Russian National Colors

This page outlines the colors used in the roundels and on the rudder of Russian WWI aircraft, as measured by comparisons to surviving fabric and paint samples. As you might guess, there is even less documentation on Russian colors than many other nationalities. However, based on surviving fabric, this is the best match we have. The source is Durkota, Darcey, and Kulikov's massive tome, The Imperial Russian Air Service.

Red	Russian National Markings
Reference Color	House Paints or Standards	Hobby Paints
Methuen 10C8^[1] CIElab 50.12, 50.79, 27.01 rgb #cc4c4c	Behr Pinkadelic (P160-6) Benjamin Moor Rhubarb (2007-30) Dulux/Glidden French Red Stripe (10YR 17/465) NCS1950 S2060-Y90R Pantone 1797 U PPG Bonfire (1187-6) RAL 460-4 RAL 030 50 60 Sherwin-Williams Coral Bells (6593) Valspar Whipped Strawberry (1006-1A)	TBD

Blue	Russian National Markings
Reference Color	House Paints or Standards	Hobby Paints
Methuen 22C8^[1] CIElab 47.41,-17.56,-41.8 rgb #007cb6	Dulux/Glidden Blue Streak (70BG 24/380) Pantone 300C Valspar Wishing Well (5002-10C)	Reaper MSP True Blue (9017) ?

Blue	Russian National Markings
Reference Color	House Paints or Standards	Hobby Paints
Methuen 22D8^[1] CIElab 45.56,-18.03,-34.8 rgb #0077a5	Behr Hacienda Blue (P490-6) Benjamin Moore Laguna Blue (2059-30) Dulux/Glidden Sweet Saphyre (50BG 18/350) NCS1950 S 3050-B Pantone 641 U Pantone 7690 C Pantone 301C PPG Neptune (1237-7) Sherwin-Williams Blue Mosque (6789) Valspar Garden Pool (5003-10C)	Reaper MSP Tropical Blue (9419) ?

And white is white.

Background and Caveats

Note: As always, there was frequently variation in paint color, weathering, varnishing, etc., so this is just a general guide. Unless you've got a high-end, wide-gamut monitor in perfect calibration (and who does?), do not trust the colors you see on your monitor! Instead, visit your local paint store and see if you can find paint samples like the ones listed and then match your hobby paints or mixes against those. The goal is just to "get close enough" for your own tastes.

Color matching was performed with the 1989 Methuen Handbook of Color and a Nix Color sensor.

References

Citations

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Durkota, p.377.

Bibliography

Alan Durkota, Thomas Darcey, and Victor Kulikov. The Imperial Russian Air Service. Flying Machines Press, 1995. ISBN 0-9637110-2-4
A. Kornerup & J.H. Wanscher, Methuen Handbook of Colour, Third Edition. Great Britain: Methuen London, 1989, ISBN 0-413-33400-7

[Durkota-377-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Durkota, p.377.

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