No more guessing when mixing scale model paints!
Mixing scale model paints!
Scale Model Paint Equivalents & Conversion Matrix
Quick Rule: When cross-referencing military camouflage colors across brands, match official historical standards (Federal Standard FS 595, German RAL, or Luftwaffe RLM) rather than generic color names. For precise custom mixing, always measure by volumetric parts (drops or ml) rather than visual estimation, and never mix alcohol-based acrylics (Tamiya) with water-based vinyl acrylics (Vallejo/AK 3rd Gen) in the same cup.
Most Searched Military Color Equivalents Across Major Brands
| Color Standard & Name | Tamiya (Acrylic) | Humbrol (Enamel) | Mr. Hobby (Gunze) | Revell (Aqua/Enamel) | AK Interactive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAL 8012 (Rotbraun / Red Primer) | XF-9 (Hull Red) | 100 / 173 | H17 / H47 | 36137 / 36183 | AK-717 / AK-4003 |
| RAL 6003 (Olivgrün / Olive Green) | XF-58 or XF-11 | 102 (Army Green) | H303 / C303 | 36145 / 36167 | AK-031 / AK-752 |
| RAL 7008 (Khakibraun / Afrikakorps) | XF-49 (Khaki) | 26 (Khaki) / 72 | H81 | 36186 | AK-134 / AK-703 |
| FS 36231 (Dark Gull Gray) | XF-54 (Dark Sea Grey) | 140 (Gull Grey) | H317 / C317 | 36157 | AK-164 / AK-2056 |
| Humbrol 117 (US Olive Green) | XF-5 (Flat Green) | 117 (US Light Green) | H302 / C302 | 36165 | AK-4055 |
| RAL 7028 (Dunkelgelb / German Dark Yellow) | XF-60 (Dark Yellow) | 93 (Desert Yellow) | H79 / H403 | 36116 | AK-006 / AK-714 |
Core Rules for Mixing & Converting Scale Model Paints
- Chemical Incompatibility (The Golden Mixing Rule): Never mix alcohol-hybrid acrylics (Tamiya X/XF, Mr. Hobby Aqueous) with water-based acrylics (Vallejo, AK 3rd Gen, Army Painter). The alcohol instantly coagulates water-based acrylic binders into a gummy curdled mess.
- Use the Precision Pipette / Dropper Method: Avoid pouring straight from jars. Use graduated micro-pipettes to measure exact volumetric ratios (e.g., 3 drops base color + 1 drop tint) so that custom camouflages can be perfectly replicated for touch-ups.
- Factor in Scale Effect (Scale Reduction): Models painted in 1/72 or 1/48 scale appear darker than full-size vehicles under ambient room lighting. Always lighten your base mix by adding 10% to 15% light grey or buff for 1/48, and up to 20% for 1/72 scale accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tamiya equivalent of AK 4003 (RAL 8012 Rotbraun)?
The closest direct Tamiya match for AK 4003 (RAL 8012 German Red Primer) is Tamiya XF-9 (Hull Red). To match early-war chassis red primer more faithfully, modelers often blend 8 parts XF-9 with 2 parts XF-7 (Flat Red).
What is the Tamiya equivalent for Humbrol 159 (Khaki Drab)?
The closest Tamiya acrylic equivalent for Humbrol 159 is Tamiya XF-62 (Olive Drab) mixed with a touch of XF-49 (Khaki) at a 3:1 ratio.
Can you thin Tamiya paints with water for mixing?
While Tamiya acrylics can accept small amounts of distilled water, they are alcohol-soluble resins. Thinning with distilled water increases surface tension and can cause tip-drying; always use Tamiya X-20A, Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA), or lacquer thinner for optimal mixing flow.
A guide to understanding model paint mixing formulas.
Finding the right colors:
Look at model paint charts to find the colors you need.
Mixing the paints:
Follow the simple steps to create a perfect model paint mix every time.
Testing your paint:
Create a test strip to ensure the model color is correct.
