What is the difference between Mustard Yellow and Plague Brown?

ΔE 7 (close). Plague Brown is more saturated. Swatch colours are estimates.

Mustard Yellow vs Plague Brown

Mustard Yellow

Brand: Tamiya
Range: PS Spray (polycarbonate)
Code: PS-56
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #d2ab2c (estimate)

Plague Brown

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Game Color
Code: 72.039
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #e0ab24 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 7.3, close: similar, with a visible difference side by side. Plague Brown is more saturated than Mustard Yellow.

Can I use Plague Brown instead of Mustard Yellow?

Usually, if you are not matching paint already on the model. Close match (ΔE 7). Plague Brown is more saturated than Mustard Yellow.

Can I use Mustard Yellow instead of Plague Brown?

The same difference applies the other way round: Mustard Yellow is more muted.

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 Mustard Yellow on the colour wheel See Plague Brown on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Mustard Yellow

Mustard Yellow vs Desert Yellow (72.063)Game Color · ΔE 3, very close · closer than Plague Brown
Mustard Yellow vs Sand Yellow (70.916)Model Color · ΔE 6, close · closer than Plague Brown
Mustard Yellow vs Buff (70.976)Model Color · ΔE 10, close

Other Tamiya paints close to Plague Brown

Plague Brown vs Camel Yellow (TS-34)TS Spray · ΔE 12, fair
Plague Brown vs Camel Yellow (PS-19)PS Spray (polycarbonate) · ΔE 14, fair
Plague Brown vs Pure Orange (TS-98)TS Spray · ΔE 23, loose

All matches: Mustard Yellow equivalents · Plague Brown equivalents