Luftwaffe Colours (Germany)

The RLM system is probably the most widely known system of all paint systems in the 2nd world war, and a lot of modellers are known with it’s nomenclature. Still there is interesting information to be told about this system, and while other websites also do a very good job of accurately describing the colours with their matching modelling paints, they often lack the more rarely used colours, and wider context and history.

As with all pages of this type, the colours shown are an approximation. Monitors can change the colour displayed and don’t account for shading and glossiness.
In reality these colours would also fade over time, and different batches had slightly different tones.
The accuracy of the paints can be off. They’re mostly taken from the manufacturer, from painting manuals and bits on the internet. They should resemble the actual colour closely, but use at your own discretion.

Beginnings: The RAL

The RAL, Reichsausschuss für Lieferbedingungen, (State Committee for Delivery Conditions) was a German institute formed on April 23 1925, just after the first world war. While it was under supervision of the German Ministry of Economic Affairs, it was an legally independent entity. In the beginning it was tasked with quality assurance by labelling goods and services.

In 1927, the RAL published with it’s first colour standard for general industrial usage, RAL 840. By creating a system of standardized colours the cost of paints could be reduced due to economy of scale. By prioritizing local pigments, imports could be reduced as foreign currencies were scarce and the Reichs mark was worthless in foreign countries. The system contained 40 colours most widely used. 13 Base shades and 27 more from mixing those. During the following decade the amount of colours increased to more than 100 shades as new government organizations, such as the posts and railways, needed new shades, split into multiple standards

On the 1st of November 1927 this was extended with a new range of 40 colours for vehicle usage, the RAL 840 B.

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On April 30 1932 an updated version of RAL 840 B was published, which was designated RAL 840 B2 in June to avoid confusion. Over time, these colours proved insufficient and new colours were added via supplementary sheets, or Ergänzungsblätter.

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In 1939-1940 this wild growth of colours led to a new numbering system under influence of the Wehrmacht, the RAL 840R (=revisited). Under this system every colour was given a four number code and a name. The first digit indicated the main group or shade. This chart remained in use to today as RAL 840 HR and also forms the basis of the RLM system.

RAL 1xxx	Yellow	RAL 6xxx	Green
RAL 2xxx	Orange	RAL 7xxx	Grey
RAL 3xxx	Red	RAL 8xxx	Brown
RAL 4xxx	Violet	RAL 9xxx	White and Black
RAL 5xxx	Blue

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RLM

The RLM, abbreviation of Reichsluftfahrtministerium, was the German Ministry of Aviation. It was in charge of all matters concerning German aviation, such as aircraft development and standardization within the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force. The ministry was founded in 1933 starting early 1936 the RLM took over the standardization of aircraft paints and camouflage patterns. During the war these regulation changed a lot, mostly due to material shortages. Due to this the same RLM colour may have changed over the course of time.

Luftwaffen Dienstvorschriften L.Dv. 521

The RLM regulations for colour shade, production and application were proclaimed by Luftwaffen Dienstvorschriften L.Dv. 521 (=airforce regulations L.DV. 521) starting early 1936. The earliest known surviving version, revision L.Dv. 521/1, was issued in march 1938. Some colours, including the RLM 61, 62 and 63, were still correlated to the RAL 840 R system. (RAL 8019, 6002 and 7004 respectively.)

In November 1941 the L.Dv. 521/1 was revisited, although it was still marked as Ausgabe 1938 (= edition 1938). The L.Dv. 521/1 (1941) contained three new colours: RLM 74,75 and 76. RLM 61, 62 and 63 were no longer used for aircraft and done away with. Strangely RLM 02 and RLM 66 were changed. RLM 66 was changed from RAL 7019 to RAL 7021. RLM 02 was made more intense and darker.
RLM 78 and 79 were not ready at the time of printing and were attached by loose paint chips stuck to a blank page in the manual.