Painting your model:
FEDERAL STANDARD CONVERSION CHART |
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| Federal Standard | RAL | Description | Italeri | Tamiya | Humbrol | Gunze | Revell | AK Interactive |
| F.S.34151 | Flat Interior Grey Green | 4301AP | – | 150 | – | – | ||
| F.S.32197 | Flat Orange | 4302AP | X6 | 18 | H14 | 36125 | ||
| F.S.30118 | Flat Dark Earth | 4303AP | XF52 | 29 | H72 | 36187 | ||
| F.S.30266 | Flat Middle Stone | 4304AP | – | 93 | H79 | 36116 | ||
| F.S.30219 | Flat Light Brown | 4305AP | – | 119 | H310 | – | ||
| F.S.30111 | Flat Medium Brown | 4306AP | XF68 | 70 | – | 36137 | ||
| F.S.35095 | Flat Medium Blue | 4307AP | – | – | – | – | ||
| F.S.35231 | Flat Azure Blue | 4308AP | – | – | – | – | ||
| F.S.34230 | Flat Light Green | 4309AP | – | – | – | – | ||
| F.S.34096 | Flat Dark Slate Grey – Protective Green | 4311AP | XF5 -XF13 – XF58 – XF26 | 195 – 163 – 105 – 150 – 30 | H60 – H330 – H340 | 363 | AK746 – AK750 | |
| F.S.36118 | Flat Extra Dark Sea Grey | 4312AP | XF50 | 112 | H305 | – | ||
| F.S.36270 | Flat Medium Sea Grey | 4313AP | XF66 – XF20 | 126 | H306 | – | ||
| F.S.34092 | Flat Medium Green I -WWI French Green #2 | 4314AP | XF26 – XF61 | 149 – 30 – 195 | H302 | 36167 | AK4055 | |
| F.S.34088 | RAL 7017 | Flat Olive Drab -Dunkelbraun | 4315AP | XF49 – XF51 | 155 | H304 – H52 | 36146 – 36166 | AK793 – AK754 – AK736 |
| F.S.31575 | Flat Light Flesh | 4390AP | XF15 | 61 | H44 | 36135 | ||
| F.S.31575 | Flat Skin Tone Tint Base – Light | 4601AP | XF15 | 61 | H44 | 36135 | ||
| F.S.31433 | Flat Skin Tone Warm Tint | 4603AP | XF15 | 61 | H44 | 36135 | ||
| F.S.35042 | Flat Non Specular Sea Blue – WWI French Uniform Shadow | 4604AP | XF17 | 77 | H54 | 36179 | AK3101 | |
| F.S.11302 | Gloss Red | 4605AP | X27 | 132 | – | – | ||
| F.S.31400 | Flat Red | 4606AP | X7 | 60 | H414 | – | ||
| F.S.31350 | Flat Guards Red | 4632AP | XF7 | 60 | H13 | 36136 | ||
| – | Flat Clear Acryl 35 ml | 4636AP | X21 | 49 | H20 | 36102 | ||
| – | Semigloss Clear 35 ml | 4637AP | – | 135 | – | – | ||
| – | Gloss Clear Acryl 35 ml | 4638AP | X22 | 35 | H30 | 36101 | ||
| F.S.35164 | Flat Non-Specular Interm. Blue | 4639AP | – | 144 | H42 | 36179 | AK2054 | |
| F.S.30109 | Flat Marrone Mimetico 1 | 4640AP | XF9 | 73 | H13 | 36137 | ||
| F.S.30118 | Flat Marrone Mimetico 2 | 4641AP | XF52 | 29 | H72 | 36187 | AK3081 | |
| F.S.13538 | Gloss Yellow | 4642AP | X24 | 69 | H4 | – | ||
| F.S.30219 | Flat Nocciola Chiaro | 4643AP | XF52 | 119 | H310 | 36185 | ||
