Just got some RLM 83 (AK Air Series) ….. Looks like something for a 43 era F4F. It’s dark blue! Did some snooping and some sources say it was a blue for aircraft operating over water primarily in the Med. (news to me.) If that is the case WHAT is the green that goes with the “normal” 75/82/76 and 82/83(?)/76 schemes?
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I’ve just had a look in Hikoki Publications ‘Luftwaffe Colours’, which has colour chips in the back and it shows RLM83 as a dark green. Almost like a dark Olive Drab. This is the best photo I could get.
These are the notes in the text about the colours.
Hope this helps.
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AK claimed some new research indicated that RLM 83 was actually dark blue and that the green color everyone previously thought of as RLM 83 was actually a variant of 82 or some other color. There was a big hubbub about this a couple of years ago when AK dropped this info in one of their books. To my knowledge, it’s never been definitely proved or disproved, but so far AK seems to be the only company leaning into RLM83 is blue.
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Interesting there is a lot of info out there that’s for sure. AK may be using German historical source materials unless they are using 2 different sites such as Verdes9.com or Scale Craft Studios both stating they are using actual German sources.
Jean-Claude Mermet in his first published book (date unknown) on Colors of the Luftwaffe RLM 83 is listed as Grau
This was updated again (listed on Cyber Modelers site) apparently to dunkelgrün
Cyber modeler online also shows how 4 different publications Merrick Hitchcock 1980, Eagle Editions 1998, Merrick Kiroff 2004, and Ullmann 2008 showing that RLM 83 is dunkelgrün in 4 differing shades.
Far as I knew RLM83 was basically a replacement for RLM70 Schwartzgrun. I’ve seen some that look like a greyish OD. Pi**ed me off AK does not list their new one as “RLM83 Blue”. Now I’m stuck with paint I have no use for.(unless someone here can use it.) Has anybody ever heard of blue Luftwaffe camo? Supposedly it was used in the Med for over water ops. All the Med/ Aegean stuff I’ve seen were 74/75/76 , Trop, or 71/70 or what ever the naval aviation guys used.
https://avionsenkits172.blogspot.com/2014/01/couleur-rlm-83-la-fin-dun-mystere_8828.html
More
https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235129691-rlm-83-color-reproduction-its-blue/
H.P.
rlm 83 is actually rlm 81 version 2 which many companies show as rlm 83. ak i think is the company that claims the 81 ver 2 existed and the actual rlm 83 is a blue. they make a rlm 81 v2.i happen to believe this, from what i understand there is no documentation of an 83 green.
Joe