Method
This page is built from the local army paint list, tutorial order, and dedicated equivalent links so the workflow remains traceable from scheme to paint.
Search paints, armies, and guides at the same time.
Updated April 11, 2026
The Ultramarines scheme is still the most searched entry point for painting clean, readable Space Marines quickly. Macragge Blue armour, Nuln Oil shadows and gold trim create an instantly recognisable result without requiring an overly complex recipe.
This page gathers the useful Citadel paints, the recommended order of operations, and direct links to the equivalent pages for every key colour. It is the practical format if you want to follow the Games Workshop recipe or swap a few pots for cheaper alternatives.
Updated April 11, 2026
Follow the ordered paint list on this page, then verify substitutions on the linked equivalent pages.
This page is built from the local army paint list, tutorial order, and dedicated equivalent links so the workflow remains traceable from scheme to paint.
Equivalent pages help with colour drift, but finish and application order still need to match the recipe you want on the miniature.
Prioritized Citadel palette with direct links to the equivalent pages.
Lock in the armour blue and shadows first, then add the gold trim and final highlights once the main silhouette already reads clearly.
Each core colour links to its dedicated /equivalent/ page.
Useful shortcuts to keep the scheme credible without overcomplicating the recipe.
Use the full conversion chart when you want to swap one specific colour for a cheaper alternative.
The ChromaStack pillar guide brings together the most searched Citadel, Vallejo and Army Painter matches, with Delta-E CIEDE2000 scores and practical advice for choosing a believable substitute.
Open pillar guideThe core set is Macragge Blue, Nuln Oil, Calgar Blue, Retributor Armour and Leadbelcher. That gives you the cobalt armour, clean recess shading, believable metals and the gold trim that define the chapter.
Start with the Macragge Blue equivalent page on ChromaStack to compare Vallejo and Army Painter options. Pay close attention to Delta-E if you want to keep the Ultramarines identity without drifting into a blue that is too saturated or too dark.
Block in the main blue first, then the black joints and metals, apply the overall wash, and only then come back up with Calgar Blue and the gold finishes. That order keeps corrections limited and makes the volumes read cleanly from the start.