| F.S.30140 | Flat Bruno Mimetico | 4644AP | XF52 | 29 | H72 | 36187 | AK3081 | |
| F.S.33434 | Flat Giallo Mimetico 3 | 4645AP | – | 7 | – | 36116 | ||
| F.S.30266 | RAL 7028 | Flat Giallo Mimetico 4 – New Iraqi Army Sand | 4646AP | XF60 – XF55 | 93 – 121 | H79 – H403 | 36116 | AK006 – AK7013 – AK714 – AK725 |
| F.S.15200 | Gloss Light Blue | 4650AP | X23 | – | – | – | ||
| F.S.15180 | Gloss French Blue | 4659AP | XF8 | 14 | H45 – H15 | 36152 | ||
| F.S.14090 | Gloss Green | 4669AP | X28 | – | – | – | ||
| F.S.17043 | Metal. Gloss Gold | 4671AP | X12 | 16 | H9 | 36194 | ||
| – | Metal. Gloss Brass | 4672AP | – | 54 | – | 36192 | ||
| F.S.30257 | RAL 8023 | Flat Wood | 4673AP | XF59 | 9 – 63 | H37 – H33 | 36185 | – |
| F.S.30100 | Flat Leather | 4674AP | – | 100 | H7 | – | ||
| F.S.30109 | Flat Rust | 4675AP | XF9 | 73 | H343 | 36183 | ||
| F.S.37178 | Metal. Flat Aluminum | 4677AP | XF56 | 56 | H8 | 32199 | ||
| F.S.17178 | Metal. Gloss Silver | 4678AP | XF16 – X11 | 11 | H8 | 32190 | ||
| F.S.37178 | Metal.Flat Steel | 4679AP | X31 | – | H18 | – | ||
| F.S.37200 | Flat Gun Metal | 4681AP | X10 | 53 | H76 – H18 | – | AK798 | |
| F.S.12197 | Gloss Orange | 4682AP | X6 | 18 | H14 | 36130 | ||
| F.S.15050 | Gloss(Blu Angels) Blue | 4687AP | X3 | 190 – 15 | H328 | 36150 | ||
| F.S.17038 | Gloss Black | 4695AP | X1 | 21 | H2 | 36107 | ||
| F.S.17875 | Gloss White | 4696AP | X2 | 22 | H21 – H1 – H316 | 36104 | AK2052 | |
| F.S.30117 | Flat Earth Red | 4707AP | XF64 | 186 – 160 | H47 | 36185 | ||
| F.S.30118 | Flat Field Drab | 4708AP | XF52 | 29 | H72 | 36187 | AK3081 | |
| F.S.30219 | Flat Dark Tan | 4709AP | XF52 | 119 | H310 | 36185 | ||
| F.S.30277 | RAL 8000 | Flat Armor Sand | 4711AP | X41 | 187 | H336 | – | AK702 |
| F.S.31136 | Flat Insignia Red | 4714AP | XF7 | 153 | H327 | 32 | AK740 | |
| F.S.30475 | Flat Sand | 4720AP | XF60 – XF78 – XF10 | 121 – 98 | H313 | – | ||
| F.S.33538 | Flat Insignia Yellow | 4721AP | XF3 | 154 / 188 – 99 | H329 | 36115 | ||
| F.S.34092 | Flat Verde Mimetico 2 – Splittermuster Rainmarks | 4723AP | XF26 – XF61 | 30 – 46 | H302 | 66 | AK3044 | |
| F.S.34079 | Flat Dark Green | 4726AP | XF65 – XF13 | 116 | H309 | 36167 | AK755 | |
| F.S.34084 | Flat Olive Drab – US Army | 4728AP | XF62 | 66 | H17 – H78 | 36166 | AK133 – AK4043 | |
| F.S.34092 | Flat Euro I Dark Green | 4729AP | XF26 | 30 | H302 | – | ||
| F.S.34082 | RAL 6003 | Flat Medium Green II | 4734AP | XF11 | 102 | H303 – H80 | 36145 | AK031 – AK752 |
