Paint equivalent guide

Pure Red Army Painter warpaint fanatic paint equivalents (#A81719)

Pure Red is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Pure Red equivalent is Mechrite Red (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 2.4).
For Vallejo, the closest match to Pure Red is Carmine Red (70.908) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 4.0).
No close Army Painter equivalent found for Pure Red.

Army Painter warpaint_fanatic #A81719
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Top 5 closest equivalents

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

1
Bloody Red (72.010)Vallejo Game Color
ΔE 2.2slight colour difference, well within acceptable range
2
Mechrite RedCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 2.4slight colour difference, well within acceptable range
3
Hellfire RedGreen Stuff World
ΔE 2.7slight colour difference, well within acceptable range
4
Colorshift Candy AppleGreen Stuff World
ΔE 3.3moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
5
SC-07 Heavy RedScale75
ΔE 3.6moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection

Best equivalents by brand

Ranked by Delta-E CIEDE2000 · All brands · Interactive

Buy it now · Pure Red
Compare stock and prices · Pure Red
Direct answer

Which equivalent should you pick for Pure Red?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Pure Red in the current local catalogue is Bloody Red (72.010) from Vallejo Game Color (Delta-E 2.21).

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 base

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

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Frequently asked questions

Pure Red 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 Carmine Red (70.908) (Delta E 3.97).

Yes, Pure Red 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.

Pure Red is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Pure Red equivalent is Mechrite Red (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 2.4).
For Vallejo, the closest match to Pure Red is Carmine Red (70.908) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 4.0).
No close Army Painter equivalent found for Pure Red.

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

The closest Pure Red equivalent is Mechrite Red (Citadel (Games Workshop)) with Delta E 2.4. For Vallejo, the closest match to Pure Red is Carmine Red (70.908) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 4.0. No close Army Painter equivalent found for Pure Red.

Pure Red Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Carmine Red (70.908) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 4.0.

Pure Red Army Painter equivalent

No Army Painter equivalent within an acceptable colour distance was found for Pure Red.

Pure Red equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a paint, Pure Red requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the rich red range.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Mechrite Red (Citadel (Games Workshop)) – ΔE 2.4
  • Closest Vallejo option : Carmine Red (70.908) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 4.0
  • Closest Army Painter option : no close Army Painter equivalent

A paint substitute only becomes trustworthy once it survives the same primer, shade, and highlight 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.

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