Five manufacturer-listed Citadel to Vallejo examples
The following pairs appear in Vallejo’s Game Color chart, revision 03. They are manufacturer-listed alternatives, not our measured colour matches. Check the range and product number on the bottle; similar names can refer to different products.
| Citadel paint | Vallejo Game Color | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Moot Green | Scorpy Green | 72.032 |
| Warboss Green | Sick Green | 72.029 |
| Caliban Green | Dark Green | 72.028 |
| Ogryn Camo | Dead Flesh | 72.035 |
| Zandri Dust | Khaki | 72.061 |
Vallejo notes that reproduced chart colours are approximate. These entries should help you choose what to test, not imply an invisible repair on an already painted model.
Test a substitution before painting the squad
- Use one surface. Prime a spare base, plastic spoon, or test piece with your usual primer.
- Label both samples. Record brand, range, paint name, and number.
- Compare the same stage. Paint neighbouring swatches and let them dry before deciding.
- Check coverage. Record how many coats each needed to reach the result you want.
- Check the final finish. If you normally varnish, compare a varnished test as well.
Judge the sample under the light where you paint and the light where you display or play. A substitution may work for a new unit while remaining noticeable on a touch-up next to the original paint.
Why the paint range matters
Do not match by name alone. A conventional opaque acrylic, a translucent colour, a wash, and a metallic can share a similar screen colour yet behave differently on a miniature. A useful replacement should do the same job in the recipe.
For example, a basecoat replacement needs workable coverage; a glazing colour needs useful transparency. With a metallic, compare the appearance of the reflected light as well as the underlying hue. A flat digital swatch cannot show that entire effect.
What a digital colour match can tell you
A colour-distance calculation compares its input colours. It cannot make an uncalibrated photo into a laboratory measurement of the paint in a bottle. Light, camera processing, the sampled area, and the reference data affect the result.
MiniPaint AI helps you find paint candidates from colour zones and your catalogue. Treat those suggestions as a starting point for a physical comparison. We do not publish measured Delta-E scores for these table entries because we have not measured the dried paints under controlled conditions.
What about The Army Painter?
The same testing process works when your shelf contains The Army Painter paints. Note the exact range, not just the brand. Do not assume that an older Warpaints bottle, a Fanatic colour, and a Speedpaint with a related name are interchangeable.
For translucent products, even the medium and undercoat become part of the recipe. The manufacturer’s Speedpaint Medium guidance describes thinning within that system. See our speedpainting comparison for choosing a workflow.
Save the match that actually worked
Keep the original paint, substitute, primer, coat count, and a short verdict together. “Good for a new squad; visibly warmer on repairs” is more useful than a blanket “exact match.” Add a photograph of the dried sample so you can revisit the decision.
Build a paint inventory around bottles you own, then reuse those notes in future recipes. Your own tested substitutes gradually become a more useful reference for your workbench.