| F.S.34151 | Flat Interior Green | 4736AP | – | 150 | – | – | ||
| F.S.34272 | RAL 6011 | Flat Pale Green | 4739AP | XF26 | 120 | H312 | – | AK715 |
| F.S.36270 | Flat Medium Gray | 4746AP | XF66 – XF20 – XF12 | 145 – 126 – 64 | H337 – H306 | 36175 | ||
| F.S.36118 | Flat Gunship Gray | 4752AP | XF50 – XF24 | 112 – USN 1 | H305 | 36177 | ||
| F.S.36173 | Flat Dark Gray | 4754AP | XF53 | 27 | H22 | – | ||
| F.S.36231 | Flat Dark Gull Gray -Dunkelgrau High Light | 4755AP | XF54 | 140 – 165 | H317 – H75 | 36157 | AK164 – AK165 | |
| F.S.35237 | Flat Dark Ghost Gray | 4761AP | XF53 | 128 – 167 – 128 | H307-H337-H53 | – | AK2056 | |
| F.S.36300 | Flat Light Ghost Gray | 4762AP | – | 127 | H308 | – | ||
| F.S.36622 | RAL 7027 | Flat Gull Gray | 4763AP | XF55 | 129 – 28 – 129 | H325 | – | AK701 – AK723 |
| F.S.36495 | Flat Light Gray | 4765AP | XF19 | 127 – USN 3 | H308 | – | ||
| F.S.35189 | Flat Non-Specular Blue Grey | 4766AP | – | 157 | – | – | ||
| F.S.37038 | Flat Black | 4768AP | XF1 | 33 | H12 | 36108 | AK735 – AK3007 – AK3034 | |
| F.S.37875 | Flat White | 4769AP | XF2 | 34 | H11 | 36105 | AK738 | |
| F.S.24226 | Grau RLM 02 | 4770AP | XF22 – XF71 | 78 | H70 | 36148 | ||
| F.S.35352 | Hellblau RLM 65 – APC Interior Light Green | 4778AP | XF21 – XF23 | 65 – 90 | H67 | 36155 – 59 | AK4012 | |
| F.S.34052 | Schwarzgrün RLM 70 | 4780AP | XF11 – XF13 – XF27 | 75 – 91 | H65 | 40 | AK3023 | |
| – | Dunkelgrün RLM 71 | 4781AP | XF58 | 163 | H64 | – | ||
| F.S.36099 | Graugrün RLM 74 | 4784AP | XF63 | 123 | H68 – H401 | 78 | AK163 | |
| F.S.36231 | Grauviolett RLM 75 | 4785AP | XF19 – XF54 | 140 | H317 | – | ||
| F.S.36473 | Lichtblau RLM 76 | 4786AP | XF14 | 147 | H417 | 36371 | ||
| F.S.30215 | Sandgelb RLM 79 | 4789AP | – | 62 | – | 36185 – 36382 | AK706 | |
| F.S.36081 -F.S.37031 | RAL7021 | Flat Pz. Schwarzgrau RAL 7021, Dunkelgrau Shadow | 4795AP | XF24 – XF63 -XF69 | 123 – 85 | H301 – H77 – H333 | 9 – 78 | AK161 – AK704 – AK720 – AK3002 – AK3003 – AK3093 |
| F.S.33440 | Flat Panzer Dunkelgelb 1943 | 4796AP | XF4 | 81 | – | – | ||
| F.S.30045 | RAL 8017 | Flat Pz. Schokobraun RAL 8017 | 4797AP | XF10 | 98 | H84 | – | AK718 |
| F.S.34128 | Flat Panzer Olivgrün 1943 | 4798AP | XF26 | 131 | – | – | ||
| F.S.34083 | Flat Russian Armor Green | 4807AP | XF62 – XF81 | 66 | H420 | 36166 | ||
| F.S.30450 | Flat US Army/Mar.Gulf Arm Sand | 4812AP | – | 94 | – | 36188 | ||
| F.S.34088 | RAL 6003 | Flat Olive Drab Ana 613 | 4842AP | XF13 – XF65 | 116 | H309 | 36187 – 361 | AK755 |
