Paint equivalent guide

Charred Brown (72.045) Equivalent

Charred Brown (72.045) is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Charred Brown (72.045) equivalent is CHOCOLATE (CHIPPING) (AK Interactive) (ΔE 2.7).
For the Charred Brown (72.045) equivalent Vallejo, German Camouflage Black Brown (70.822) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 2.8).
The best Charred Brown (72.045) Army Painter equivalent is Brigandine Brown (Army Painter) (ΔE 11.2).

Vallejo Game Color acrylic #3A2818

Top 5 closest equivalents

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

1
CHOCOLATE (CHIPPING)AK Interactive
ΔE 2.7slight colour difference, well within acceptable range
2
German Camouflage Black Brown (70.822)Vallejo Model Color
ΔE 2.8slight colour difference, well within acceptable range
3
LEATHER BROWNAK Interactive
ΔE 3.2moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
4
WWI British Khaki Brown BaseAK Interactive
ΔE 3.7moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
5
BURNT UMBERAK Interactive
ΔE 4.8moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection

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 Charred Brown (72.045)?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Charred Brown (72.045) in the current local catalogue is CHOCOLATE (CHIPPING) from AK Interactive (Delta-E 2.74).

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

Charred Brown (72.045) is a paint from Vallejo Game Color. 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 German Camouflage Black Brown (70.822) (Delta E 2.76).

Yes, Charred Brown (72.045) is currently part of the Vallejo Game Color 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.

Charred Brown (72.045) is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Charred Brown (72.045) equivalent is CHOCOLATE (CHIPPING) (AK Interactive) (ΔE 2.7).
For the Charred Brown (72.045) equivalent Vallejo, German Camouflage Black Brown (70.822) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 2.8).
The best Charred Brown (72.045) Army Painter equivalent is Brigandine Brown (Army Painter) (ΔE 11.2).

Charred Brown (72.045) is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.

The closest Charred Brown (72.045) equivalent is CHOCOLATE (CHIPPING) (AK Interactive) with Delta E 2.7. For a Charred Brown (72.045) equivalent Vallejo match, German Camouflage Black Brown (70.822) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 2.8 is the closest pick. The best Charred Brown (72.045) Army Painter equivalent is Brigandine Brown (Army Painter) with Delta E 11.2.

Charred Brown (72.045) Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is German Camouflage Black Brown (70.822) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 2.8.

Charred Brown (72.045) Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Brigandine Brown (Army Painter) with Delta E 11.2.

Charred Brown (72.045) equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a paint, Charred Brown (72.045) requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the warm orange range.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : CHOCOLATE (CHIPPING) (AK Interactive) – ΔE 2.7
  • Closest Vallejo option : German Camouflage Black Brown (70.822) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 2.8
  • Closest Army Painter option : Brigandine Brown (Army Painter) – ΔE 11.2

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.