What is the difference between Steel Legion Drab and USA Olive Drab?

ΔE 9 (close). USA Olive Drab is a little lighter, more muted, cooler. Swatch colours are estimates.

Steel Legion Drab vs USA Olive Drab

Steel Legion Drab

Brand: Citadel / Warhammer
Range: Colour: Base
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #5a4a3a (estimate)

USA Olive Drab

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Model Air
Code: 70.608
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #555649 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 9.2, close: similar, with a visible difference side by side. USA Olive Drab is a little lighter, more muted, cooler than Steel Legion Drab.

Can I use USA Olive Drab instead of Steel Legion Drab?

Usually, if you are not matching paint already on the model. Close match (ΔE 9). USA Olive Drab is a little lighter, more muted, cooler than Steel Legion Drab.

Can I use Steel Legion Drab instead of USA Olive Drab?

The same difference applies the other way round: Steel Legion Drab is a little darker, more saturated, 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 Steel Legion Drab on the colour wheel See USA Olive Drab on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Steel Legion Drab

Steel Legion Drab vs Camou. Pale Brown (71.035)Model Air · ΔE 3, very close · closer than USA Olive Drab
Steel Legion Drab vs US Field Drab (71.139)Model Air · ΔE 3, very close · closer than USA Olive Drab
Steel Legion Drab vs IJA Khaki Brown (71.287)Model Air · ΔE 3, very close · closer than USA Olive Drab

Other Citadel paints close to USA Olive Drab

USA Olive Drab vs Skavenblight DingeColour: Layer · ΔE 8, close · closer than Steel Legion Drab
USA Olive Drab vs Eshin GreyColour: Layer · ΔE 9, close
USA Olive Drab vs Stormvermin FurColour: Layer · ΔE 11, fair

All matches: Steel Legion Drab equivalents · USA Olive Drab equivalents