (Insignia Red)	≈ Tamiya XF-7
70.926	Red		Flat	FS 30160	≈ Tamiya X-7
70.817	Scarlet		Flat	—	—
70.910	Orange Red		Flat	—	—
70.909	Vermillion		Flat	FS 31302	—
70.947	Dark Vermillion		Flat	—	—
70.908	Carmine Red		Flat	—	—
70.946	Dark Red		Flat	—	—
70.814	Burnt Red		Flat	—	—
70.859	Black Red		Flat	—	—
70.829	Amaranth Red		Flat	—	—
70.804	Beige Red		Flat	FS 31433	—
70.835	Salmon Rose		Flat	—	—
70.803	Brown Rose		Flat	—	—
70.944	Old Rose		Flat	—	—
70.958	Pink		Flat	—	—

Violets and Purples

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Notes
70.802	Sunset Red		Flat	—	—
70.945	Magenta		Flat	—	—
70.812	Violet Red		Flat	—	—
70.959	Purple		Flat	—	—
70.810	Royal Purple		Flat	FS 37100	—
70.811	Blue Violet		Flat	—	—
70.960	Violet		Flat	—	—

Blues

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Notes
70.898	Dark Sea Blue		Flat	FS 35042 (USN Sea Blue)	≈ Tamiya XF-17
70.899	Dark Prussian Blue		Flat	FS 35048	Insignia Blue range
70.807	Oxford Blue		Flat	—	—
70.965	Prussian Blue		Flat	FS 35052	—
70.925	Blue		Flat	—	—
70.930	Dark Blue		Flat	—	≈ Tamiya XF-8
70.809	Royal Blue		Flat	FS 35095	—
70.839	Ultramarine		Flat	—	—
70.962	Flat Blue		Flat	FS 35180	—
70.963	Medium Blue		Flat	—	—
70.964	Field Blue		Flat	—	—
70.900	French Mirage Blue		Flat	FS 35164 (Intermediate Blue)	—
70.903	Intermediate Blue		Flat	FS 36176	USN Intermediate Blue
70.943	Grey Blue		Flat	FS 35177	—
70.902	Azure		Flat	FS 35231	—
70.901	Pastel Blue		Flat	FS 35190	—
70.906	Pale Blue		Flat	FS 35352	—
70.841	Andrea Blue		Flat	—	—
70.844	Deep Sky Blue		Flat	—	—
70.961	Sky Blue		Flat	FS 35466	—
70.840	Light Turquoise		Flat	—	—
70.966	Turquoise		Flat	—	—
70.808	Blue Green		Flat	FS 35275	—
70.752	Infantry Blue		Flat	—	—
70.772	Medium Grey Blue		Flat	—	—

Greens

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Notes
70.838	Emerald		Flat	—	—
70.970	Deep Green		Flat	FS 34090	—
70.969	Park Green Flat		Flat	—	—
70.891	Intermediate Green		Flat	—	Interior Green range
70.942	Light Green		Flat	FS 34230	—
70.974	Green Sky		Flat	—	—
70.827	Lime Green		Flat	—	—
70.954	Yellow Green		Flat	—	—
70.857	Golden Olive		Flat	—	—
70.833	German Camo Bright Green		Flat	RLM 82	—
70.850	Medium Olive		Flat	—	—
70.967	Olive Green		Flat	—	≈ Tamiya XF-5
70.968	Flat Green		Flat	FS 34128	—
70.922	Uniform Green		Flat	—	—
70.920	German Uniform		Flat	FS 34158	—
70.823	Luftwaffe Camo Green		Flat	FS 34095 / RLM 82	—
70.892	Yellow Olive		Flat	—	—
70.895	Gunship Green		Flat	—	—
70.975	Military Green		Flat	—	—
70.890	Refractive Green		Flat	—	—
70.889	Olive Brown		Flat	—	—
70.888	Olive Grey		Flat	—	—
70.887	US Olive Drab		Flat	FS 34088 / ANA 613	WWII USAAF OD — ≈ Tamiya XF-62
70.893	US Dark Green		Flat	FS 34079 / ANA 631	WWII USAAF Dark Green
70.894	Camo Olive Green		Flat	—	—
70.897	Bronze Green		Flat	—	—
70.896	German Camo Extra Dark Green		Flat	—	—
70.979	German Camo Dark Green		Flat	FS 34052 / RAL 6003	—
70.980	Black Green		Flat	—	—
70.924	Russian Uniform WWII		Flat	FS 34127	—

