Fir Green (RAL 6009)

The color

Fir Green is a dark green listed in the RAL chart under the number 6009. RAL is an industrial standard of shades, so the number determines a particular tone regardless of who makes the paint; by the same number you can top the shade up or compare it with a chart at any time. The tone is rich, very dark and subdued, with none of the bright green head that fresh grass shades have.

How to work with the paint

Stir the contents of the bottle thoroughly before use. The pigment settles at the bottom when it stands, and paint taken from the top then has a different tone and covering power from that at the bottom. Apply it in several thin coats instead of one thick one: a thick coat floods the engraving, dries unevenly and pulls back on the edges. Choose the thinner from the same range as the paint; thinners and cleaners from other systems need not be compatible with it and the paint may curdle. The particular ratio of thinning, the drying time and the way of applying it are given by the manufacturer on the label and in the instructions.

What to watch out for with a dark green

A very dark shade looks even darker on a small model than it really is, because a reduced surface lacks reflections and scattered light. It therefore pays to lighten the areas inside the panels slightly and to leave the dark tone only by the edges and in nooks. A dark green also absorbs a subsequent wash easily, so do the shading by shape rather than by darkening further.

Who it is for

For modelers who need a dark green exactly by its RAL number, whether for large areas or as a base for grading further tones. The package contains the paint alone; a thinner, a brush and an airbrush are not part of it, unless stated otherwise.