Citadel (Games Workshop) · Layer

Altdorf Guard Blue Citadel (Games Workshop) layer paint card (#2D4696)

Citadel (Games Workshop) Layer #2D4696
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8 alternatives
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SC-33 Cobalt Blue · Scale75 · ΔE 3.04

Ultramarine Blue · Army Painter · ΔE 2.63

Equivalents by Brand
Brand Colour Delta E Match
Scale75 SC-33 Cobalt Blue 3.04 Good
Vallejo Game Color Ultramarines Blue (72.022) 3.17 Good
Vallejo Game Color Imperial Blue (72.020) 3.59 Good
Citadel (Games Workshop) Mordian Blue 3.97 Good
Citadel (Games Workshop) Calgar Blue 4.10 Good
Vallejo Model Color Flat Blue (70.962) 4.11 Good
AK Interactive ULTRAMARINE 6.13 Acceptable
Army Painter Ultramarine Blue 2.63 Good
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Altdorf Guard Blue paint guide

Altdorf Guard Blue Paint: Colour, Type & Equivalents

As a layer paint, this colour is formulated for translucency and smooth transitions over an existing basecoat. Cool blue tones anchor many Space Marine chapters and provide a stable foundation for cold schemes.
The closest Altdorf Guard Blue equivalent is SC-33 Cobalt Blue (Scale75) (ΔE 3.0).

Altdorf Guard Blue is a layer from Citadel (Games Workshop), commonly used for armour plates, cloth, and trim work.

Quick Equivalents

  • Closest equivalent: SC-33 Cobalt Blue (Scale75) – ΔE 3.0
  • Vallejo equivalent: Ultramarines Blue (72.022) (Vallejo Game Color) – ΔE 3.2
  • Army Painter equivalent: Ultramarine Blue (Army Painter) – ΔE 2.6

How to Use Altdorf Guard Blue

This paint is typically used for:

  • Layering
  • Highlighting

Apply it over a suitable primer and build layers gradually. Coverage sits around medium, so two thin coats usually give a more stable finish than one heavy pass, especially over a dark primer.

Paint Behavior and Tips

Consider the following when working with this paint:

  • Coverage: medium — affects how many coats are needed over primer
  • Dilution: moderate thinning — keeping the right ratio maintains flow and prevents brushmarks
  • Interaction with washes and highlights: always run a highlight pass to verify the tone does not shift after drying

A good equivalent should remain stable after shading and highlighting. Test this alternative on the same primer and in the same recipe before switching a whole unit.

Miniature Painting Tips

For best results with Altdorf Guard Blue on Warhammer and other miniature projects:

  • Use the same primer across the project to keep tonal consistency
  • Test on a spare part before applying to a full unit
  • Compare after shading and highlights, not just the base coat

Even small differences can become visible on a finished miniature. This match may behave differently on textured surfaces like cloth, fur, and metal trim once the full recipe is applied.

Conclusion

Choosing the right Altdorf Guard Blue equivalent or substitute keeps your scheme consistent from the test model to the full army. Use this comparison to weigh the closest Vallejo, Army Painter, and other cross-brand options before repainting a whole squad.

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💡 Tip

Use Altdorf Guard Blue as your main layer colour and build it up with thin, controlled coats. It has medium coverage. Thin it moderately. Good companion colours include Macragge Blue, Drakenhof Nightshade, Calgar Blue and Hoeth Blue.

Do not force the basecoat into an NMM-style finish. It behaves much better in a standard layered workflow.

✅ Techniques
Layering Highlighting
Direct answer
How should you use Altdorf Guard Blue on miniatures?

Use Altdorf Guard Blue as your main layer colour and build it up with thin, controlled coats. It has medium coverage. Thin it moderately. Good companion colours include Macragge Blue, Drakenhof Nightshade, Calgar Blue and Hoeth Blue.

  • Citadel (Games Workshop) · Layer
  • Layer · #2D4696
  • Best for Layering, Highlighting
  • Pairs well with Macragge Blue, Drakenhof Nightshade, Calgar Blue

Method

This summary is built from the local usage notes, structured paint detail data, and the same Delta-E matching system used across ChromaStack.

Limits

Do not force the basecoat into an NMM-style finish. It behaves much better in a standard layered workflow.