Metallic Paint

Plate Mail Metal Equivalent

Plate Mail Metal is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Plate Mail Metal equivalent is Oily Steel (70.865) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 3.2).
For the Plate Mail Metal equivalent Vallejo, Oily Steel (70.865) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 3.2).
The best Plate Mail Metal Army Painter equivalent is Gun Metal (Army Painter) (ΔE 9.4).

Army Painter warpaint_fanatic_metallic #6A6B6F

Top 5 closest equivalents

These 5 substitutes are ranked by Delta-E accuracy. Each entry includes a behaviour comment.

1
Oily Steel (70.865)Vallejo Model Color
ΔE 3.2moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
2
Gunmetal Grey (70.863)Vallejo Model Color
ΔE 3.9moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
3
Iron WarriorsCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 4.3moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
4
Thrash MetalScale75
ΔE 4.6moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
5
True Metal IronAK Interactive
ΔE 6.2significant colour distance -- test before committing

Best equivalents by brand

Ranked by Delta-E CIEDE2000 · All brands · Interactive
Computing Delta-E…
Buy it now · Plate Mail Metal
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Direct answer

Which equivalent should you pick for Plate Mail Metal?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Plate Mail Metal in the current local catalogue is Oily Steel (70.865) from Vallejo Model Color (Delta-E 3.21).

Method

Matches are computed from the local paint catalogue with Delta-E CIEDE2000. Lower values mean a closer visual match on the miniature.

Limits

Finish, opacity, flow, and bottle format are not captured by Delta-E alone. Test the substitute if the recipe relies on a specific behaviour.

What to check before replacing this metallic

Before adopting a substitute, check these points specific to this metallic paint:

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Frequently asked questions

Plate Mail Metal is a paint from Army Painter. Its specific pigment load, drying behaviour, and finish set it apart from other paints in the same category, which is why a direct substitute needs to match more than just the colour value.

The closest Vallejo option is Oily Steel (70.865) (Delta E 3.21).

Yes, Plate Mail Metal is currently part of the Army Painter range. Check local stock or equivalent alternatives if the pot is hard to source.

Check Delta-E, finish type, coverage, opacity, and behaviour over your chosen primer. Run a full test with one shade and one highlight pass before applying the substitute to an entire unit.

Plate Mail Metal is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Plate Mail Metal equivalent is Oily Steel (70.865) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 3.2).
For the Plate Mail Metal equivalent Vallejo, Oily Steel (70.865) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 3.2).
The best Plate Mail Metal Army Painter equivalent is Gun Metal (Army Painter) (ΔE 9.4).

Plate Mail Metal is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.

The closest Plate Mail Metal equivalent is Oily Steel (70.865) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 3.2. For a Plate Mail Metal equivalent Vallejo match, Oily Steel (70.865) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 3.2 is the closest pick. The best Plate Mail Metal Army Painter equivalent is Gun Metal (Army Painter) with Delta E 9.4.

Plate Mail Metal Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Oily Steel (70.865) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 3.2.

Plate Mail Metal Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Gun Metal (Army Painter) with Delta E 9.4.

Plate Mail Metal equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a paint with metallic pigments, Plate Mail Metal reflects light differently than standard colours. The colour sits in the neutral grey range.

Pigment particle size

Metallic paints use metal flakes that vary by brand. Plate Mail Metal has a specific particle size.

Black vs white primer

The primer choice affects how Plate Mail Metal reads. Over black the metallic appears deeper and richer.

NMM simulation vs true metallic

Plate Mail Metal is a true metallic — the flakes do the work of simulating reflections.

Edge highlight preservation

Edge highlights on Plate Mail Metal must contrast with the metallic base.

Tarnish and varnish

Metallic paints can tarnish over time. Plate Mail Metal may need a varnish seal.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Oily Steel (70.865) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 3.2
  • Closest Vallejo option : Oily Steel (70.865) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 3.2
  • Closest Army Painter option : Gun Metal (Army Painter) – ΔE 9.4

A metallic paint substitute only becomes trustworthy once it survives the same primer, wash, and varnish sequence as the original recipe.

Looking at the surrounding palette matters because a near match can still push the finished model warmer, colder, or flatter than expected.

That combination of colour distance, finish, and recipe context is what makes a paint substitute reliable on an actual miniature.