Full Colour Table

RLM number	Colour	equivalents	Gunze	Tamiya	Vallejo	Hataka	MRP	AK	Ammo MIG
0	Wasserhell	RAL-9000		X-35	71.058
	Clear gloss protection coating Primer
1	Silver	RAL-9006 FS-17178
	Undercarriage The first aircraft of the luftwaffer were in this color
2	RLM-Grau	RAL-7003 FS-34159	H-070 C-060	33%XF-2 33%XF-49 33%XF-22	71.044	*023	MRP-050	AK11811 AK11812 RC265 RC266	217
	Extensively used as cockpit colour before 1943. Interior colour; wheel wells, engine compartment, ect. Overall colour of prototype, trainer and liason aircraft Early camouflage upper side Sometimes used as a replacement for RLM 76 in the late war night fighter camouflage scheme
3	Silbergrau
	mostly used before the war
4	Gelb	RAL-1004 FS-37200	H-413 C-113	XF-03			MRP-051	AK11813 RC267
	ID markings, bands, underside of the wingtips and cowlings underside of captured aircraft
5	Elfenbein Gelb Lasur	FS-13618 RAL 1001			71.106			RC046
	early gliders
21	Weiß	RAL-9001					MRP-004
	markings, fusulage bands, numbers. winter camo, by applying the paint dissolved in patrol on the plane, easily worn
22	Schwarz	RAL-9004					MRP-005
	markings and fuselage codes Overall night camouflage untill 1942
23	Rot	RAL-3001	H-414 C-114	XF-07	71.102		MRP-052
	Identification markings
24	Dunkelblau	RAL-5000			71.266		MRP-053
	Identification markings Oxygen systems
25	Hellgrün	RAL-6000			71.267		MRP-054
	Identification markings
26	Braun	RAL-8004			71.105
	electric systems General usage
27	Gelb	RAL-1003
	Same as RLM 04, but used less
28	Weinrot	RAL-3008
	stepping zone area’s on the wings Identification markings
61	Dunkelbraun	RAL-8019				*168	MRP-055	AK11814 RC268
	Pre war camouflage scheme, spanish civil war with RLM 62 and RLM 63
62	Grün	RAL-6002			71.114	*169	MRP-056	AK11815 RC269
	Pre war camouflage scheme, spanish civil war with RLM 61 and RLM 63
63	Hellgrau	RAL-7004			71.260	*167	MRP-057	AK11816 RC270	266
	Pre war camouflage scheme, spanish civil war with RLM 61 and RLM 62
65	Hellblau		H-067 C-115 N-067 S-115	XF-23	71.255	*029	MRP-058	AK11817 AK11818 RC271 RC272	231
	general undersurface for all aircraft, after 1941 no longer for fighters
66	Schwarzgrau	RAL 7019 RAL 7021	H-416 C-116		71.055	*040	MRP-059	AK11819 AK11820 RC273 RC339	218
	Interior colour from 1941 onward, but only area’s visible from the outside, other area’s stayed RLM 02 Some use in identification markings. Had a more lighter and greener touch before it was changed in the 1941 revision of the L.Dv. 521/1. It is unknown why the colour was changed, but if might have to do with it use as cockpit colour.
68	Schwarzgrün
69	Dunkelgrün
70	Schartzgrün		H-065 C-018	90%XF-11 10%XF-1		*015	MPR-060	AK11821 RC274	232
	bomber camouflage, early fighters propellor blades
71	Dunkelgrün		H-064 C-017	70%XF-11 25%XF-60 5%XF-10	71.015	*017	MRP-061	AK11822 RC275	233
	bomber camouflage
72	Grün				71.263	*311	MRP-062	AK11823 RC276
	post november 1941 splinter scheme for naval aircraft (reconnaissance, torpedo bombers, floatplanes)
73	Grün				71.256	*312	MRP-063	AK11824 RC277
	post november 1941 splinter scheme for naval aircraft (reconnaissance, torpedo bombers, floatplanes)
74	Graugrün		H-068 C-036 N-068		71.258	*313	MRP-064	AK11825 RC278	253
	Top camouflage on fighter airfcraft from nov 1941
75	Mittelgrau		H-069 C-037	70%XF-2 25%XF-24 5%XF-27	71.259	*007	MRP-065	AK11826 RC279	254
	Top camouflage on fighter airfcraft from nov 1941
76 (version 1)	Lichtblau						MRP-181	AK11827 RC320
	Bottom side on fighter aircraft from nov 1941 night fighter topside overall colour of some high altitude fighters Due to shortages towards the end of the war, wide variations in this colour started to appear towards the end of the war
76 (version 2)	Blaugrün				71.257	*038	MRP-066	AK11828 RC321
76 (late)	Grünblau				71.103		MRP-182	AK11829 RC322	256
	No official recipe has been found, but this shade of RLM 76 is encountered on a number of surviving airframes. Sometimes faultily designated RLM 84.
77	Hellgrau					*264
	Sometimes used instead of RLM 76 Identification markings on dark backgrounds
78 (1941)	Himmelblau					*029		AK11830 RC280
	Underside of the tropical scheme (1941)
78 (1942)	Himmelblau		H418 C118	XF-23	71.101	*314	MRP-067	AK11832 RC281	247
	Underside of the tropical scheme (1942-1944)
79 (1941)	Sandgelb					*014		AK11832 RC282
	basis upper surface colour in the Mediterranean scheme (1941-1942)
79 (1942)	Sandgelb		H066, N066, C119		71.278	*172	MRP-068	AK11833 RC283	222
	basis upper surface colour in the Mediterranean scheme (1942-1944)
80	Olivgrün		H420 C120	XF-26	71.265	*053	MRP-069	AK11834 RC284	284
	optional upper surface details (lines, blotches) of the Mediterranean scheme (1941-1944)
81 variant 1	Braunviolett			XF-51	71.264	*008	MRP-070	AK11835 RC323
81 variant 2	Braunviolett		H421 C121	XF-74	71.011	*022		AK11836 RC324
81 variant 3	Braunviolett							AK11837 RC325	255
82	Hellgrün		H422 C122		71.022	*020	MRP-071	AK11838 RC326	230
83	dunkelblau							AK11839 RC327
	Experimental colour for usage in the Mediterranean theatre. It was to be used with RLM 72 for seaplanes and RLM 70 for land based aircraft. Widespread usage is debated, but there are accounts of Junkers Ju 88 bombers being painted in a dark blue camouflage. The colour first appears in a monthly rapport, E-stelle Travermünde, in November 1943. It’s official recipe, Flieglack 7121.83, also gives a dark blue colour when recreated. It was experimented with, but no information about widespread usage exist and documentation regarding official implementation is still missing. RLM 82 is often depicted as a dark green colour which was widely used later in the war. These colours where however likely misidentified shades of RLM 81, but possibly also RLM 70, 71 and 82. Real colors of WWII aircraft, p88-89. M. Ullmann, Hornets’Nest RLM 83 Dark Blue Luftwaffe Camouflage and Markings 1935-1945, Volume One, p89-91