Browns and Earth Tones

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Notes
70.877	Gold Yellow		Flat	—	—
70.856	Ochre Brown		Flat	—	—
70.913	Yellow Ochre		Flat	FS 33434	—
70.912	Tan Yellow		Flat	FS 33245	—
70.847	Dark Sand		Flat	—	—
70.819	Iraqi Sand		Flat	FS 33531	—
70.977	Desert Yellow		Flat	—	—
70.824	German Camo Orange Ochre		Flat	—	—
70.978	Dark Yellow		Flat	RAL 7028 (Dunkelgelb)	—
70.821	German Camo Beige WWII		Flat	FS 33303	—
70.882	Middlestone		Flat	—	—
70.923	Japanese Uniform WWII		Flat	—	—
70.914	Green Ochre		Flat	—	—
70.976	Buff		Flat	FS 33531	—
70.929	Light Brown		Flat	—	—
70.981	Orange Brown		Flat	—	—
70.876	Brown Sand		Flat	—	—
70.843	Cork Brown		Flat	—	—
70.874	Tan Earth		Flat	—	—
70.875	Beige Brown		Flat	—	—
70.818	Red Leather		Flat	—	—
70.982	Cavalry Brown		Flat	—	—
70.940	Saddle Brown		Flat	FS 30111	—
70.846	Mahogany Brown		Flat	—	—
70.984	Flat Brown		Flat	—	≈ Tamiya XF-64
70.921	English Uniform		Flat	FS 30145	≈ Tamiya XF-52
70.873	US Field Drab		Flat	FS 30118 / ANA 617	WWII US Field Drab
70.983	Flat Earth		Flat	—	—
70.825	German Camo Pale Brown		Flat	—	—
70.985	Hull Red		Flat	—	—
70.871	Leather Brown		Flat	—	—
70.941	Burnt Umber		Flat	FS 30097	—
70.872	Chocolate Brown		Flat	—	≈ Tamiya XF-10
70.822	German Camo Black Brown		Flat	RAL 8017	—
70.740	Camo Middle Brown		Flat	—	—
70.767	Desert Brown		Flat	—	—
70.768	BC Dark Brown		Flat	—	—
70.769	Mustard Brown		Flat	—	—
70.762	Grey Brown		Flat	—	—

Khakis and Olive Drab

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Notes
70.988	Khaki		Flat	—	—
70.880	Khaki Grey		Flat	—	—
70.881	Yellow Green		Flat	—	—
70.879	Green Brown		Flat	—	—
70.830	German Field Grey WWII		Flat	FS 34086 / RAL 7009	—
70.816	Luftwaffe Uniform WWII		Flat	RLM 66	—

Greys

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Notes
70.883	Silver Grey		Flat	FS 37150	—
70.907	Pale Grey Blue		Flat	FS 36473 (ADC Gray)	—
70.989	Sky Grey		Flat	FS 36463	—
70.990	Light Grey		Flat	FS 36375 (Light Ghost Gray)	—
70.905	Blue Grey Pale		Flat	FS 35237	—
70.904	Dark Blue Grey		Flat	FS 35189 (PRU Blue)	—
70.870	Medium Sea Grey		Flat	FS 36270	—
70.991	Dark Sea Grey		Flat	FS 36231 (Dark Gull Gray)	—
70.992	Neutral Grey		Flat	FS 36173 / ANA 603	WWII USAAF Neutral Gray — ≈ Tamiya XF-53
70.987	Medium Grey		Flat	FS 36306	—
70.884	Stone Grey		Flat	FS 36357	—
70.836	London Grey		Flat	FS 36081	—
70.869	Basalt Grey		Flat	FS 36152	—
70.868	Dark Sea Green		Flat	FS 36118 (Gunship Gray)	—
70.867	Dark Blue Grey		Flat	FS 36099	—
70.866	Grey Green		Flat	FS 36134	—
70.886	Green Grey		Flat	—	≈ RAF Interior Grey-Green
70.994	Dark Grey		Flat	FS 36076	—
70.995	German Grey		Flat	FS 35044 / RAL 7021	≈ Tamiya XF-63
70.862	Black Grey		Flat	FS 37031	≈ Tamiya XF-69
70.773	Violet Grey		Flat	—	—
70.971	Green Grey		Flat	—	—
70.972	Light Green Blue		Flat	—	—
70.973	Light Sea Grey		Flat	—	—
70.885	Pastel Green		Flat	—	—
70.986	Deck Tan		Flat	—	≈ Tamiya XF-55
70.759	German Tank Crew		Flat	—	—
70.760	Light Mud		Flat	—	—
70.761	Old Wood		Flat	—	—
70.763	Canvas		Flat	—	—

Blacks

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Notes
70.950	Black		Flat	FS 37038	≈ Tamiya XF-1
70.861	Glossy Black		Gloss	—	—

Metallics

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Notes
70.997	Silver		Metallic	Basic silver — see Metal Color 77.701 for better metallic
70.996	Gold		Metallic	—
70.878	Old Gold		Metallic	—
70.801	Brass		Metallic	—
70.998	Bronze		Metallic	—
70.999	Copper		Metallic	—
70.865	Oily Steel		Metallic	≈ Tamiya XF-56
70.864	Natural Steel		Metallic	—
70.863	Gunmetal Grey		Metallic	Engine/gun detail — ≈ Tamiya XF-56
70.800	Gunmetal Blue		Metallic	—

Alcohol Metallics (70.790-70.797): Alcohol-based metallics for smoother metallic finishes. Silver (70.790), Gold (70.791), Old Gold (70.792), Rich Gold (70.793), Red Gold (70.794), Green Gold (70.795), White Gold (70.796), Copper (70.797).

