What is the difference between Aircraft Gray and Light Blue RLM78?

ΔE 6 (close). Light Blue RLM78 is more muted, cooler. Swatch colours are estimates.

Aircraft Gray vs Light Blue RLM78

Aircraft Gray

Brand: Mr. Hobby
Range: Mr. Color
Code: C-73
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #6d9894 (estimate)

Light Blue RLM78

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Model Air
Code: 71.101
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #759090 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 6.3, close: similar, with a visible difference side by side. Light Blue RLM78 is more muted, cooler than Aircraft Gray.

Can I use Light Blue RLM78 instead of Aircraft Gray?

Usually, if you are not matching paint already on the model. Close match (ΔE 6). Light Blue RLM78 is more muted, cooler than Aircraft Gray.

Can I use Aircraft Gray instead of Light Blue RLM78?

The same difference applies the other way round: Aircraft Gray is 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 Aircraft Gray on the colour wheel See Light Blue RLM78 on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Aircraft Gray

Aircraft Gray vs Light Blue RLM65 (71.255)Model Air · ΔE 5, very close · closer than Light Blue RLM78
Aircraft Gray vs Medium Grey Blue (70.772)Model Color · ΔE 5, very close · closer than Light Blue RLM78
Aircraft Gray vs Pale Blue (71.008)Model Air · ΔE 6, close · closer than Light Blue RLM78

Other Mr. Hobby paints close to Light Blue RLM78

Light Blue RLM78 vs Barley Gray BS4800/18B21 (C-334)Mr. Color · ΔE 1, very close · closer than Aircraft Gray
Light Blue RLM78 vs Gray FS36375 (C-308)Mr. Color · ΔE 4, very close · closer than Aircraft Gray
Light Blue RLM78 vs Gray FS36375 (H-308)Aqueous Hobby Color · ΔE 4, very close · closer than Aircraft Gray

All matches: Aircraft Gray equivalents · Light Blue RLM78 equivalents