Paint equivalent guide

Rough Iron Equivalent

Rough Iron is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Rough Iron equivalent is Tin Bitz (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 6.0).
For the Rough Iron equivalent Vallejo, Gunmetal Blue (70.800) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 10.9).
The best Rough Iron Army Painter equivalent is Death Metal (Army Painter) (ΔE 6.7).

Army Painter warpaint_fanatic_metallic #362D25

Top 4 closest equivalents

These 4 substitutes are ranked by Delta-E accuracy. Each entry includes a behaviour comment.

1
Tin BitzCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 6.0moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
2
Anthrax MetalGreen Stuff World
ΔE 8.8significant colour distance -- test before committing
3
Black MetalScale75
ΔE 10.4significant colour distance -- test before committing
4
Gunmetal Blue (70.800)Vallejo Model Color
ΔE 10.9significant colour distance -- test before committing

Best equivalents by brand

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Direct answer

Which equivalent should you pick for Rough Iron?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Rough Iron in the current local catalogue is Tin Bitz from Citadel (Games Workshop) (Delta-E 5.95).

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

Rough Iron 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 Gunmetal Blue (70.800) (Delta E 10.90).

Yes, Rough Iron 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.

Rough Iron is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Rough Iron equivalent is Tin Bitz (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 6.0).
For the Rough Iron equivalent Vallejo, Gunmetal Blue (70.800) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 10.9).
The best Rough Iron Army Painter equivalent is Death Metal (Army Painter) (ΔE 6.7).

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

The closest Rough Iron equivalent is Tin Bitz (Citadel (Games Workshop)) with Delta E 6.0. For a Rough Iron equivalent Vallejo match, Gunmetal Blue (70.800) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 10.9 is the closest pick. The best Rough Iron Army Painter equivalent is Death Metal (Army Painter) with Delta E 6.7.

Rough Iron Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Gunmetal Blue (70.800) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 10.9.

Rough Iron Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Death Metal (Army Painter) with Delta E 6.7.

Rough Iron equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a paint, Rough Iron requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the warm orange range.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Tin Bitz (Citadel (Games Workshop)) – ΔE 6.0
  • Closest Vallejo option : Gunmetal Blue (70.800) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 10.9
  • Closest Army Painter option : Death Metal (Army Painter) – ΔE 6.7

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.