| F.S.30140 | Flat Dark Earth Ana 617 | 4846AP | XF52 | 29 | H72 | 36187 | AK3081 | |
| F.S.34098 | Flat Military Green | 4852AP | XF4 | 159 | H423 | – | AK4013 | |
| F.S.33446 | OIF & OEF US Vehicles base colour | – | – | – | – | – | AK122 | |
| – | RAL 9001 | RAL Cremeweiss | – | – | – | H338 | 371 | AK092 |
| F.S.30252 | RAL 8023 | Red Primer High Light | – | – | 9 | H37 | 80 | AK129 |
| F.S.34086 | RAL 7009 | Olive Drab Shadow | – | XF74 | 163 | H330 | 42 | AK132 |
| F.S.14087 | RAL 7008 | Olive Drab Base | – | XF49 | 26 – 72 | H81 | – | AK134 – AK703 – AK705 |
| F.S.30059 | Shadow rust | – | XF10 | – | – | 84 | AK710 | |
| F.S.36375 | RAL 7038 | Hellgrau – Light Ghost Grey | – | – | 127 | – | AK732 – AK2057 | |
| F.S.30160 | Yellow | – | – | 69 | H329 | AK739 | ||
| F.S.33613 | Radome Tan | – | – | – | – | – | AK2053 | |
| F.S.36307 | Light Sea Grey | – | – | – | – | – | AK2055 | |
| F.S.36320 | Dark Ghost Grey | – | – | – | – | AK2058 | ||
| F.S.33722 | Buff Light Shade | – | – | – | – | – | AK4006 | |
| – | RAL 8020 | GELBBRAUN | – | – | – | – | – | AK700 |
| – | RAL 6011B | RESEDAGRÜN | – | – | – | H58 | – | AK716 |
| – | RAL 8012 | Rotbraun – Red primer base | – | XF9 | – | H17 | – | AK717 – AK127 |
| – | RAL 8013 F9 | German sand brown | – | – | – | – | – | AK727 |
| RAL 8013 | Schiffsbodenfarbe III rot 5 | – | – | – | – | – | AK731 | |
| – | RAL 1039 F9 | German sand beige | – | – | 71 | – | 314 | AK728 |
| – | RAL 7050 F7 | German grey beige | – | – | – | – | – | AK729 |
| – | RAL 7037 | Dunkelgrau – Dunkelgrau 51 | – | XF75 – XF77 | 126 | H416 – H355 | 77 – 43 | AK733 -AK734 |
| – | RAL 7028 | Dunkelgelb (Initial) | – | – | – | – | – | AK753 |
| – | – | Red Primer Shine | – | – | – | H66 | – | AK130 |
| – | – | 7K Russian Tan – Buff Dark Shade | – | – | – | H404 | – | AK748 – AK4007 |
| – | – | Weathered Wood | – | – | 98 | H406 | – | AK783 |
| – | – | M-44 Light Green Dots | – | – | – | H50 | – | AK3024 |
| – | – | WWI French Milky Coffee | – | – | – | H85 | – | AK4051 |
| – | – | Negro Satinado | – | X18 | – | – | 302 | AK719 |
| – | RAL 8002 | Wood Grain | – | – | 113 | – | – | AK781 |
| – | – | Middle Grey | – | – | – | – | 374 | AK785 |
| – | – | NATO Green – Splittermuster Light Shade – WWI German Uniform Light | – | XF76 | – | – | – | AK796 – AK3045 – AK3092 |
| – | – | Splittermuster Green Spots | – | XF67 | 75 | – | 65 | AK3043 |
| – | – | Thinner 60ml | 5049AP | X20A | – | – | – | – |





