Base Paint

Kantor Blue Equivalent

A deep, rich navy blue — Kantor Blue is the shadow base for dark blue armour schemes and night fighting.
The closest Kantor Blue equivalent is Night Blue (72.019) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 6.3).
For the Kantor Blue equivalent Vallejo, Night Blue (72.019) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 6.3).
The best Kantor Blue Army Painter equivalent is Night Sky Purple (Army Painter) (ΔE 7.3).

Citadel (Games Workshop) base #02134E

Top 4 closest equivalents

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

1
Night Blue (72.019)Vallejo Game Color
ΔE 6.3significant colour distance -- test before committing
2
Prussian Blue (70.965)Vallejo Model Color
ΔE 7.2significant colour distance -- test before committing
3
Night Sky PurpleArmy Painter
ΔE 7.3significant colour distance -- test before committing
4
IMPERIAL BLUEAK Interactive
ΔE 7.4significant colour distance -- test before committing

Best equivalents by brand

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

Which equivalent should you pick for Kantor Blue?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Kantor Blue in the current local catalogue is Night Blue (72.019) from Vallejo Game Color (Delta-E 6.34).

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:

Armies using Kantor Blue

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Frequently asked questions

Kantor Blue is a base 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.

The closest Vallejo option is Night Blue (72.019) (Delta E 6.34).

Yes, Kantor Blue 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.

A deep, rich navy blue — Kantor Blue is the shadow base for dark blue armour schemes and night fighting.
The closest Kantor Blue equivalent is Night Blue (72.019) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 6.3).
For the Kantor Blue equivalent Vallejo, Night Blue (72.019) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 6.3).
The best Kantor Blue Army Painter equivalent is Night Sky Purple (Army Painter) (ΔE 7.3).

A deep, rich navy blue — Kantor Blue is the shadow base for dark blue armour schemes and night fighting.

The closest Kantor Blue equivalent is Night Blue (72.019) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 6.3. For a Kantor Blue equivalent Vallejo match, Night Blue (72.019) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 6.3 is the closest pick. The best Kantor Blue Army Painter equivalent is Night Sky Purple (Army Painter) with Delta E 7.3.

Kantor Blue Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Night Blue (72.019) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 6.3.

Kantor Blue Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Night Sky Purple (Army Painter) with Delta E 7.3.

Kantor Blue equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a base paint, Kantor Blue requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the deep blue range, with strong coverage and opaque opacity over a black primer.

Coverage and opacity

Kantor Blue is designed to cover primer evenly in one or two passes. Coverage is rated strong, so a substitute that falls below this threshold will require extra coats to block the undercolour. Test the replacement over the same primer — a base that shifts tone with each coat can alter the entire highlight stack.

Primer and application

This base paint performs best over a black primer. A substitute that behaves well over a light primer may struggle over black or grey, especially if its opacity is lower. Apply two thin coats, letting each dry fully before the next.

Layer compatibility

The deep blue mid-tone of Kantor Blue anchors the layers above it. A replacement that dries glossier or rougher will change how shade and layer paints adhere.

Saturation and colour drift

Base paints carry more pigment than other types, so even a deep blue substitute with a close Delta-E can read warmer or cooler once shaded. Run a complete test: prime, base, shade, and highlight before committing.

Companion palette

The most useful partners for Kantor Blue are Macragge Blue (base colour), Drakenhof Nightshade (blue wash), Calgar Blue (layer / highlight) and Nuln Oil (primary wash). These supporting colours define how the base reads once the recipe is complete.

Macragge Blue, Drakenhof Nightshade, Calgar Blue and Nuln Oil are common companions to this base. They were chosen in the original recipe because their coverage, drying speed, and finish layer in the same workflow without forcing extra corrections.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Night Blue (72.019) (Vallejo Game Color) – ΔE 6.3
  • Closest Vallejo option : Night Blue (72.019) (Vallejo Game Color) – ΔE 6.3
  • Closest Army Painter option : Night Sky Purple (Army Painter) – ΔE 7.3

A base 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 base 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.