In the pot, Mustard Brown reads as a warm brown, mid-tone and moderate. No shortage of substitutes here, Rlm 79 (1942) from AK Interactive matches at 93 percent and 4 brands carry a strong same-finish near-match. It builds a smooth gradient with Light Mud underneath and Dead Flesh on the highlights, all in the Vallejo line. Bottom line: run out mid-project and another brand will get you within a shade.
Mustard Brown equivalents, brand by brand
1 of the 11 brands with a mapped match get genuinely close to Vallejo Mustard Brown, though none is a clone. Brand by brand, the nearest colors are:
- Closest AK Interactive equivalent: AK Interactive Rlm 79 (1942), a swap nobody spots at arm's length (delta E 1.3).
- Best Humbrol option: Humbrol Tan, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 3.9).
- From The Army Painter: The Army Painter Ruddy Umber, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 4.0).
- Tamiya's closest color: Tamiya Dark Tan, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 4.0).
- Nearest in the P3 Paints catalog: P3 Paints Lyossan Flesh, a usable stand-in rather than a twin (delta E 4.6).
- Best Two Thin Coats option: Two Thin Coats Vambrace Brown, workable at tabletop distance, not up close (delta E 5.0).
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
AK Interactive
Humbrol
The Army Painter
Tamiya
P3 Paints
Two Thin Coats
Revell
Scale75
Monument Pro Acryl
Citadel
Green Stuff World
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Pairs well with
Try any paint in the scheme toolMatch difficulty
Found in 4 other brands with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Vallejo Mustard Brown?
The closest same-finish match is AK Interactive Rlm 79 (1942) at 93% color similarity.
Is there a The Army Painter equivalent of Mustard Brown?
Yes. The closest The Army Painter option is Ruddy Umber at 80%, a same-finish match.
What color is Mustard Brown?
Mustard Brown is a mid-tone moderate brown with a warm undertone (hex #9D714A).
What do I highlight and shade Mustard Brown with?
Highlight Mustard Brown toward Dead Flesh and shade it down into Light Mud, both Vallejo paints in the same finish family.