Clears, Glazes, and Transparents

#	Color Name	Finish	Notes
70.939	Clear Smoke	Clear	Tinting / exhaust staining
70.937	Transparent Yellow	Clear	Tinting light lenses
70.935	Transparent Orange	Clear	—
70.934	Transparent Red	Clear	Navigation light lenses
70.938	Transparent Blue	Clear	—
70.936	Transparent Green	Clear	Navigation light lenses
70.956	Clear Orange	Clear	—
70.828	Woodgrain	Clear	Wood effects
70.834	Natural Woodgrain	Clear	Wood effects
70.853	White Glaze	Glaze	Layering effects
70.832	Verdigris Glaze	Glaze	Copper weathering
70.831	Tan Glaze	Glaze	—
70.854	Brown Glaze	Glaze	—
70.855	Black Glaze	Glaze	—

Fluorescents: Yellow (70.730), Orange (70.733), Magenta (70.735), Blue (70.736), Green (70.737).

Mediums and Auxiliaries

#	Product Name	Purpose
70.510	Gloss Varnish	Gloss clear coat — apply before decals and washes
70.520	Matte Varnish	Flat clear coat — final coat for military subjects
70.522	Satin Varnish	Satin/semi-gloss clear coat
70.540	Matte Medium	Mix medium for thinning without changing flow
70.470	Gloss Medium	Gloss mixing medium
70.521	Metal Medium	Base medium for metallic effects
70.596	Glaze Medium	Extends drying time for blending
70.597	Drying Retarder	Slows drying — essential for brush painting large areas
70.524	Thinner	Standard Vallejo thinner
70.261	Airbrush Thinner	Optimized for airbrush use
70.262	Flow Improver	Reduces surface tension — helps prevent tip dry
70.523	Liquid Mask	Masking fluid for complex shapes
70.212	Decal Medium	Softens decals for conformity
70.213	Decal Fix	Bonds decals to surface
70.214	Chipping Medium	Applied under paint for chipping effects
70.400	Plastic Putty	Gap filler
70.598	Crackle Medium	Cracking/weathering effects

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Model Air (71.xxx) — Complete Reference

Organized by nation and purpose for military modelers.

WWII United States — USAAF

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Cross-Reference
71.016	USAF Olive Drab		Flat	FS 34088 / ANA 613	≈ Tamiya XF-62 / AS-6
71.043	US Olive Drab		Flat	FS 34087 / RLM 81	Alternate OD — slightly different tone
71.316	No.41 Dark Olive Drab		Flat	ANA 613 variant	Pre-ANA dark OD specification
71.051	Neutral Grey		Flat	FS 36173 / ANA 603	≈ Tamiya XF-53 / AS-7
71.137	US Light Green		Flat	FS 34151 / ANA 611	Interior Green — industry standard match
71.010	Interior Green		Flat	FS 34098 / ANA 611	Alternate Interior Green shade
71.107	US Interior Yellow		Flat	Zinc Chromate Yellow	Early-war / yellow variant
71.006	Light Green Chromate		Flat	Zinc Chromate	Greener zinc chromate variant
71.094	Green Zinc Chromate		Flat	Interior Green	Bright zinc chromate
71.279	Insignia White		Flat	FS 37875 / ANA 601	≈ Tamiya XF-2
71.091	Signal Blue		Flat	FS 35044 / ANA 605	Insignia Blue
71.084	Fire Red		Flat	RAL 3000	Insignia Red range
71.289	US Dark Green		Flat	FS 34102	WWII USAAF Dark Green
71.294	US Forest Green		Flat	FS 34079 / ANA 631	WWII USAAF Forest Green
71.124	USAF Green		Flat	FS 34092 / ANA 612	Medium Green
71.292	US Loam		Flat	FS 34086	—
71.296	USAAF Light Grey		Flat	FS 36622	USAAF Light Gray
71.139	US Field Drab		Flat	FS 30118 / ANA 617	WWII US Field Drab
71.138	US Sand		Flat	FS 30277	—
71.140	US Desert Sand		Flat	FS 30279 / ANA 616	—

WWII United States — USN / USMC

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Cross-Reference
71.295	USN Sea Blue		Flat	FS 35042 / ANA 607	Tri-color upper — ≈ Tamiya XF-17
71.299	Intermediate Blue		Flat	FS 35164 / ANA 608	Tri-color sides — ≈ Tamiya XF-18
71.300	Glossy Sea Blue		Satin	FS 15042 / ANA 623	Late-war overall — no Tamiya equivalent
71.121	Light Gull Grey		Flat	FS 36440 / ANA 620	USN Light Gull Gray
71.277	Dark Gull Grey		Flat	FS 36231 / ANA 621	—

WWII Germany — Luftwaffe (RLM Colors)

