ATOM COLOR Dunkelgrün RLM81

ATOM COLOR Dunkelgrün RLM 81 — an AMMO acrylic paint, 20 ml

A modeling paint, not a kit. ATOM COLOR Dunkelgrün RLM 81 is a water-thinnable acrylic from the ATOM range from AMMO of Mig Jimenez in a bottle of 20 ml. The ATOM range relies on a very fine pigment: the paint is self-leveling, dries quickly to a matte surface and is formulated to work well with a brush and in an airbrush. The cured coat is durable and takes further layers of varnish, washes, enamel effects, masking tape and decals.

About the RLM 81 shade — and why it is disputed

RLM 81 belongs, together with RLM 82 and RLM 83, to the late German aircraft camouflage of 1944-45, where it replaced the older combinations. It is fair to say, though, that RLM 81 is a matter of expert dispute to this day: at the time the designation Braunviolett (brown-violet) was used for it, while other aircraft manufacturers described it as olive brown or directly as Dunkelgrün, that is dark green. Surviving finishes range from chocolate brown through olive brown to a dark green. No binding color standard has survived that would settle the dispute. This paint represents the green interpretation of RLM 81 — if you are building a machine for which you hold to the brown-violet variant, you need a shade carried as Braunviolett.

Use

• Upper surfaces of German aircraft in the late camouflage of 1944-45, paired with RLM 82 and RLM 83.
• Dark green patches and bands of the late schemes of fighters and jet machines.
• A general dark green for vehicles, accessories and dioramas.

Application tips

Shake the bottle thoroughly. Into an airbrush the paint goes practically straight; it is thinned and cleaned with water or acrylic thinner — never with cellulose or lacquer thinner. Spray the soft transitions of the late camouflage at lower pressure and from close up, or over improvised masking from raised tape. Before decals, go over the area with a gloss varnish.

Who the paint is for

For modelers of late Luftwaffe machines and for anyone looking for a reliable dark green that handles both brush and airbrush.

A water-based paint, odorless. Keep out of reach of children and do not let it freeze. When spraying, work in a ventilated area and protect your airways.