Paint equivalent guide

Coal Black (72.053) Vallejo Game Color acrylic paint equivalents (#2A3840)

Coal Black (72.053) is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Coal Black (72.053) equivalent is OXFORD (AK Interactive) (ΔE 4.5).
No close Vallejo equivalent found for Coal Black (72.053).
For Army Painter, the closest match to Coal Black (72.053) is Ironclad Grey (Army Painter) (ΔE 5.8).

Vallejo Game Color acrylic #2A3840
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Top 3 closest equivalents

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

1
OXFORDAK Interactive
ΔE 4.5moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
2
MEDIUM BLUEAK Interactive
ΔE 5.1moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
3
LIGHT PRUSSIAN BLUEAK Interactive
ΔE 5.4moderate 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 Coal Black (72.053)?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Coal Black (72.053) in the current local catalogue is Graublau – Grey Blue from AK Interactive (Delta-E 1.95).

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

Coal Black (72.053) 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.

No reliable Vallejo match appears in the current top equivalents.

Yes, Coal Black (72.053) 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.

Coal Black (72.053) is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Coal Black (72.053) equivalent is OXFORD (AK Interactive) (ΔE 4.5).
No close Vallejo equivalent found for Coal Black (72.053).
For Army Painter, the closest match to Coal Black (72.053) is Ironclad Grey (Army Painter) (ΔE 5.8).

Coal Black (72.053) is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.

The closest Coal Black (72.053) equivalent is OXFORD (AK Interactive) with Delta E 4.5. No close Vallejo equivalent found for Coal Black (72.053). For Army Painter, the closest match to Coal Black (72.053) is Ironclad Grey (Army Painter) with Delta E 5.8.

Coal Black (72.053) Vallejo equivalent

No Vallejo equivalent within an acceptable colour distance was found for Coal Black (72.053).

Coal Black (72.053) Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Ironclad Grey (Army Painter) with Delta E 5.8.

Coal Black (72.053) equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a paint, Coal Black (72.053) requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the deep blue range.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : OXFORD (AK Interactive) – ΔE 4.5
  • Closest Vallejo option : no close Vallejo equivalent
  • Closest Army Painter option : Ironclad Grey (Army Painter) – ΔE 5.8

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.

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