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference
71.044	Grey RLM02		Flat	RLM 02
71.255	Light Blue RLM65		Flat	RLM 65
71.008	Pale Blue		Flat	FS 35414 / RLM 65
71.101	Light Blue RLM78		Flat	RLM 78
71.257	Light Blue RLM76		Flat	RLM 76
71.258	Grey Green RLM74		Flat	RLM 74
71.259	Grey Violet RLM75		Flat	RLM 75
71.015	Dark Green RLM71		Flat	RLM 71
71.263	Green RLM72		Flat	RLM 72
71.256	Green RLM73		Flat	RLM 73
71.265	Olive Green RLM80		Flat	RLM 80
71.264	Brown Violet RLM81		Flat	RLM 81
71.022	Light Green RLM82		Flat	RLM 82
71.011	Dark Green RLM83		Flat	RLM 83
71.103	Grey Blue RLM84		Flat	RLM 84
71.055	Black Grey RLM66		Flat	RLM 66
71.260	Light Grey RLM63		Flat	RLM 63
71.123	Dark Grey RLM42		Flat	RLM 42
71.266	Dark Blue RLM24		Flat	RLM 24
71.267	Light Green RLM25		Flat	RLM 25
71.003	Red RLM23		Flat	RLM 23
71.105	Brown RLM26		Flat	RLM 26
71.106	Ivory RLM05		Flat	RLM 05
71.278	Sand Yellow RLM79		Flat	RLM 79
71.104	Green RLM62		Flat	RLM 62

WWII United Kingdom — RAF

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference
71.323	BS Dark Earth		Flat	BS 450 (RAF Dark Earth)
71.324	BS Dark Green		Flat	BS 241 (RAF Dark Green)
71.307	BS Medium Sea Grey		Flat	BS 637
71.405	BS Dark Sea Grey		Flat	RAF Dark Sea Grey
71.302	Sky Type S		Flat	BS 210 (RAF Sky)
71.009	Duck Egg Green		Flat	RAF Duck Egg Green
71.404	No.1 Duck Egg Blue		Flat	—
71.273	Ocean Grey		Flat	FS 36176 / BS 629
71.309	Dark Slate Grey		Flat	BS 634
71.143	UK Light Stone		Flat	BS 361
71.288	UK BSC 64 Portland Stone		Flat	BS 64
71.108	UK Azure Blue		Flat	FS 35231 / ANA 609
71.109	UK PRU Blue		Flat	FS 35189 / BS 636
71.408	PRU Pink		Flat	RAF PRU Pink
71.400	UK Desert Pink		Flat	—
71.284	UK Light Mud		Flat	—
71.401	UK BSC 28 Silver Grey		Flat	BSC 28
71.402	UK BSC 49 Light Purple Brown		Flat	BSC 49

WWII Japan — IJN / IJA

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference
71.310	IJN Deep Dark Green		Flat	FS 34058
71.322	IJN Black Green		Flat	FS 34077
71.325	IJN Dark Black Green		Flat	FS 34052
71.311	IJN Ash Grey		Satin	FS 36350
71.312	IJN Medium Grey		Flat	FS 36375
71.326	IJA Grey Green		Flat	IJA Grey Green
71.321	IJA Light Grey Green		Flat	FS 34424
71.285	IJA Dark Green		Flat	IJA Dark Green
71.286	IJA Olive Green		Flat	IJA Olive Green
71.287	IJA Khaki Brown		Flat	IJA Khaki Brown
71.134	IJA Midouri Green		Flat	IJA Green
71.135	IJA Chrome Yellow		Flat	FS 33655
71.136	IJA Earth Brown		Flat	IJA Brown
71.416	IJA Dark Beige		Flat	—
71.418	IJN Medium Brown		Flat	FS 30122
71.331	Cockpit Emerald Green		Flat	Japanese Cockpit Green
71.332	Underside Blue Faded		Flat	IJN Underside Blue
71.417	Aotake Translucent Green		Flat	Japanese Aotake
71.419	Aotake Translucent Blue		Flat	Japanese Aotake

Russia / Soviet

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference
71.017	Russian Green 4BO		Flat	FS 34082
71.281	3B Russian Green		Flat	—
71.282	6K Russian Brown		Flat	—
71.283	7K Russian Tan		Flat	—
71.317	AII Sv. Gol Light Blue		Flat	Soviet Light Blue
71.301	AMT-4 Camo Green		Flat	AMT-4
71.304	AMT-11 Blue Grey		Flat	AMT-11
71.308	AMT-12 Dark Grey		Flat	AMT-12
71.320	AMT-1 Light Grey Brown		Flat	AMT-1
71.303	A-24M Camo Green		Flat	—
71.318	AMT-7 Greyish Blue		Flat	AMT-7
71.319	A-28M Greyish Blue		Flat	—
71.333	Russian AF Blue		Flat	—
71.409	Zashchitnyi Khaki		Flat	Soviet Khaki
71.410	Zashchitnyi Camo Green		Flat	—
71.411	A-19F Grass Green		Flat	—
71.412	VVS Grey Blue		Flat	—
71.413	A-18F Light Blue		Flat	—
71.414	AEH-9 Light Grey		Flat	—
71.415	A-21 Light Greyish Brown		Flat	—
71.334	Flanker Light Blue		Flat	—
71.335	Flanker Light Grey		Flat	FS 36473
71.336	A-14 Steel Grey		Flat	FS 26187
71.337	Flanker Blue		Flat	FS 35526
71.338	Russian AF Grey Blue		Flat	—
71.339	Russian AF Grey No.3		Flat	FS 36373
71.342	Russian AF Light Blue		Flat	—
71.343	Russian AF Grey No.7		Flat	—
71.344	Russian AF Grey Protective		Flat	—
71.345	Russian AF Grey No.8		Flat	—
71.346	Russian AF Grey No.4		Satin	FS 26360
71.347	Russian AF Dark Green		Flat	—

