Urban’s Colour Reference Charts, Germany

by Urban Fredriksson & Martin Waligorski

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German Air Force WW I, WW II and Modern Colours

Examples of World War II camouflage schemes as prescribed by RLM:

Pre-war splinter scheme 61/62/63 over 65
Very early fighter biplanes, experimental aircraft 63 overall
Two-green splinter scheme – all aircraft except seaplanes until the ned of 1939, later mostly bombers, transports and ground attack a/c 70/71 over 65
Sea scheme – seaplanes 72/73 over 65
Fighters, until ca. end of 1939 70/71 over 65
Fighters, French campaign and Battle of Britain many different, but often 70/02 over 65
Standard two-tone grey scheme, fighters 1941-1944 74/75 over 76
3-tone desert scheme – aircraft of the African campaign 79/80 over 78
2-tone “Tunisian” desert scheme 79(brown) over 78
Late-war schemes, fighters, 1944-1945 many different combinations of colours from the 80-series, i.e. 81/82 over 76, 82/83 over 76, 81/82 over “84”, 82/83 over “84”, etc.
Nightfighter scheme 75/76

Publications helpful for assembling RLM part of the chart heve been The Official Monogram Panting Guide to German Aircraft 1939-45 and Late-War Luftwaffe Fighter Camouflage by Brett Green published at www.hyperscale.com.

Examples of post-war camouflage schemes

Sabre CL13B Mk.5 1957- Green/Dk grey/Lt blue
Sabre CL13B Mk.6, F-84F, F-86K, Fiat G-91, Alpha Jet 1960’s- RAL 6014/7012/7001
F-104F/G, F-4F 1972- RAL 6014/7012/9006
RF-4E, F-104G late, Tornado RAL 6003/7021/FS.34079 overall
F-4F 1980 standard A Top: RAL 7012/7037/7009 Under: 7036/7001(later 7030)
F-4F 1980 standard B Top: RAL 7012/7039/7009/7037 Under:7030/7035
F-4F 1990 standard Top: RAL Top:7000/7001 Under: FS.35237/36375
Alpha Jet standard 1983 RAL 7021/FS.34079 overall
MiG-29 FS.35237/36320/36375 Nose cone close to RAL 7012
Early tranports RAL 6014/7012/7001
C-160 Transall, Do 28 RAL 6014/7012/9006/2005
C-160, Do 28 modern RAL 7021/6003/FS.34079 overall

