What is the difference between Red Brown and Saddle Brown?

ΔE 10 (fair). Saddle Brown is more muted, cooler. Swatch colours are estimates.

Red Brown vs Saddle Brown

Red Brown

Brand: Tamiya
Range: TS Spray
Code: TS-1
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #83604d (estimate)

Saddle Brown

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Model Color
Code: 70.940
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #805f5d (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 10.2, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Saddle Brown is more muted, cooler than Red Brown.

Can I use Saddle Brown instead of Red Brown?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 10). Saddle Brown is more muted, cooler than Red Brown.

Can I use Red Brown instead of Saddle Brown?

The same difference applies the other way round: Red Brown 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 Red Brown on the colour wheel See Saddle Brown on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Red Brown

Red Brown vs Mud Brown (71.037)Model Air · ΔE 3, very close · closer than Saddle Brown
Red Brown vs Sand Brown (71.034)Model Air · ΔE 4, very close · closer than Saddle Brown
Red Brown vs Tan Earth (70.874)Model Color · ΔE 5, very close · closer than Saddle Brown

Other Tamiya paints close to Saddle Brown

Saddle Brown vs Dark Earth (AS-22)AS Spray (aircraft) · ΔE 3, very close · closer than Red Brown
Saddle Brown vs NATO Brown (XF-68)XF Flat Acrylic · ΔE 15, fair
Saddle Brown vs NATO Brown (TS-62)TS Spray · ΔE 15, fair

All matches: Red Brown equivalents · Saddle Brown equivalents