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Luftwaffe
Color Comparison Charts

by D.B. Andrus
 

 

Introduction

 

The following is an attempt to produce a basic guide to some of the commonly available model paints and how they compare to the color swatches in four highly respected references. At the moment the cited references are generally considered to be the standard references on Luftwaffe camouflage, however, if and when new information surfaces expect an addendum to these charts.

(No judgments have been made as to which brand of paint or reference is better or worse, that's up to the modeler. Please remember as with any subjective work, your results and interpretations may vary from those of the author.)

 

Model Paints

 

Acrylics:

Color of Eagles (US)

Purchased from:

Aircraft Colors (manufacturer): http://www.aircraftcolors.com/

Great Models Webstore: https://www.greatmodels.com/

MisterKit (Italy)

Purchased from:

Pacific Coast Models: http://www.pacmodels.com/index.shtml

 

Gunze-Sangyo Mr. Hobby (Japan)

Purchased from:

Great Models Webstore: https://www.greatmodels.com/

The Squadron: http://www.squadron.com/

Floquil Polly Scale (Canada)

Purchased From:

Hobbies n' Stuff: Albuquerque, NM, USA

Great Models Webstore: https://www.greatmodels.com/

 

Enamel:

White Ensign Models Colourcoats (UK)

Purchased from:

White Ensign Models: http://whiteensignmodels.com/

 

Acrylic Lacquer:

Gunze-Sangyo Mr. Color (Japan)

Purchased from:

Great Models Webstore: https://www.greatmodels.com/

Moschini's Model Shop: http://www.moschini.org/modelshop/

Rainbow Ten: http://www.rainbowten.co.jp/english/index.html

 

 

Reference Books Used for Comparison

 

Monogram = The Official Monogram Painting Guide to German Aircraft, 1935-1945, by Kenneth A. Merrick & Thomas H. Hitchcock, Monogram Aviation Publications, 1980; US.

Eagle = The Eagle Editions Official Luftwaffe Color Chart, Eagle Editions, Ltd; US.

Ullmann = Luftwaffe Colours, 1935-1945, By Michael Ullmann; Hikoki Publications, 2002; UK.

Modeller's = The Modeller's Luftwaffe Painting Guide, by J.R. Smith, G.G. Pentland & R.P. Lutz; Kookaburra Technical Publications, 1979; Australia.

 

 

Legend

 

M = Match or very, very close.

Chip =.010 sheet styrene 1" x 1.5" chips were perforated in center with a 1/4" hole then coated with Plasticote Automotive Primer (lacquer, gray). After drying, chips were sprayed with properly thinned model paint.

CD = Chip very close - Slightly dark, the more "D" letters the darker the value.

CL = Chip very close - Slightly light, the more "L" letters the lighter the value.

N/A = Not Applicable.

P = Indicates paint coated with Polly Scale Flat. (note: see Thinning section below)

Su = Ullmann Color Chart Supplement supplied with Color Chart in Luftwaffe Colors, 1935-1945.

Swatch = Color swatch in reference books.

- = No match

Thinning = Lacquer and enamels thinned with lacquer thinner. G-S Mr. Hobby Acrylics also thinned with lacquer thinner. Color of Eagles, MisterKit and Pollyscale Acrylics thinned with Future Acrylic Premium Floor Finish(US). This will give a semi-gloss appearance to matte finish paints and works as an aid to proper decal application. When dry one half of painted chip (bisecting perforation horizontally) was coated with Polly Scale Flat for those who prefer to restore or create a flat finish.