Modern Military and NATO

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference
71.093	NATO Green		Flat	FS 34094
71.249	NATO Brown		Flat	FS 30051 / RAL 8027
71.251	NATO Black		Flat	FS 37030 / RAL 9021
71.250	Bronze Green		Flat	RAL 6031
71.120	Dark Ghost Grey		Flat	FS 36320
71.274	Aggressor Grey		Flat	FS 36251
71.275	USAF Medium Grey		Flat	FS 36270
71.276	USAF Light Grey		Flat	FS 36495
71.280	Camo Grey		Flat	FS 36170
71.097	Medium Gunship Grey		Flat	FS 36118
71.348	USAF Tan		Flat	USAF SEA Tan
71.125	USAF Brown		Flat	FS 30219 / ANA 628
71.122	US Desert Armour 686		Flat	FS 33446
71.111	USAF Light Blue		Flat	FS 35109
71.113	IDF Blue		Flat	FS 35177
71.126	IDF/IAF Green		Flat	FS 34227
71.141	IDF Sand Grey 73		Flat	—
71.142	IDF Sinai Grey 82		Flat	—
71.327	IAF Sand		Flat	FS 33531

General Colors and Utility

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference
71.001	White		Flat	—
71.002	Medium Yellow		Flat	—
71.078	Yellow		Flat	FS 33655 / RLM 04
71.004	Blue		Flat	RAL 5002
71.005	Grey Blue		Flat	RAL 5008
71.007	Olive Green		Flat	—
71.012	Dark Green		Flat	—
71.013	Yellow Olive		Flat	FS 34052 / RAL 6015
71.014	Gunship Green		Flat	—
71.018	Black Green		Flat	—
71.019	Camo Dark Green		Flat	FS 34083 / RAL 6007
71.020	Green Brown		Flat	—
71.021	Black Green RLM70		Flat	RLM 70
71.023	Hemp		Flat	FS 34201
71.024	Khaki Brown		Flat	—
71.025	Dark Yellow		Flat	RAL 7028 (Dunkelgelb)
71.026	US Flat Brown		Flat	FS 30215
71.027	Light Brown		Flat	—
71.028	Sand Yellow		Flat	—
71.029	Dark Earth		Flat	—
71.030	Green Brown		Flat	Panzer Green Brown
71.031	Middlestone		Flat	FS 30266 / ANA 615
71.032	Golden Brown		Flat	—
71.033	Yellow Ochre		Flat	RAL 1006
71.034	Sand Brown		Flat	—
71.035	Camo Pale Brown		Flat	FS 30140 / RAL 8025
71.036	Mahogany		Flat	—
71.037	Mud Brown		Flat	—
71.038	Camo Medium Brown		Flat	FS 30097
71.039	Hull Red		Flat	—
71.040	Burnt Umber		Flat	RAL 8014
71.041	Armour Brown		Flat	RAL 8017
71.042	Dark Brown RLM61		Flat	RLM 61
71.045	US Grey Light		Flat	RAL 7033
71.046	Pale Grey Blue		Flat	RLM 76
71.047	US Grey		Flat	—
71.048	Dark Sea Grey		Flat	FS 36076
71.049	Medium Sea Grey		Flat	—
71.050	Light Grey		Flat	FS 36300 / RAL 7046
71.052	Anthracite Grey		Flat	RAL 7012 / FS 36152
71.053	Dark Sea Grey		Flat	FS 36099 / RAL 7011
71.054	Dark Grey Blue		Flat	RAL 7024
71.056	Panzer Dark Grey		Flat	RAL 7021
71.057	Black		Flat	FS 37038 / RAL 9004
71.074	Radome Tan		Flat	FS 23594
71.075	Sand (Ivory)		Flat	RAL 1001
71.076	Skin Tone		Flat	—
71.077	Wood		Flat	—
71.079	Tan Earth		Flat	—
71.080	Rust		Flat	FS 30111
71.081	Ochre		Flat	—
71.083	Orange		Flat	RAL 2004
71.082	Fluorescent Red		Flat	FS 38903
71.085	Ferrari Red		Flat	—
71.086	Light Red		Flat	—
71.087	Steel Blue		Flat	FS 35052
71.088	French Blue		Flat	—
71.089	Light Sea Blue		Flat	—
71.090	Deep Sky		Flat	FS 35056 / RLM 24
71.092	Medium Olive		Flat	RAL 6003
71.095	Pale Green		Flat	RAL 6011
71.096	Panzer Olive Green		Flat	—
71.098	Dark Panzer Olive Green		Flat	—
71.102	Red		Flat	—
71.110	Dark Grey		Flat	BS 640
71.112	Sand		Flat	—
71.114	Medium Grey		Flat	FS 35237
71.115	Blue Grey		Flat	RAL 7016
71.116	Camo Grey Green		Flat	RAL 7008
71.117	Camo Brown		Flat	RAL 8020
71.118	Camo Grey		Flat	RAL 7027
71.119	White Grey		Flat	RAL 9002
71.128	Grey Violet		Flat	FS 36134
71.129	Light Rust		Flat	—
71.130	Orange Rust		Flat	RAL 2010
71.131	Concrete		Flat	—
71.132	Aged White		Flat	FS 37855 / RAL 1015
71.133	Dirt		Flat	—
71.268	German Grey		Flat	RAL 6006
71.269	Red		Flat	RAL 3000
71.270	Off White		Flat	RAL 9001
71.271	German Red Brown		Flat	RAL 8012
71.272	German Yellow Brown		Flat	RAL 8000
71.291	US Earth Yellow		Flat	FS 30257
71.290	US Earth Brown		Flat	FS 30099
71.293	US Earth Red		Flat	FS 30117
71.305	Interior Grey Green		Flat	FS 34373
71.306	Sky Blue		Flat	FS 35550
71.313	Dark Mediterranean Blue		Flat	—
71.314	Seaplane Grey		Flat	FS 36081 / ANA 625
71.315	Tire Black		Flat	—
71.328	Light Blue		Flat	FS 35622
71.329	Green		Flat	FS 34159
71.330	Khaki Green No.3		Flat	—
71.340	Grey Green		Flat	—
71.341	Green Grey		Flat	—
71.403	Light Green		Flat	—
71.406	Light Slate Grey		Flat	—
71.407	Sky Grey		Flat	—
71.420	No.17 Erdgelb Earth Yellow		Satin	—
71.421	Pinkish White		Flat	FS 36628
71.442	Anti-Fouling Red		Flat	—
71.443	Faded Yellow		Flat	—
71.444	Wood Deck		Flat	—
71.298	M495 Light Grey		Flat	FS 36357
71.297	JGSDF Brown 3606		Flat	—