pre 1936 Early Monotone camouflages

Initially German aircraft wore overall silver and grey finishes. These were standardized in 1936 with the L.Dv. 521. RLM 02 and RLM 63 differed visually little from each other. Trainers also used the silver livery as the colour provided better visibility in the air.

Designation	Colour	equivalents	Gunze	Tamiya	Vallejo	Hataka	MRP	AK	MIG
DKH L40/52 hellgrau	hellgrau							RC285
	DKH L40/52 was a line of paints developed for Lufthansa, sometimes the light grey shade was used on early military aircraft.
RLM 01	Silber	RAL-9000		X-35	71.058
	Overall colour of early aircraft Overall colour of trainer aircraft up to early 1940’s, after which it was phased out for a grey overall camouflage
RLM 02 (1938)	RLM-Grau	RAL-7003 FS-34159	H070 C060		71.044	*023
	Overall colour of early aircraft
RLM 63	Hellgrau	RAL 7004			71.260	*167
	Overall colour of early aircraft

1936-1938 Early Camouflage: RLM 61/62/63 Splinter Pattern

The introduction of standardized colours in 1936 also saw the introduction of the first camouflage pattern, intended for land based bombers. It was comprised of RLM 61,62 and 63 in a three tone splinter scheme over a RLM 65 underside. The scheme was first used on Junkers Ju 88 bombers. The scheme was used oficially until mid 1936 for dive bombers, and September 1938 for other aircraft, although application on reconnaissance aircraft remain unclear. The camouflage is most famously used on Dornier Do 17 and Henschel Hs 123 aircraft during the spanish civil war, but was used well into the Polish and French campaigns.

