FS# INTERPRETATIONS
A brief overview of the system used by Federal Standards

FS Numbers (eg: FS 34152) are the universal colouring system used by modellers when painting aircraft and are often referred to by other paint manufacturers to best describe the colour they are reproducing in their range.  

FS 595a is the current variation of the system, and FS stands for "Federal Standards".  

One of the most common questions about the numbering system is exactly what the digits stand for? Is the FS colour matt or gloss?  What do the numbers really mean and why are there gaps?  The following provides you with a brief overview of how the numbers are coded.  The purpose is to help you at least break down the grouped colour and its overall finish.

Example:  34052 - Black Green - using this example to provide the information

Name:   (Black Green)

This is the description of the colour. 

First Digit:  3  

The very first digit defines the overall texture or finish of the colour as follows:
1 : Gloss, shiny
2 : Semi-Gloss, Satin (Humbrol)
3 : Flat, Matt

Second Digit:  4

The second digit in the five number code defines the colour group as follows:
0 : Brown (including tans, sand and red-brown colours)
1 : Red
2 : Orange
3 : Yellow
4 : Green (including olives and khaki colours)
5 : Blue 
6 : Grey
7 : Miscellaneous (including blacks, whites, purples, silvers and other metallics)
8 : Fluorescent colours

Last Digits:  052

The final three digits determines the final shade or hue of the specific colour within its colour group above.

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