Base Paint

Zandri Dust Equivalent

The dusty beige base for Death Guard and desert schemes — Zandri Dust is a warm, versatile bone colour.
The closest Zandri Dust equivalent is Sandbeige (AK Interactive) (ΔE 3.4).
For the Zandri Dust equivalent Vallejo, Khaki (72.061) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 5.9).
The best Zandri Dust Army Painter equivalent is Wasteland Clay (Army Painter) (ΔE 6.8).

Citadel (Games Workshop) base #988E56

Top 4 closest equivalents

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

1
SandbeigeAK Interactive
ΔE 3.4moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
2
Dunkelgelb Ausgabe 1944 – Dark Yellow 1944 VariantAK Interactive
ΔE 4.9moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
3
BSC No.28 Silver GreyAK Interactive
ΔE 5.4moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
4
Dunkelgelb – Dark YellowAK Interactive
ΔE 5.5moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection

Best equivalents by brand

Ranked by Delta-E CIEDE2000 · All brands · Interactive
Computing Delta-E…
Buy it now · Zandri Dust
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Direct answer

Which equivalent should you pick for Zandri Dust?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Zandri Dust in the current local catalogue is Sandbeige from AK Interactive (Delta-E 3.42).

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 Zandri Dust

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Frequently asked questions

Zandri Dust 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 Khaki (72.061) (Delta E 5.94).

Yes, Zandri Dust 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.

The dusty beige base for Death Guard and desert schemes — Zandri Dust is a warm, versatile bone colour.
The closest Zandri Dust equivalent is Sandbeige (AK Interactive) (ΔE 3.4).
For the Zandri Dust equivalent Vallejo, Khaki (72.061) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 5.9).
The best Zandri Dust Army Painter equivalent is Wasteland Clay (Army Painter) (ΔE 6.8).

The dusty beige base for Death Guard and desert schemes — Zandri Dust is a warm, versatile bone colour.

The closest Zandri Dust equivalent is Sandbeige (AK Interactive) with Delta E 3.4. For a Zandri Dust equivalent Vallejo match, Khaki (72.061) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 5.9 is the closest pick. The best Zandri Dust Army Painter equivalent is Wasteland Clay (Army Painter) with Delta E 6.8.

Zandri Dust Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Khaki (72.061) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 5.9.

Zandri Dust Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Wasteland Clay (Army Painter) with Delta E 6.8.

Zandri Dust equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a base paint, Zandri Dust requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the warm yellow range, with medium coverage and semi-transparent opacity over a beige or white primer.

Coverage and opacity

Zandri Dust is designed to cover primer evenly in one or two passes. Coverage is rated medium, 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 beige or white 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 warm yellow mid-tone of Zandri Dust 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 warm yellow 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 Zandri Dust are Agrax Earthshade (universal brown wash), Ushabti Bone (layer / highlight), Screaming Skull (layer / highlight) and Steel Legion Drab (base colour). These supporting colours define how the base reads once the recipe is complete.

Agrax Earthshade, Ushabti Bone, Screaming Skull and Steel Legion Drab 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 : Sandbeige (AK Interactive) – ΔE 3.4
  • Closest Vallejo option : Khaki (72.061) (Vallejo Game Color) – ΔE 5.9
  • Closest Army Painter option : Wasteland Clay (Army Painter) – ΔE 6.8

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.