Hobby color - RLM76 světle modrá

The Underside Color of German Aircraft

The shade designated by the number 76 covered the undersides and the sides of German aircraft from 1941 until the end of the war. It is a very light, only faintly bluish color, which over a large area reads more as a light gray with a cool cast. It was combined with the dark grays on the upper surfaces and, on late aircraft, with mottling on the vertical tail as well.

Paint properties

The paint has a water-thinnable binder and dries to a semi-gloss. On absorbent bases it can be thinned with water, but on smooth plastic it pays to use the thinner from the same range. Do not mix it with the lacquer lines from the same manufacturer, as the binders are not compatible and the mixture curdles.

Recommendations for the Scheme

• Run the boundary against the darker color on the sides of the fuselage according to a period photograph; on late aircraft it tended to be irregular
• Spray the mottling on the tail surfaces freehand at lower pressure
• Light surfaces will take only a gentle wash, as a pronounced one looks harsh
• Stir the paint, as the pigment of light shades settles markedly

The shade differs between surviving samples, because the formulation changed during the war. A small deviation from a reference fan is therefore not a mistake; what matters more is that the whole model is sprayed from one batch.

Combinations for German Schemes

• With the dark grays on the upper surfaces of aircraft defending the Reich
• With mottling on the vertical tail
• With exposed metal surfaces on late production aircraft

It pays to spray the light underside color first and only then mask for the darker upper surfaces. The other way round would mean laying a light shade over a dark one, which calls for markedly more coats.