RLM	Colour	equivalents	Gunze	Tamiya	Vallejo	Hataka	MRP	AK	MIG
61	dunkelbraun	RAL-8019		X-9	70.822	*168	MRP-055	AK11814 RC268
	top side splinter scheme
62	grün	RAL-6002		XF-65	71.114	*169	MRP-056	AK11815 RC269
	top side splinter scheme
63	hellgrau	RAL-7004		XF-25	71.260	*167	MRP-057	AK11816 RC270	266
	top side splinter scheme
65 (1938)	hellblau		H067, C115, N067, S115	XF-23	71.255	*029	MRP-058	AK11817 RC271
	underside

1944-1945 Late War Scheme

RLM 81 / RLM 82 over RLM 76

RLM	Colour	equivalents	Gunze	Tamiya	Vallejo	Hataka	MRP	AK	MIG
76 (version 1)	Lichtblau						MRP-181	AK11827 RC320
76 (version 2)	Blaugrün				71.257	*038	MRP-066	AK11828 RC321
76 (late)	Grünblau				71.103		MRP-182	AK11829 RC322
	No official recipe has been found, but this shade of RLM 76 is encountered on a number of surviving airframes
81 variant 1	Braunviolett			XF-51	71.264	*008	MRP-070	AK11835 RC323
81 variant 2	Braunviolett		H421 C121	XF-74	71.011	*022		AK11836 RC324
81 variant 3	Braunviolett							AK11837 RC325	255
82	Hellgrün		H422 C122		71.022	*020	MRP-071	AK11838 RC326	230

1941-1944 Tropical Camouflage

Luftwaffe units started to be deployed in North Africa somewhere between late January and March 1941. At the time, no suitable camouflage colours for the sandy, Saharan desert were available. The first mention of the tropical scheme comes from an inspection document to a depot in Erling, Germany, which describes the three lacquers.
Curiously, only colour chips for RLM 78 and 79 were added to the L.DV. 521/1 of 1941. Somewhere after November 1941, RLM 78 was changed to a slightly lighter shade, while RLM 79 was changed to a darker, browner shade.

RLM 80 wasn’t always used, especially on later fighters such as Bf 109’s and Fw 190’s

Ever after the retreat from Africa, the colour scheme was still used to some extend in Italy until 1944 and the eastern front after units were send there.

RLM	Colour	equivalents	Gunze	Tamiya	Vallejo	Hataka	MRP	AK	MIG
78 (1941)	Himmelblau					*029		AK11830 RC280
	Underside of the tropical scheme (1941)
78 (1942)	Himmelblau		H418 C118	XF-23	71.101	*314	MRP-067	AK11832 RC281	247
	Underside of the tropical scheme (1942-1944)
79 (1941)	Sandgelb					*014		AK11832 RC282
	basis upper surface colour in the Mediterranean scheme (1941-1942)
79 (1942)	Sandgelb		H066, N066, C119		71.278	*172	MRP-068	AK11833 RC283	222
	basis upper surface colour in the Mediterranean scheme (1942-1944)
80	Olivgrün		H420 C120	XF-26	71.265	*053	MRP-069	AK11834 RC284	284
	optional upper surface details (lines, blotches) of the Mediterranean scheme (1941-1944)

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Unsure colours

These designations I’m not sure about, if they even exist.

RLM number	Colour	equivalents	Gunze	Tamiya	Vallejo	Hataka	MRP	AK	Ammo MIG
9	Gelbgrün
11	Edelbein
	general use
41	Grau
	Interior of some early planes, seldom used
42	Grau
	general usage
64	Dunkelgrün
67	Weiß
84	Gelbgrau Graublau				71.103				256
	RLM designation is erroneous and this colour was most likely a variant of RLM 76, but included for ease of access.
91
	Described by Ullmann as used by Lufthansa
99	Grün
	Primer, fasteners

Sources

• RAL History, https://www.ral.de/en/about-us/ral-history/
• https://www.cybermodeler.com/color/ral840r_table.shtml
• Goralczyk, H. W. M. T. (2019). Real Colors of WWII Aircraft. AK Interactive.
• M. Ullmann, Hornets’ Nest RLM 83 Dark BLue. http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/rlm83darkbluemu_1.htm