What is the difference between Royal Blue and Dark Blue RLM24?

ΔE 10 (fair). Dark Blue RLM24 is more muted, cooler. Swatch colours are estimates.

Royal Blue vs Dark Blue RLM24

Royal Blue

Brand: Tamiya
Range: X Gloss Acrylic
Code: X-3
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #2f3e67 (estimate)

Dark Blue RLM24

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Model Air
Code: 71.266
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #314560 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 10.2, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Dark Blue RLM24 is more muted, cooler than Royal Blue.

Can I use Dark Blue RLM24 instead of Royal Blue?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 10). Dark Blue RLM24 is more muted, cooler than Royal Blue.

Can I use Royal Blue instead of Dark Blue RLM24?

The same difference applies the other way round: Royal Blue 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 Royal Blue on the colour wheel See Dark Blue RLM24 on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Royal Blue

Royal Blue vs Blue (71.004)Model Air · ΔE 0, very close · closer than Dark Blue RLM24
Royal Blue vs French Blue (71.088)Model Air · ΔE 4, very close · closer than Dark Blue RLM24
Royal Blue vs Prussian Blue (70.965)Model Color · ΔE 6, very close · closer than Dark Blue RLM24

Other Tamiya paints close to Dark Blue RLM24

Dark Blue RLM24 vs Sea Blue (XF-17)XF Flat Acrylic · ΔE 3, very close · closer than Royal Blue
Dark Blue RLM24 vs Dark Blue (TS-55)TS Spray · ΔE 11, fair
Dark Blue RLM24 vs Gray Violet (Luftwaffe) (AS-4)AS Spray (aircraft) · ΔE 13, fair

All matches: Royal Blue equivalents · Dark Blue RLM24 equivalents