Federal Standard FS.595a/595B to model paints

The colours have no official names, just five-digit numbers. Any names given below are generic. The example of the FS number could be:

35694

The first figure can be 1,2 or 3 and indicates the level of sheen:

• 1 = gloss
• 2 = semigloss
• 3 = matt

For simplicity, all colors in this chart are referred to as matt (begin with 3). Color matches for matt colors apply also to semi-gloss or gloss colors - just replace the leading digit with 2 or 1, respectively.

Matt, satin or gloss clear lacquer should be applied to painted object to obtain the desired quality of finish.

The second figure of FS code indicates a general color classification group -

• 0 = brown
• 1 = red
• 2 = orange
• 3 = yellow
• 4 = green
• 5 = blue
• 6 = grey
• 7 = other (white, black, violet, metallic)
• 8 = fluorescent

The remaining figures (third to fifth) combined into a number indicate the intensity. Lower value indicates a darker color, higher value - a lighter color, with no other significance. The numbers have been assigned with gaps to allow addition of new colours.

FS.595 is a colour collection, not a complete color system, an this has the following implications:

• The existence of a color chip 3xxxx doesn't imply that there is a color chip for 1xxxx.
• You cannot derive new colors form the exisiting ones. Thus, if you compare i.e. RLM colors to FS codes, you can only refer to the nearest existing FS color, which most often isn't a perfect match (but perhaps a good-enough one).

This chart has been recently updated