 

 

Charts

 

Color of Eagles - Acrylic - Matte Finish

 

Shade

Monogram

Eagle

Ullmann

Modeller's

02

1

1

1

1

04

2

CDD

M-P

-

21

3

N/A

3

N/A

22

CD-P

N/A

M

N/A

23

CDD

-

-

CD-P

24

-

M-P

-

-

25

-

-

-

M-P

65

M

M

-

CL

66

-

CL

-

M

70

-

4

-

M-P

71

5

5

5

5

74

CL

-

6

-

75

-

-

-

CL

76

M

7

8

-

78

M

-

-

-

79

-

-

-

M-P

80

CL

-

M

M-P

81

9

-

CL-Su

CL

82

10

-

-

CL

83

11

-

12

M-P

84

13

-

-

N/A

 

Footnotes

  1. Swatches are greener.
  2. MP to 27.
  3. Swatches not as cool.
  4. CD-P to 71.
  5. Swatches darker and less gray.
  6. CL-P to 75.
  7. Swatch slightly greener.
  8. 76b - Su slightly bluer.
  9. M to 81 Braunviolett, p. 37 bottom; (+) to 81 Braunviolett, p. 49.
  10. CL to 82 Hellgrun, p. 37 top; (+) to 82 Dunkelgrun middle.
  11. CL to 82 Dunkelgrun, p. 37 bottom.
  12. Very close to 82 Variation -Su.
  13. M to Graublau, p. 41 right.

 

MisterKit - Acrylic - Semi-Gloss Finish

 

Shade

Monogram

Eagle

Ullmann

Modeller's

01

-

N/A

M

N/A

02

1

1

1

1

04

CD

CD

-

CD

05

-

-

-

CD

21

2

N/A

2

N/A

22

M-P

-

-

-

23

3

3

3

3

24

M-P

-

CD

CD

25

M-P

M-P

CD

-

27

4

4

4

4

61

-

M-P

CD

CD-P

62

-

CL

-

-

63

-

-

-

M

65/'38

5

5

5

5

65/'41

6

6

6

7

66

CL

-

-

CL

70

CL-P

-

-

M-P

71

M

-

-

M-P

72

M

CL

M-Su

M

73

M

-

-

M

74

8

8

8

8

75

M-P

M-P

-

CD-P

76

9

9

9

9

77

10

10

10

10

78

-

M-P

-

-

79

CD

-

-

-

80

-

-

CL-P-Su

M

81

11

-

-

-

81D

12

-

-

-

82

-

13

M-Su

-

83

14

-

-

-

84

15

-

-

-

Buff

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Footnotes

  1. Swatches all tend more toward yellow/green.
  2. Swatches are a warmer white.
  3. Swatches not as dark or as blue.
  4. Swatches not as green.
  5. Swatches are greener.
  6. Swatches are greener.
  7. CL to 78.
  8. Paint is too light and too green. May be a bad bottle.
  9. Swatches all tend toward green.
  10. Swatches more toward neutral.
  11. CDD to Brown-Violet, Field Applied Color, p. 35 top.
  12. M to Dark Green 71, p. 19.
  13. Swatch is slightly more olive.
  14. M-P to "Dark Green 82", p. 33; p. 35 bottom; p. 37 middle & bottom, p. 49.
  15. M to Blaugrun, p. 41 middle.

Gunze-Sangyo Mr. Color - Lacquer -
Semi-Gloss Finish

 

Shade

Monogram

Eagle

Ullmann

Modeller's

02

CD

M

-

M

04

1

2

CD

-

23

3

3

3

3

65

CD

4

4

M

66

M-P

CL

CL

M-P

70

CD

CD

-

-

71

M-P

-

-

M-P

74

-

CL

-

M-P

75

-

M

-

-

76

5

5

5

5

79

CD

-

-

-

80

M-P

-

-

-

81

6

-

-

-

82

7

-

-

-

83

8

-

-

CD

 

Footnotes

  1. CD to 27.
  2. CDD to 27.
  3. Swatches not as dark or as blue.
  4. Swatch slightly grayer.
  5. Swatches lighter and slightly bluer.
  6. M to 81 Braunviolett, p. 37 top.
  7. M to 82 Dunkelgrun, P. 37 middle.
  8. Swatches not as green.

