No shortage of substitutes here, Red from Vallejo matches at 94 percent and 9 brands carry a strong same-finish near-match. Color-wise this is a vivid, dark red leaning warm. It builds a smooth gradient with Wyvern Fury underneath and Molten Lava on the highlights, all in the The Army Painter line. Bottom line: run out mid-project and another brand will get you within a shade.
Dragon Red equivalents, brand by brand
4 of the 11 brands with a mapped match get genuinely close to The Army Painter Dragon Red, though none is a clone. Brand by brand, the nearest colors are:
- Closest Vallejo equivalent: Vallejo Red, a swap nobody spots at arm's length (delta E 1.1).
- From AK Interactive: AK Interactive Brick Red, close enough that batch variation matters more (delta E 1.9).
- Humbrol's closest color: Humbrol Insignia Red, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 2.0).
- Nearest in the Revell catalog: Revell Fiery Red (RAL 3000), a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 2.2).
- Best Tamiya option: Tamiya Flat Red, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 2.7).
- From Scale75: Scale75 Blood Red, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 3.1).
We checked the Lab numbers for a hidden catch and there is none: lightness and temperature both line up, so this swap is as safe as they come.
How to read the score
90+Close
80sUsable
<70Mix
Vallejo
AK Interactive
Humbrol
Revell
Tamiya
Scale75
P3 Paints
Monument Pro Acryl
Two Thin Coats
Green Stuff World
Citadel
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Pairs well with
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Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to The Army Painter Dragon Red?
The closest same-finish match is Vallejo Red at 94% color similarity.
What color is Dragon Red?
Dragon Red is a dark vivid red with a warm undertone (hex #A42022).
What do I highlight and shade Dragon Red with?
Highlight Dragon Red toward Molten Lava and shade it down into Wyvern Fury, both The Army Painter paints in the same finish family.