What is the difference between Medium Drab and Olive Drab (USAF)?

ΔE 7 (close). Olive Drab (USAF) is a little lighter, cooler. Swatch colours are estimates.

Medium Drab vs Olive Drab (USAF)

Medium Drab

Brand: Army Painter
Range: Warpaints Historical
Code: WP4022P
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #545337 (estimate)

Olive Drab (USAF)

Brand: Tamiya
Range: AS Spray (aircraft)
Code: AS-6
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #525f41 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 7.5, close: similar, with a visible difference side by side. Olive Drab (USAF) is a little lighter, cooler than Medium Drab.

Can I use Olive Drab (USAF) instead of Medium Drab?

Usually, if you are not matching paint already on the model. Close match (ΔE 7). Olive Drab (USAF) is a little lighter, cooler than Medium Drab.

Can I use Medium Drab instead of Olive Drab (USAF)?

The same difference applies the other way round: Medium Drab is a little darker, warmer.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.

See Medium Drab on the colour wheel See Olive Drab (USAF) on the colour wheel

Other Tamiya paints close to Medium Drab

Medium Drab vs Dark Green (AS-9)AS Spray (aircraft) · ΔE 4, very close · closer than Olive Drab (USAF)
Medium Drab vs Olive Drab (XF-62)XF Flat Acrylic · ΔE 7, close
Medium Drab vs Olive Drab (TS-5)TS Spray · ΔE 7, close

Other Army Painter paints close to Olive Drab (USAF)

Olive Drab (USAF) vs Army GreenWarpaints Fanatic · ΔE 6, close · closer than Medium Drab
Olive Drab (USAF) vs Army GreenWarpaints Air · ΔE 7, close · closer than Medium Drab
Olive Drab (USAF) vs Tundra TaupeWarpaints Fanatic · ΔE 7, close · closer than Medium Drab

All matches: Medium Drab equivalents · Olive Drab (USAF) equivalents