Hi guys,

I'm building RFM's Tiger I with interior and I used Vallejo Air 020, which they say is RAL 7009. The colour looks too dark and too similar to an Olive Drab, which makes me think it's not correct. Any ideas?

I'm inclined to think that Vallejo used the current RAL 7009, not the WWII RAL 7009.

I never trust the RAL#'s on Vallejo. I always research the color I want and use http://www.paint4models.com/.

Also, for airbrushing, I am switching to Ammo, which goes on some much better then Vallejo Air.

My results with Ammo and AK Interactive have been bad. That paint won't adhere to anything, not even to Tamiya primer...

Any recommendations for the best colour to replicate WW2 RAL7009?

I have had other Vallejo Model Air "grey" colors also be darker than I think they should be.

Unfortunately, with respect to RAL 7009, the issue may be even more complicated than how dark the color is. For example, if you do a google search of RAL 7009, the color paint that corresponds to RAL 7009 varies a lot with some paints being greyer:

http://www.aerosolcolour.co.uk/images/ral/large/ral-7009-green-grey.jpg

and other paints being greener.

http://s3-eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/ralcolorscom-prod/colors/images/000/000/153/original/ral-7009.jpg?1431178562

Some version of RAL 7009 even look somewhat brown!

http://cdn.fibreglast.com/images/RAL-7009_300.jpg

You may want to just take a look at the versions of RAL 7009 or "feldgrau" from several manufacturers and decide which shade you prefer.

For what it is worth, Wikipedia has RAL 7009 more in the grey range:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feldgrau

Thanks. I'll take a look at the various grey-greens I have and go from there.

Ricardo, I agree the Vallejo is too dark. I just bought a couple of bottles of Lifecolor's version of RAL 7009 and it looks like it might be ok - but I haven't sprayed it yet (I'll be painting the RFM Tiger with interior, too). Also, David Nickels used a Revell gray-green (#36167) which looks good on his RFM Tiger. His build log on Track-Link is here:
http://www.track-link.com/blogs/25787/20
I believe the Revell paints are available in Europe, but are not distributed in the U.S.
Good luck-

Hi Greg, I prefer acrylics and will use the Revell paint as a last option.

I'll have a look at the Tamiya range, namely XF-67 (I think), Vallejo, Gunze Sangyo, AK Interactive and Ammo Mig and at colours like RLM 62.

I'm pretty sure Lifecolor is acrylic.

You may want to look at Tamiya's XF-65 Field Grey:

http://otakurevolution.com/content/laymans-gunpla-guide-paint-references

Which is the 'correct'Field Grey? These are all issued kit. Seems Vallejos 7009 could be used as a base colour.

Don't bother with "exact color", close match is enough . You can lighten/darken the base color, and after the weathering it will change anyway. My two cents

Cheers!
V

Try Testors Model Master Acrylic , paints are named RAL 7009 etc and /or Tamiya XF22 RLM Grey - close but add some color to get the right mix.

Thanks, guys. I'll check the paints I have at home, and will let you know what I chose.