In the pot, RLM Grey reads as a cool grey, light and muted. This is a common color; 3 other brands cover it, the nearest being Monument Pro Acryl Bright Warm Grey at 85 percent. It builds a smooth gradient with JMSDF Gray underneath and Sky Grey on the highlights, all in the Tamiya line. Bottom line: run out mid-project and another brand will get you within a shade.
RLM Grey equivalents and near misses
Fair warning: nothing matches Tamiya RLM Grey cleanly. The options below are the least bad, and every one of them drifts.
Closest Monument Pro Acryl equivalent: Monument Pro Acryl Bright Warm Grey, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 3.0).
Best Revell option: Revell Stone Grey (RAL 7030), a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 3.2).
From AK Interactive: AK Interactive Ijn J3 Hai-iro (Grey), close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 3.8).
Citadel's closest color: Citadel Administratum Grey, workable at tabletop distance, not up close (delta E 4.5).
The honest caveat: Monument Pro Acryl Bright Warm Grey dries slightly lighter than RLM Grey, so expect recess shading and edge highlights to shift with it.
How to read the score
90+Close
80sUsable
<70Mix
Monument Pro Acryl
Revell
AK Interactive
Citadel
Vallejo
Two Thin Coats
The Army Painter
P3 Paints
Humbrol
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Match difficulty
Found in 3 other brands with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Tamiya RLM Grey?
The closest same-finish match is Monument Pro Acryl Bright Warm Grey at 85% color similarity.
Is there a Citadel equivalent of RLM Grey?
Yes. The closest Citadel option is Administratum Grey at 77%, a same-finish match.
What color is RLM Grey?
RLM Grey is a light muted grey with a cool undertone (hex #909888).
What do I highlight and shade RLM Grey with?
Highlight RLM Grey toward Sky Grey and shade it down into JMSDF Gray, both Tamiya paints in the same finish family.