What is the difference between Red Brown and Chestnut Brown?

ΔE 12 (fair). Chestnut Brown is cooler. Swatch colours are estimates.

Red Brown vs Chestnut Brown

Red Brown

Brand: Tamiya
Range: XF Flat Acrylic
Code: XF-64
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #523b29 (estimate)

Chestnut Brown

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Model Color
Code: 70.746
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #523536 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 11.9, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Chestnut Brown is cooler than Red Brown.

Can I use Chestnut Brown instead of Red Brown?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 12). Chestnut Brown is cooler than Red Brown.

Can I use Red Brown instead of Chestnut Brown?

The same difference applies the other way round: Red Brown is 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 Chestnut Brown on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Red Brown

Red Brown vs Flat Earth (70.983)Model Color · ΔE 3, very close · closer than Chestnut Brown
Red Brown vs Cam. Middle Brown (70.740)Model Color · ΔE 7, close · closer than Chestnut Brown
Red Brown vs BC Dark Brown (70.768)Model Color · ΔE 8, close · closer than Chestnut Brown

Other Tamiya paints close to Chestnut Brown

Chestnut Brown vs Flat Brown (XF-10)XF Flat Acrylic · ΔE 6, very close · closer than Red Brown
Chestnut Brown vs Red Brown 2 (XF-90)XF Flat Acrylic · ΔE 6, very close · closer than Red Brown
Chestnut Brown vs NATO Black (TS-63)TS Spray · ΔE 10, fair · closer than Red Brown

All matches: Red Brown equivalents · Chestnut Brown equivalents