RAL Colors (71.240-71.248): Sulfur Yellow (71.240 / RAL 1016), Mint Green (71.241 / RAL 6029), Traffic Blue (71.242 / RAL 5017), Ivory (71.243 / RAL 1014), Sand Beige (71.244 / RAL 1039), Loam Beige (71.245 / RAL 1040), Yellow Brown (71.246 / RAL 8031), Light Olive (71.247 / RAL 6040), Brown Grey (71.248 / RAL 7050).

Model Air Metallics

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Notes
71.062	Aluminium (Metallic)		Metallic	NMF base — see Metal Color 77.701 for superior finish
71.063	Silver (Metallic)		Metallic	—
71.064	Chrome (Metallic)		Metallic	FS 17178
71.065	Steel (Metallic)		Metallic	—
71.066	Gold (Metallic)		Metallic	—
71.067	Bright Brass (Metallic)		Metallic	—
71.068	Copper (Metallic)		Metallic	—
71.069	Rust (Metallic)		Metallic	Weathering
71.070	Signal Red (Metallic)		Metallic	—
71.071	Arctic Blue (Metallic)		Metallic	—
71.072	Gun Metal (Metallic)		Metallic	Engine/gun detail — ≈ Tamiya XF-56
71.073	Black (Metallic)		Metallic	—

Model Air Auxiliaries

#	Product Name	Purpose
71.261	Airbrush Thinner	Optimized thinner for Model Air
71.262	Flow Improver	Reduces surface tension — prevents tip dry

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Metal Color (77.xxx) — Complete Reference

The best brush-on metallics in the hobby. Each color uses ultra-fine aluminum pigments for genuine metallic sheen.

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Use
77.701	Aluminium		Metallic	Standard NMF base — landing gear, prop hubs, bare-metal details
77.702	Duraluminium		Metallic	NMF — Dural panels, stressed skin on WWII aircraft
77.703	Dark Aluminium		Metallic	NMF — Weathered / shadowed panels
77.704	Pale Burnt Metal		Metallic	NMF — Heat-discolored exhaust areas
77.706	White Aluminium		Metallic	NMF — Fresh / bright replacement panels
77.707	Chrome		Metallic	High-shine chrome details
77.710	Copper		Metallic	Copper detail / wiring
77.711	Magnesium		Metallic	NMF — Engine cowlings / castings
77.712	Steel		Metallic	NMF — Steel components, landing gear oleo struts
77.713	Jet Exhaust		Metallic	Exhaust stacks / turbocharger pipes
77.716	Semi Matt Aluminium		Metallic	NMF — Flat / matte-finish panels
77.717	Dull Aluminium		Metallic	NMF — Weathered / oxidized panels
77.720	Gun Metal Grey		Metallic	Machine gun barrels / engine cylinders
77.721	Burnt Iron		Metallic	Exhaust manifolds / heat-affected areas
77.723	Exhaust Manifold		Metallic	Exhaust system / turbocharger housing
77.724	Silver		Metallic	General silver
77.725	Gold		Metallic	—
77.657	Gloss Metal Varnish	Gloss	Protective clear for Metal Color finishes
77.660	Gloss Black Primer	Gloss	Essential — black base coat for Metal Color work

