In the pot, Tar Black (RAL 9021) reads as a neutral black, very dark and muted. No shortage of substitutes here, Dark Warm Grey from Monument Pro Acryl matches at 90 percent and 6 brands carry a strong same-finish near-match. For modelling, drop to Black/Schwarz (RAL 9005) in the recesses and step up to Black Green RLM70 on the edges, both Revell paints. Bottom line: run out mid-project and another brand will get you within a shade.
Tar Black (RAL 9021) equivalents, brand by brand
1 of the 11 brands with a mapped match get genuinely close to Revell Tar Black (RAL 9021), though none is a clone. Brand by brand, the nearest colors are:
- Closest Monument Pro Acryl equivalent: Monument Pro Acryl Dark Warm Grey, a swap nobody spots at arm's length (delta E 2.0).
- From AK Interactive: AK Interactive Ijn Q1 Anti-Glare Blue-Black, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 3.1).
- Tamiya's closest color: Tamiya Semi Gloss Black, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 3.2).
- Nearest in the Scale75 catalog: Scale75 Abyssal Blue, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 3.6).
- Best Humbrol option: Humbrol Black, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 4.0).
- From Vallejo: Vallejo Continental Blue, workable at tabletop distance, not up close (delta E 4.0).
We checked the Lab numbers for a hidden catch and there is none: lightness and temperature both line up, so this swap is as safe as they come.
How to read the score
90+Close
80sUsable
<70Mix
Monument Pro Acryl
AK Interactive
Ijn Q1 Anti-Glare Blue-Black
Black
Rubber Black
Ral 7021 Dunkelgrau
Tenebrous Grey
Nato Black
German Grey
Anthracite Grey
Russian Dark Brown 6K
Smoke Black
Tamiya
Scale75
Humbrol
Vallejo
The Army Painter
Green Stuff World
P3 Paints
Citadel
Two Thin Coats
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Pairs well with
Try any paint in the scheme toolMatch difficulty
Found in 6 other brands with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Revell Tar Black (RAL 9021)?
The closest same-finish match is Monument Pro Acryl Dark Warm Grey at 90% color similarity.
Is there a Vallejo equivalent of Tar Black (RAL 9021)?
Yes. The closest Vallejo option is Continental Blue at 80%, a same-finish match.
What color is Tar Black (RAL 9021)?
Tar Black (RAL 9021) is a very dark muted black with a neutral cast (hex #1E2226).
What do I highlight and shade Tar Black (RAL 9021) with?
Highlight Tar Black (RAL 9021) toward Black Green RLM70 and shade it down into Black/Schwarz (RAL 9005), both Revell paints in the same finish family.