Matt Olive Drab sits in the grey family: dark in tone, muted in saturation, neutral in cast. No shortage of substitutes here, Rlm 81 Version 2 from AK Interactive matches at 90 percent and 3 brands carry a strong same-finish near-match. It builds a smooth gradient with Petrol Blue underneath and Satin Dark Grey on the highlights, all in the Humbrol line. Treat it as an easy swap, just confirm the finish type matches before you commit.
Matt Olive Drab equivalents in other ranges
Several ranges orbit this color without landing on it. Here is the closest each brand manages, nearest first:
- Closest AK Interactive equivalent: AK Interactive Rlm 81 Version 2, close enough that batch variation matters more (delta E 1.9).
- Nearest in the Two Thin Coats catalog: Two Thin Coats Ashen Grey, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 2.0).
- Best Vallejo option: Vallejo German Uniform, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 3.9).
- From Citadel: Citadel Death Korps Drab, a usable stand-in rather than a twin (delta E 4.2).
- The Army Painter's closest color: The Army Painter Evergreen Fog, workable at tabletop distance, not up close (delta E 4.4).
- Nearest in the Revell catalog: Revell Yellow Olive/Gelb Olive, a usable stand-in rather than a twin (delta E 4.7).
Side by side the two agree in lightness and temperature; at delta E 1.9 the gap is smaller than the variation between two pots of the same paint.
How to read the score
90+Close
80sUsable
<70Mix
AK Interactive
Two Thin Coats
Vallejo
Citadel
The Army Painter
Revell
P3 Paints
Scale75
Tamiya
Green Stuff World
Monument Pro Acryl
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Match difficulty
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Humbrol Matt Olive Drab?
The closest same-finish match is AK Interactive Rlm 81 Version 2 at 90% color similarity.
Is there a Vallejo equivalent of Matt Olive Drab?
Yes. The closest Vallejo option is German Uniform at 80%, a same-finish match.
What color is Matt Olive Drab?
Matt Olive Drab is a dark muted grey with a neutral cast (hex #4B4F43).
What do I highlight and shade Matt Olive Drab with?
Highlight Matt Olive Drab toward Satin Dark Grey and shade it down into Petrol Blue, both Humbrol paints in the same finish family.