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Surface Primer (70.6xx) — Complete Reference

#	Color Name	Swatch	Finish	Military Reference	Use
70.600	White Primer		Flat	—	Under light colors
70.601	Grey Primer		Flat	—	Universal — reveals surface flaws
70.602	Black Primer		Flat	—	Under dark colors / NMF base
70.603	German Panzer Grey		Flat	RAL 7021	Prime + base coat in one step
70.604	Dunkelgelb		Flat	RAL 7028	—
70.605	Rotbraun		Flat	RAL 8012	—
70.606	Gelbbraun		Flat	RAL 8000	—
70.607	UK Bronze Green		Flat	—	—
70.608	US Olive Drab		Flat	FS 34088	USAAF OD — prime + base in one
70.609	Russian Green 4BO		Flat	—	—
70.612	NATO Green		Flat	FS 34094	—
70.613	Desert Tan		Flat	—	—
70.615	USN Light Ghost Grey		Flat	FS 36375	—

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WWII US Aircraft Colors — Quick Reference

Olive Drab / Neutral Gray — USAAF 1941-1943

For camouflaged P-40 Warhawks, P-47 Thunderbolts, P-51B Mustangs, B-17F Flying Fortresses, and B-25 Mitchells:

Role	Model Color	Model Air	Notes
Olive Drab (upper)	70.887 US Olive Drab	71.016 USAF Olive Drab	Both are excellent ANA 613 matches. MC for brushing, MA for airbrush.
Neutral Gray (under)	70.992 Neutral Grey	71.051 Neutral Grey	Best MC match for ANA 603 across any manufacturer.
Interior Green (cockpit)	70.891 Intermediate Green	71.137 US Light Green	71.137 is the industry standard ANA 611 match.
Zinc Chromate Yellow	—	71.107 US Interior Yellow	Early-war / yellower zinc chromate variant.
Anti-glare Black	70.950 Black	71.057 Black	—
Insignia White	70.951 White (close)	71.279 Insignia White	71.279 specifically targets FS 37875.
Insignia Blue	—	71.091 Signal Blue	ANA 605 match. No good MC equivalent.
Insignia Red	70.957 Flat Red	71.084 Fire Red	MC 70.957 is closer to true Insignia Red than MA.
Silver (gear)	70.997 Silver	71.062 Aluminium	Use 77.701 Metal Color for best brush results.
Tire Black	70.950 Black	71.315 Tire Black	71.315 is warm-toned rubber black.

Primer shortcut: Vallejo Surface Primer 70.608 US Olive Drab lets you prime and lay down your base OD coat in one step.

USN Tri-Color — Navy 1943-1944

For F6F Hellcats, F4U Corsairs, SBD Dauntless dive bombers, and TBF/TBM Avengers:

Role	Model Color	Model Air	Notes
Sea Blue (upper)	70.898 Dark Sea Blue	71.295 USN Sea Blue	71.295 is the standard match. Unlike Tamiya XF-17, no green tint to correct.
Intermediate Blue (sides)	70.903 Intermediate Blue	71.299 Intermediate Blue	Both excellent ANA 608 matches.
Insignia White (under)	70.951 White	71.279 Insignia White	—
Interior Green*	70.891 Intermediate Green	71.137 US Light Green	Standard ANA 611 cockpit color.

*Grumman cockpits (F6F, TBF): grey interior, not green. Use 71.050 Light Grey or 71.047 US Grey. Vought F4U Corsair cockpits: salmon primer — there’s no perfect Vallejo match; try mixing 70.835 Salmon Rose with 70.874 Tan Earth.

