What is the difference between Red Brown 2 and Flat Brown?

ΔE 6 (close). Flat Brown is more saturated, cooler. Swatch colours are estimates.

Red Brown 2 vs Flat Brown

Red Brown 2

Brand: Tamiya
Range: XF Flat Acrylic
Code: XF-90
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #5b3e38 (estimate)

Flat Brown

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Model Color
Code: 70.984
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #643b3a (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 6.2, close: similar, with a visible difference side by side. Flat Brown is more saturated, cooler than Red Brown 2.

Can I use Flat Brown instead of Red Brown 2?

Usually, if you are not matching paint already on the model. Close match (ΔE 6). Flat Brown is more saturated, cooler than Red Brown 2.

Can I use Red Brown 2 instead of Flat Brown?

The same difference applies the other way round: Red Brown 2 is more muted, 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 Red Brown 2 on the colour wheel See Flat Brown on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Red Brown 2

Red Brown 2 vs German Red Brown (71.271)Model Air · ΔE 4, very close · closer than Flat Brown
Red Brown 2 vs Chestnut Brown (70.746)Model Color · ΔE 6, very close · closer than Flat Brown
Red Brown 2 vs Rust (71.080)Model Air · ΔE 6, close

Other Tamiya paints close to Flat Brown

Flat Brown vs Flat Brown (XF-10)XF Flat Acrylic · ΔE 6, close
Flat Brown vs Hull Red (XF-9)XF Flat Acrylic · ΔE 7, close
Flat Brown vs Brown (X-9)X Gloss Acrylic · ΔE 12, fair

All matches: Red Brown 2 equivalents · Flat Brown equivalents