Gunze-Sangyo Mr. Hobby - Acrylic -
Semi-Gloss Finish

 

Shade

Monogram

Eagle

Ullmann

Modeller's

02

M

CL

CLL

CL

04

1

-

M

-

23

2

2

2

2

65

CD

3

3

M

66

CD

CL

-

M

70

M-P

-

-

-

71

M

-

-

M-P

74

M-P

-

M

-

75

-

M

-

-

76

4

4

4

4

78

M

-

5

6

79

CL-P

CD

-

-

80

M-P

-

-

-

81

7

-

-

-

82

8

-

-

-

83

9

-

-

-

 

Footnotes

1. Chip is closer to 27.

2. Swatches not as dark or as blue.

3. Swatches slightly grayer than paint.

4. Swatches not as dark or as gray.

5. CL to 76b Variation Graublau.

6. CL to 65 swatch.

7. CD to 81 Braunviolett, p. 37 top.

8. CD to 82 Hellgrun, p. 37 top.

9. CD to 82 Dunkelgrun, p. 37 bottom; CL to 81 Dunkelgrun, p. 37 middle; M to 82 Dunkelgrun, p. 49.

 

Polly Scale - Acrylics - Matte Finish

 

Polly Scale

Monogram

Eagle

Ullmann

Modeller's

02

1

1

1

1

04

2

-

CD

-

21

3

-

3

-

23

4

4

4

4

24

5

5

5

5

25

CDD-P

-

CD

-

61

CL

CL

-

M

62

-

M

-

-

63

CL

-

-

-

65

M

-

6

7

66

-

M-P

CL

-

70

CD

-

-

-

71

8

8

8

8

72

CD-P

M

X

-

73

-

M

CL

-

74

CD

M

M

-

75

-

CL

-

-

76

9

9

9

9

78

CD-P

-

-

-

79

-

-

CD-P-Su

-

80

CD-P

-

CD-P-Su

-

81

-

-

10

-

82*

11

-

-

-

83*

12

12

12

12

84

13

-

-

N/A

 

(* Numbers on paints reversed: 82 should be 83 and vice versa.)

 

Footnotes

  1. Paint more of a taupe shade.
  2. Very Close to 27.
  3. Swatches are a warmer white.
  4. Swatches lighter and not as blue.
  5. Swatches not as blue.
  6. CL to 65, CD to 76.
  7. CD to 76b-Su.
  8. Swatches less olive.
  9. Swatches not as gray.
  10. M to 81 Dunkelgrun/Olivbraun
  11. CD to 82 Dunkelgrun, p. 33; CD to 82 Dunkelgrun, p. 49.
  12. Swatches not as bright.
  13. CL to Grunblau, p. 41.

 

White Ensign Models Colourcoats - Enamel - Satin Finish

 

Shade

Monogram

Eagle

Ullmann

Modeller's

02

-

-

M-P

M

L40/52

N/A

N/A

M

N/A

61

CD

M

-

CD

62

1

M

-

1

63

CD-P

M

CDD

-

65

2

2

2

2

66

M-P

M

-

-

70

-

M

-

-

71

M-P

CL

-

M-P

72

CL

CD

M-P-Su

-

73

-

M

CL

-

74

M-P

-

CL

3

75

-

CD-P

4

3

76

-

5

5

-

78

-

M

-

-

79

M

6

-

-

80

-

M

-

CD-P

81

7

-

-

-

82

8

-

-

-

83

-

-

9

-

Footnotes

  1. Swatch is grayer.
  2. Swatches not as blue/green.
  3. Swatch is cooler.
  4. Swatch slightly warmer.
  5. Paint closer to Blaugrun, Monogram p. 41.
  6. Swatch slightly redder.
  7. CL-P 81 Braunviolett, p. 37 top.
  8. CL-P 82 Hellgrun, p. 37 top; 82 Dunkelgrun, p. 37 middle.
  9. M-P-Su for Olive Drab 41 USAAF, swatch in The Official Monogram U.S. Army Air Service & Air Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol. 1, 1908-1941, by Robert D. Archer.

All publications and materials used in these comparisons are courtesy of the author's personal funds.

Text & Images Copyright © 2003 by D.B. Andrus
Page Created 08 September, 2003
Last Updated 19 April, 2004

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