Color-wise this is a moderate, dark brown leaning warm. No shortage of substitutes here, Mud Brown (RAL 8003) from Revell matches at 92 percent and 3 brands carry a strong same-finish near-match. Within the Tamiya range it ladders cleanly, Brown for the shadows and Flat Brown for the highlights. Bottom line: run out mid-project and another brand will get you within a shade.
Brown equivalents, brand by brand
2 of the 11 brands with a mapped match get genuinely close to Tamiya Brown, though none is a clone. Brand by brand, the nearest colors are:
- Closest Revell equivalent: Revell Mud Brown (RAL 8003), a swap nobody spots at arm's length (delta E 1.5).
- AK Interactive's closest color: AK Interactive Deep Brown, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 2.3).
- Nearest in the Humbrol catalog: Humbrol Leather, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 3.5).
- Best Two Thin Coats option: Two Thin Coats Noble Steed Brown, workable at tabletop distance, not up close (delta E 4.2).
- From The Army Painter: The Army Painter Fur Brown, a usable stand-in rather than a twin (delta E 4.4).
- Green Stuff World's closest color: Green Stuff World Quicksand Brown, workable at tabletop distance, not up close (delta E 4.4).
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
Revell
AK Interactive
Humbrol
Two Thin Coats
The Army Painter
Green Stuff World
Monument Pro Acryl
Scale75
Vallejo
P3 Paints
Citadel
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Pairs well with
Try any paint in the scheme toolMatch difficulty
Found in 3 other brands with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Tamiya Brown?
The closest same-finish match is Revell Mud Brown (RAL 8003) at 92% color similarity.
Is there a The Army Painter equivalent of Brown?
Yes. The closest The Army Painter option is Fur Brown at 78%, a same-finish match.
What color is Brown?
Brown is a dark moderate brown with a warm undertone (hex #805030).
What do I highlight and shade Brown with?
Highlight Brown toward Flat Brown and shade it down into Brown, both Tamiya paints in the same finish family.