Layer Paint

Blue Horror layer equivalents in Army Painter and Scale75 (#9EB5CE)

As a layer paint, this colour is formulated for translucency and smooth transitions over an existing basecoat. Cool blue tones anchor many Space Marine chapters and provide a stable foundation for cold schemes.
The closest Blue Horror equivalent is SC-94 Moonstone Alchemy (Scale75) (ΔE 5.7).
No close Vallejo equivalent found for Blue Horror.
For Army Painter, the closest match to Blue Horror is Frost Blue (Army Painter) (ΔE 3.1).

Citadel (Games Workshop) layer #9EB5CE
Free No mandatory account No intrusive advertising

Top 3 closest equivalents

These 3 substitutes are ranked by Delta-E accuracy. Each entry includes a behaviour comment.

1
Frost BlueArmy Painter
ΔE 3.1moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
2
Leviathan LightArmy Painter
ΔE 5.7moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
3
SC-94 Moonstone AlchemyScale75
ΔE 5.7moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection

Best equivalents by brand

Ranked by Delta-E CIEDE2000 · All brands · Interactive

Buy it now · Blue Horror
Compare stock and prices · Blue Horror
Direct answer

Which equivalent should you pick for Blue Horror?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Blue Horror in the current local catalogue is Frost Blue from Army Painter (Delta-E 3.13).

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 layer

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

Need the paint card for Blue Horror?
Usage, recipes, primer guidance, and painting context live on the dedicated paint page
View paint card →

Frequently asked questions

Blue Horror is a layer paint from Citadel (Games Workshop). 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.

No reliable Vallejo match appears in the current top equivalents.

Yes, Blue Horror is currently part of the Citadel (Games Workshop) 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.

As a layer paint, this colour is formulated for translucency and smooth transitions over an existing basecoat. Cool blue tones anchor many Space Marine chapters and provide a stable foundation for cold schemes.
The closest Blue Horror equivalent is SC-94 Moonstone Alchemy (Scale75) (ΔE 5.7).
No close Vallejo equivalent found for Blue Horror.
For Army Painter, the closest match to Blue Horror is Frost Blue (Army Painter) (ΔE 3.1).

As a layer paint, this colour is formulated for translucency and smooth transitions over an existing basecoat. Cool blue tones anchor many Space Marine chapters and provide a stable foundation for cold schemes.

The closest Blue Horror equivalent is SC-94 Moonstone Alchemy (Scale75) with Delta E 5.7. No close Vallejo equivalent found for Blue Horror. For Army Painter, the closest match to Blue Horror is Frost Blue (Army Painter) with Delta E 3.1.

Blue Horror Vallejo equivalent

No Vallejo equivalent within an acceptable colour distance was found for Blue Horror.

Blue Horror Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Frost Blue (Army Painter) with Delta E 3.1.

Blue Horror equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a layer paint, Blue Horror is designed for smooth transitions and controlled highlights. The colour sits in the deep blue range, with reliable coverage and stable opacity over the primer already used in your recipe.

Translucency

Layer paints are more translucent than base paints by design. Blue Horror builds colour gradually, which means a substitute must also layer well without going opaque too quickly or requiring too many coats.

Glazing technique

For best results, thin Blue Horror to controlled thinning and apply in multiple passes. A substitute that dries too fast or too matte will change how the glaze settles on the model.

Layering transitions

The deep blue tone of Blue Horror works best when layered from a darker base. Check that the substitute blends gradually without hard edges between coats.

Highlight control

Blue Horror is commonly used for edge highlights and surface detail. A substitute with different thinning behaviour will alter how precisely you can place the highlight.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : SC-94 Moonstone Alchemy (Scale75) – ΔE 5.7
  • Closest Vallejo option : no close Vallejo equivalent
  • Closest Army Painter option : Frost Blue (Army Painter) – ΔE 3.1

A layer 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 layer paint substitute reliable on an actual miniature.

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

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 too, because a near match can still push the finished model warmer, colder, flatter, or glossier than expected.

That is why the page keeps the recommendation anchored to painting workflow instead of treating Delta-E alone as the final decision.

A useful equivalent page should also reduce buying mistakes: the closer colour is not always the safer option if the bottle dries glossier, covers faster, or behaves differently on large armour panels.

Go further with ChromaStack

Manage your collection, browse guides and find more equivalents