Paint equivalent guide

Mahogany Brown (70.846) Equivalent

Mahogany Brown (70.846) is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Mahogany Brown (70.846) equivalent is DARK RUST (AK Interactive) (ΔE 2.5).
For the Mahogany Brown (70.846) equivalent Vallejo, Chocolate Brown (70.872) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 2.4).
The best Mahogany Brown (70.846) Army Painter equivalent is Vampire Red (Army Painter) (ΔE 12.8).

Vallejo Model Color acrylic #502818

Top 4 closest equivalents

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

1
DARK RUSTAK Interactive
ΔE 2.5slight colour difference, well within acceptable range
2
BURNT REDAK Interactive
ΔE 3.6moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
3
WWI French BrownAK Interactive
ΔE 4.9moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
4
BLACK REDAK Interactive
ΔE 5.2moderate 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 Mahogany Brown (70.846)?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Mahogany Brown (70.846) in the current local catalogue is DARK RUST from AK Interactive (Delta-E 2.49).

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

Mahogany Brown (70.846) is a paint from Vallejo Model 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 Chocolate Brown (70.872) (Delta E 2.36).

Yes, Mahogany Brown (70.846) is currently part of the Vallejo Model 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.

Mahogany Brown (70.846) is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Mahogany Brown (70.846) equivalent is DARK RUST (AK Interactive) (ΔE 2.5).
For the Mahogany Brown (70.846) equivalent Vallejo, Chocolate Brown (70.872) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 2.4).
The best Mahogany Brown (70.846) Army Painter equivalent is Vampire Red (Army Painter) (ΔE 12.8).

Mahogany Brown (70.846) is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.

The closest Mahogany Brown (70.846) equivalent is DARK RUST (AK Interactive) with Delta E 2.5. For a Mahogany Brown (70.846) equivalent Vallejo match, Chocolate Brown (70.872) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 2.4 is the closest pick. The best Mahogany Brown (70.846) Army Painter equivalent is Vampire Red (Army Painter) with Delta E 12.8.

Mahogany Brown (70.846) Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Chocolate Brown (70.872) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 2.4.

Mahogany Brown (70.846) Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Vampire Red (Army Painter) with Delta E 12.8.

Mahogany Brown (70.846) equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a paint, Mahogany Brown (70.846) requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the rich red range.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : DARK RUST (AK Interactive) – ΔE 2.5
  • Closest Vallejo option : Chocolate Brown (70.872) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 2.4
  • Closest Army Painter option : Vampire Red (Army Painter) – ΔE 12.8

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.