Paint equivalent guide

Royal Blue Equivalent

Royal Blue is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Royal Blue equivalent is Flat Blue (70.962) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 3.1).
For the Royal Blue equivalent Vallejo, Flat Blue (70.962) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 3.1).
The best Royal Blue Army Painter equivalent is Electric Blue (Army Painter) (ΔE 3.9).

Army Painter warpaint_fanatic #0055A8

Top 5 closest equivalents

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

1
Flat Blue (70.962)Vallejo Model Color
ΔE 3.1moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
2
Ultramarine Blue (70.839)Vallejo Model Color
ΔE 3.9moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
3
Royal Blue (70.809)Vallejo Model Color
ΔE 4.0moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
4
Andrea Blue (70.841)Vallejo Model Color
ΔE 4.7moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
5
SC-07 Caspian BlueScale75
ΔE 4.7moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection

Best equivalents by brand

Ranked by Delta-E CIEDE2000 · All brands · Interactive
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Direct answer

Which equivalent should you pick for Royal Blue?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Royal Blue in the current local catalogue is Flat Blue (70.962) from Vallejo Model Color (Delta-E 3.11).

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

Royal Blue 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 Flat Blue (70.962) (Delta E 3.11).

Yes, Royal Blue 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.

Royal Blue is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Royal Blue equivalent is Flat Blue (70.962) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 3.1).
For the Royal Blue equivalent Vallejo, Flat Blue (70.962) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 3.1).
The best Royal Blue Army Painter equivalent is Electric Blue (Army Painter) (ΔE 3.9).

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

The closest Royal Blue equivalent is Flat Blue (70.962) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 3.1. For a Royal Blue equivalent Vallejo match, Flat Blue (70.962) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 3.1 is the closest pick. The best Royal Blue Army Painter equivalent is Electric Blue (Army Painter) with Delta E 3.9.

Royal Blue Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Flat Blue (70.962) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 3.1.

Royal Blue Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Electric Blue (Army Painter) with Delta E 3.9.

Royal Blue equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a paint, Royal Blue requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the deep blue range.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Flat Blue (70.962) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 3.1
  • Closest Vallejo option : Flat Blue (70.962) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 3.1
  • Closest Army Painter option : Electric Blue (Army Painter) – ΔE 3.9

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.