Natural Metal Finish — USAAF 1944-1945

For bare-metal P-51D Mustangs, late P-47D Thunderbolts, and B-17G Flying Fortresses:

Role	Product	Notes
Aluminum (base)	77.701 Aluminium	The go-to for brush and airbrush NMF. Apply over 77.660 Gloss Black Primer.
Panel variation	77.702 Duraluminium, 77.703 Dark Aluminium, 77.706 White Aluminium	Different shades for different panels — creates realistic multi-tone effect.
Weathered panels	77.716 Semi Matt Aluminium, 77.717 Dull Aluminium	Oxidized / older panels.
Exhaust staining	77.704 Pale Burnt Metal, 77.721 Burnt Iron	Near exhausts and turbochargers.
Engine cowling	77.711 Magnesium	Slightly different sheen than aluminum skin.
Landing gear	77.712 Steel	Steel oleo struts.
Gun metal (guns)	71.072 Gun Metal or 77.720 Gun Metal Grey	Engine cylinders and machine gun barrels.
Anti-glare panel	71.057 Black	—
Tire Black	71.315 Tire Black	—

NMF workflow: Prime with 77.660 Gloss Black Primer → Apply 77.701 Aluminium as base → Vary panels with 77.702, 77.703, 77.706 → Add 77.716/77.717 for weathered areas → Seal with 77.657 Gloss Metal Varnish. Vallejo Metal Color is the most accessible NMF system in the hobby — no lacquers, no respirator, no spray booth required.

Overall Glossy Sea Blue — USN Late War

For late F4U-1D and F4U-4 Corsairs, late F6F-5 Hellcats, and F8F Bearcats:

Role	Product	Notes
Glossy Sea Blue (overall)	71.300 Glossy Sea Blue	The dedicated ANA 623 / FS 15042 match. Satin finish out of the bottle — exactly right for this scheme. No mixing, no clear coat manipulation needed.

This is one of the strongest arguments for Vallejo: no other manufacturer offers a purpose-made Glossy Sea Blue in a bottle. Tamiya requires mixing X-3 + XF-17 and adding clear coats. Vallejo gives you the color, in the correct sheen, ready to spray.

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Tips for Using Vallejo Paints

Thinning

Vallejo paints are true water-based acrylics. Appropriate thinners:

• Water — works for basic thinning, but can break down the paint binder if used excessively. Fine for brush painting.
• Vallejo Airbrush Thinner (71.261 / 70.261) — the best option for airbrushing. Maintains flow properties and adhesion.
• Vallejo Flow Improver (71.262 / 70.262) — not a thinner. Reduces surface tension to prevent tip dry and improve atomization. Add 1-2 drops per airbrush cup load.
• Isopropyl alcohol — works but can cause paint to dry too fast and may affect adhesion. Use sparingly.

Thinning ratios:

• Model Color — brush painting: Straight from the bottle, or thin 5-10% with water for smoother flow. Add a drop of Drying Retarder (70.597) for large areas.
• Model Color — airbrushing: Thin at least 1:1 with Airbrush Thinner. Some colors need up to 2:1 thinner to paint. Model Color was not designed for airbrush — expect more work.
• Model Air — airbrushing: Spray straight from the bottle at 15-20 PSI. For finer work, add 10-20% Airbrush Thinner.
• Metal Color — brush or airbrush: Use straight from the bottle. Do NOT thin Metal Color — it disrupts the metallic particle alignment.

The Shake Problem

Vallejo pigments settle aggressively. You must shake the bottle vigorously before every use — 2-3 minutes of hard shaking, not a casual wobble. A stainless steel mixing ball (sold at hobby shops, or use a small BB) dropped into each bottle dramatically speeds mixing. Some modelers use a vortex mixer or a reciprocating saw with a bottle adapter — it sounds ridiculous but it works.

If you skip the shaking, you’ll get transparent, watery paint from the top of the bottle. This isn’t a bad paint — it’s an unshaken one.

Common Issues

Tip dry: Vallejo acrylics dry fast, and paint builds up on the airbrush needle tip during spraying. Fix: add 1-2 drops of Flow Improver to every cup. Keep a damp cotton swab nearby to wipe the tip between passes.

Poor coverage over dark primers: Model Color whites and yellows can struggle over dark surfaces. Apply a light grey or white primer first, or use multiple thin coats.

Dropper bottle clogging: The nozzles on Vallejo dropper bottles clog with dried paint. Keep a pin or thin wire nearby to clear them. Some modelers replace the stock tips with wider bore alternatives.

Chalky finish (airbrushing): Same as with any acrylic — spray distance was too far or pressure was too low. The paint dried before reaching the surface. Spray closer (4-6 inches) at 15-20 PSI.

Compatibility

Vallejo acrylics are compatible with virtually everything:

• Over Vallejo: Enamel washes, oil paints, lacquer clear coats — all fine once the acrylic is fully cured (24 hours).
• Under Vallejo: Sprays well over Vallejo Surface Primer, Mr. Surfacer, Tamiya Surface Primer, or any cured acrylic/lacquer primer.
• With Tamiya: Fully compatible. You can spray Tamiya over cured Vallejo and vice versa. Many modelers use Tamiya for base coats and Vallejo for detail brushwork.
• With lacquer clear coats: Apply lacquer clears (Mr. Color GX-112, Tamiya LP-9) in light mist coats first. Heavy lacquer application can bite through thin acrylic layers.

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This reference covers every current Vallejo Model Color, Model Air, Metal Color, and Surface Primer paint as of early 2026. For equivalent colors in other brands, see our cross-reference charts or browse the Tamiya, AK Interactive, Mr. Color, and Mission Models reference pages.

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