This chart has been last revised in September 2006

1914-1918
Colour name Comment FS Humbrol Tamiya Xtracolor Polly S Revell Gunze Sangyo Model Master
Dunkelgrün Topside colour, used until ca. 1917 Hu:30 X:X241
Rotbraun Topside colour, used until ca. 1917 Hu:160
Dunkelviolett Topside colour, used until ca. 1917 Hu:107 X:X242
Olivegrün Topside colour on Fokker aircraft Hu:108
Blau Topside colour Hu:109
Graublau Sea aircraft Hu:87
Graubrun Sea aircraft Hu:98
Grauviolett Sea aircraft 4*Hu:25 + 2*Hu:153 + 3*Hu:64
Blau Printed fabric “polygon” pattern 2*Hu:34 + 1*Hu:25
Grün Printed fabric “polygon” pattern Hu:80
Lichtbraun Printed fabric “polygon” pattern Hu:119
Lichtgrün Printed fabric “polygon” pattern Hu:90
Gelbbraun Printed fabric “polygon” pattern Hu:62
Graublau Printed fabric “polygon” pattern 5*Hu:28 + 1*Hu:25
Dunkelviolett Printed fabric “polygon” pattern 8*Hu:98 + 2*Hu:10 + 2*Hu:107
Lichtblau Printed fabric “polygon” pattern 4*Hu:34 + 1*Hu:25
Graugrün Printed fabric “polygon” pattern Hu:95
Graublau Printed fabric “polygon” pattern 7*Hu:28 + 1*Hu:153 + 1*Hu:64
Gelb Printed fabric “polygon” pattern Hu:103
Licht graublau Printed fabric “polygon” pattern 7*Hu:28 + 1*Hu:25
Grauviolett Printed fabric “polygon” pattern 6*Hu:34 + 4*Hu:25 + 2*Hu:153 + 2*Hu:64
Rose Printed fabric “polygon” pattern 5*Hu:28 + 1*Hu:153
Underside blue X:X243
1935-1945, RLM Standard
Colour name Comment FS Humbrol Tamiya Xtracolor Polly S Revell Gunze Sangyo Model Master
RLM 01 Silber X:X216
RLM 02 Grau Interior colour, alos used as overall colour on prototypes FS:34159 (36165, 24226) 34*Hu:29 + 13*Hu:25 + 12*Hu:34 + 2*Hu:82 (4*Hu:168 + 1*Hu:75 + 1*Hu:92 + 1*Hu:10, Hu:92) 1*T:XF-22 + 1*T:XF-49 (T:XF-22) X:X201 P:PCG83 GS:H70
RLM 04 Gelb Identification markings FS:33538 Hu:154 X:X213 (markings) GS:H413
RLM 05 Elfenbein FS:33798
(33618)
RLM 09 Gelbgrün
RLM 21 Weiss Markings / winter camouflage FS:37886 (37880, 37875) 6*Hu:34 + 4*Hu:41
RLM 22 Schwarz Markings / night camouflage FS:37038 Hu:33
RLM 23 Rot Markings FS:31304 (31302) X:X217 GS:H414
RLM 24 Dunkelblau Markings FS:35053 X:X218
RLM 25 Hellgrün FS:34090
(34241)
RLM 26 Braun FS:30109
RLM 27 Gelb Markings FS:33637 (33655, 33591)
RLM 61 Dunkelbraun Pre-war splinter scheme FS:30040 (30109, 30117) 29*Hu:60 + 9*Hu:99 + 7*Hu:33 + 4*Hu:34 (8*Hu:10 + 2*Hu:33) T:X-09+black X:X219 GS:H406
RLM 62 Grün Pre-war splinter scheme FS:34159 (34128) 6*Hu:76 + 2*Hu:151 T:XF-65 X:X220 P:PCG706
RLM 63 Hellgrau Pre-war splinter scheme. Also used for overall shcemes. Some sources claim that this and RLM 02 are the same colour FS:36375 (36373, 36314) 5*Hu:34 + 1*Hu:156 + 1*Hu:64 T:XF-25 X:X221 P:PCG711
RLM 65 Hellblau Lower surfaces FS:35352 (35414, 25526) 1*Hu:115 + 1*Hu:34 (Hu:65) T:XF-23 X:X202 P:PCG701 GS:H67
RLM 66 Schwartzgrau Cockpit interiors from mid-war onwards FS:37030 (36081) Hu:92 (Hu:32) X:X203 GS:H416
RLM 70 Schwartzgrun Wartime splinter scheme FS:34052 (34050) 25*Hu:2 + 14*Hu:34 + 12*Hu:60 + 9*Hu:15 (Hu:91, 5*Hu:75 + 1*Hu:91 + 1*Hu:108) 1*T:XF-62 + 1*T:XF-49 (T:XF-27, T:XF-13) X:X204 P:PCG86 GS:H65
RLM 71 Dunkelgrun Wartime splinter scheme FS:34083 (34079, 34102) Hu:116 (Hu:30) T:XF-61 X:X205 P:PCG87 GS:H64
RLM 72 Grun Wartime splinter scheme on sea aircraft FS:37030 (34056) 6*Hu:91 + 2*Hu:189 + 1*Hu:3 X:X222
RLM 73 Grun Wartime splinter scheme on sea aircraft FS:36081 (34092) Hu:149 X:X223 (X:X129)
RLM 74 Graugrün Top camouflage on fighter aircraft from 1941. Also referred to as Dunkelgrau. FS:36081 (36086) Hu:108 (91*Hu:27 + 2*Hu:29 + 1*Hu:34 + 1*Hu:109, Hu:27) 7*T:XF-27 + 3*T:XF-19 X:X206 (X:X129) P:PCG84 9*GS:H68 + 1*GS:H64 (GS:H068)
