Hobby color - kakaově hnědá

A Dark Brown with a Warm Tone

The shade recalls the color of cocoa — a dark brown with a noticeable reddish component. On a model it suits leather features, wood once darkened, dried mud, and rusty surfaces as a starting tone. It differs from purely brown shades exactly in that warmth, which makes it look organic rather than earthy.

Paint properties

The binder is a water-based acrylic, and the resulting surface is neither matte nor glossy. Water works for absorbent materials, but on a smooth surface the brand's own thinner is a safer choice. Combining it with the same brand's lacquer range is not an option.

Where the color is used

• Leather straps, bags and holsters on figures
• Wooden parts once darkened with a wash
• Dried mud on running gear and mudguards
• A starting tone for rust before adding orange

Working with dark browns

Dark browns easily blend into their surroundings on a model, since they lack contrast. It therefore pays to add lighter dry-brushing on the edges to bring out the shape. A slight sheen works well for leather too, since treated leather was never entirely matte.

Additional notes

• A slight sheen suits leather; treated leather was never entirely matte
• Mud looks more convincing when the shade shifts slightly between layers
• As a rust component, mix it with orange, not red

On figures, it pays to distinguish leather features from fabric ones not just by color but also by the degree of sheen. It is exactly this contrast between matte fabric and slightly glossy leather that makes the result convincing.