Service Brown sits in the brown family: dark in tone, moderate in saturation, warm in cast. No shortage of substitutes here, Burnt Umber from Vallejo matches at 90 percent and 4 brands carry a strong same-finish near-match. Within the Humbrol range it ladders cleanly, Black Grey for the shadows and Matt Tank Grey for the highlights. Bottom line: run out mid-project and another brand will get you within a shade.
Closest equivalents
The closest cross-brand match is Vallejo Burnt Umber at 90% similarity. Same-finish paints rank before color-only matches.
How to read the score
90+Close
80sUsable
<70Mix
Vallejo
AK Interactive
Two Thin Coats
Monument Pro Acryl
The Army Painter
Citadel
Tamiya
Scale75
Revell
Green Stuff World
P3 Paints
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Pairs well with
Try any paint in the scheme toolMatch difficulty
Found in 4 other brands with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Humbrol Service Brown?
The closest same-finish match is Vallejo Burnt Umber at 90% color similarity.
What color is Service Brown?
Service Brown is a dark moderate brown with a warm undertone (hex #4D362B).
What do I highlight and shade Service Brown with?
Highlight Service Brown toward Matt Tank Grey and shade it down into Black Grey, both Humbrol paints in the same finish family.