RLM 75 Grauviolett Top camouflage on fighter aircraft from 1941. Also referred to as Mittelgrau. FS:26132 (26122) 16*Hu:34 + 7*Hu:33 + 3*Hu:70 + 2*Hu:29 (4*Hu:106 + 1*Hu:98) T:XF-54+51? X:X207 (X:X390) P:PCG707 GS:H69 + a hint of red (GS:H069)
RLM 76 Lichtblau Lower surfaces on fighter a/c. Also used extensively for night fighters FS:36473, (35622, 35414) 60*Hu:103 + 6*Hu:25 + 1*Hu:34 (175, 2*Hu:76 + 1*Hu:34, 1*Hu:87 + 1*Hu:34) 6*T:XF-23 + 4*T:XF-2 X:X208 P:PCG88 1*GS:H67 + 1*GS:H332 (H417, 1*GS:H314 + 1*GS:H334)
RLM 77 Lichtgrau FS:36493 9*Hu:34 + 2*Hu:28 + 1*Hu:156 X:X214 P:PCG85?
RLM 78 Himmelblau Lower surfaces of mediterranean schem. FS:35352 (35414) 67*Hu:34 + 10*Hu:109 + 4*Hu:94 + 1*Hu:25 (5*Hu:4 + 3*Hu:115 + 3*Hu:65) X:X214 P:PCG85? GS:H418
RLM 79 Sandbraun Mediterranean scheme FS:33448 (33434) 40*Hu:24 + 37*Hu:73 + 17*Hu:150 (4*Hu:154 + 3*Hu:94 + 1*Hu:34) X:X209 P:PCG708
RLM 79a Sandgelb Another variant of RLM 79 FS:30219 (30215) Hu:62 X:X224 GS:H66
RLM 80 Olivegrün Blotches in mediterranean scheme FS:34079 (34052) 14*Hu:80 + 3*Hu:25 + 2*Hu:33 + 1*Hu:34 (3*Hu:91 + 2*Hu:75 + 2*Hu:108) T:XF-58? X:X215 P:PCG709 GS:H420
RLM 81 Braunviolett Late-war topside camouflage FS:30045 (34087, 30118, 34088) 3*Hu:150 + 2*Hu:33 (3*Hu:163 + 4*Hu:108 + 3*Hu:33, 85%*Hu:173 + 9%*Hu:153 + 6%*Hu:85, Hu:155) T:XF-62?/13? X:X210 GS:H421 (GS:H304)
RLM 82 Lichtgrün Late-war topside camouflage. Often confused with 83 FS:34096 6*Hu:116 + 6*Hu:177 + 1*Hu:163 (105) T:XF-27?/61? X:X212 GS:H422
RLM 83 Dunkelgrün Late-war topside camouflage. Often confused with 82 FS:34138, 34083 66*Hu:3 + 26*Hu:15 + 5*Hu:60 + 1*Hu:24 (Hu:116, 4*Hu:117 + 1*Hu:81) T:XF-26 X:X211 P:PF51 GS:H423
RLM “84” (?)
Yellow-Green		 Used towards end of the war. Designation RLM 84 is speculatory. FS:34554
Light Green-Grey Used towards end of the war on lower surfaces of fighter a/c FS:34583 (34672) T:XF-21 X:X007 GS:H74
Red Primer Primer colour FS:31310
1956-
Colour name Comment FS Humbrol Tamiya Xtracolor Polly S Revell Gunze Sangyo Model Master
RAL 1002 Sandgelb FS:10260 Rev:11 Sand yellow
RAL 1007 Chrome Yellow FS:33538 Hu:188/154 Insignia yellow
RAL 1026 Hu:194 Rev:312 Fluorescent yellow
RAL 1028 Hu:197 Rev:310 Lufthansa yellow
RAL 2004 Hu:18 Rev:30 Orange
RAL 2005 Leuchtorange Hu:192 Dayglo orange? X:X253
RAL 3000 Bright red FS:21105 Hu:60(19) Rev:330
RAL 3004 Hu:20/107 Rev:331 Crimson
RAL 3022 Salmon pink
RAL 3026 Hu:209 Rev:332 Fire orange
RAL 5008 Graublau X:X264 Rev:351
RAL 5013 Hu:198 Rev:350 Lufthansa blue
RAL 5014 Pigeon blue FS:35488 Hu:157
RAL 6003 Olivegrun FS:34102 Hu:86 X:X261 Rev:361
RAL 6014 Gelboliv FS:24064 Hu:155 X:X251
RAL 6020 Chrome green FS:34079 Hu:116(195) Rev:363 Dark Green
RAL 7000 Squirrel grey FS:35237 Hu:145 Rev:57 Medium Grey
RAL 7001 Silbergrau FS:36375 Hu:64/127 X:X255 Rev:374
RAL 7005 Mouse grey Hu:140 Rev:47
RAL 7009 Grungrau Hu:(116)91 X:X256 Rev:67
RAL 7011 Iron grey FS:36118 Hu:125
RAL 7012 Basaltgrau FS:26152 Hu:(27)79 X:X254 Rev:77
RAL 7013 Brown grey Hu:98 Rev:46
RAL 7021 Schwartzgrun X:X262 Rev:9
RAL 7023 Dunkelgrau Hu:141 Concrete grey X:X263
RAL 7030 Steingrau X:X257 Rev:75(162)
RAL 7031 Hu:27 Rev:79 Sea Grey
RAL 7032 Pebble grey FS:36408 Rev:70
RAL 7035 Lichtgrau FS:35630 Hu:196 X:X260 Rev:371
RAL 7037 Staubraun Hu:106 X:X258
RAL 7038 Agate grey Hu:183 Rev:372
RAL 7039 Qaurzgrau Hu:92 X:X259
RAL 7042 Traffic grey A FS:36270 Hu:167
RAL 8017 Brown Hu:10
RAL 8023 Leather brown Hu:62 Rev:85
RAL 9001 Cream FS:37886 Hu:34 X:X252 Rev:5
RAL 9005 Jet black FS:37038 Hu:21/85 Rev:7
RAL 9006 White aluminium FS:17178 Hu:56
RAL 9010 Hu:22/130 Rev:4 White (gloss?)
RAL 9011 Hu:33 Rev:8 Black (matt?)

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