Acrysion - RLM02 šedá

The gray-green tone of the Luftwaffe

The RLM designation belonged to the system by which the Luftwaffe described its finishes, and the number 02 held an exceptional place in it. This greenish gray tone appeared on the internal surfaces of cockpits, in landing gear bays, on doors and frames, on parts of engine cowlings, and in the first years of the war it was also part of the upper camouflage. Modelers therefore reach for it on practically every German machine of the period, whether they are building a fighter, a bomber or a trainer.

Because the shade comes into its own above all where the make-up of the structure is visible, a thin film matters a great deal. Rivets, stiffeners and small levers are lost under a single heavy coat. It proves useful to lay on a lighter mist, let it rest and add a second; only then does the surface look uniform and still keep its relief.

Thinning, weathering and the transition to external surfaces

Water serves for thinning, and for a very fine spray the thinner from the same range. A mature surface takes dark washes that draw the shadows in ribs and corners, as well as a light lightening of the middles of panels. Where the shade continues onto the external surfaces, watch the continuity of tone between inside and outside: if it is laid on in two stages a few days apart, a differently thinned paint is enough and the difference will show on the finished model. It is safer to mix a supply for the whole job in advance in a closable jar and to draw from it than to look for the ratio again from memory. It also saves needless topping up during spraying.