In the pot, Maize Yellow reads as a warm yellow, very light and vivid. Shade down into Charming Chartreuse, the nearest darker paint in the The Army Painter line. This color is somewhat distinctive: 1 brand offers a strong same-finish match, Tamiya Clear Yellow closest at 97 percent. Expect a close but not identical result from a swap, so check it on the model before committing a whole unit.
Maize Yellow equivalents across other brands
The short answer: yes, Maize Yellow has a true equivalent. If the pot runs dry mid project, here is the closest color each brand offers.
Closest Tamiya equivalent: Tamiya Clear Yellow, indistinguishable once dry (delta E 0.7).
- Citadel's closest color: Citadel Bad Moon Yellow, a swap nobody spots at arm's length (delta E 1.6).
- Nearest in the Vallejo catalog: Vallejo Yellow Wash, workable at tabletop distance, not up close (delta E 6.5).
- Best AK Interactive option: AK Interactive Radiant Yellow, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 2.1), but it is an opaque acrylic so treat it as a color reference, not a swap.
- From Two Thin Coats: Two Thin Coats Serpent Eye Yellow, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 2.2), but it is an opaque acrylic so treat it as a color reference, not a swap.
- Humbrol's closest color: Humbrol Yellow, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 2.9), but it is an opaque acrylic so treat it as a color reference, not a swap.
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
Tamiya
Citadel
Vallejo
AK Interactive
Two Thin Coats
Humbrol
Green Stuff World
Revell
P3 Paints
Scale75
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Pairs well with
Try any paint in the scheme toolMatch difficulty
Found in 1 other brand with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to The Army Painter Maize Yellow?
The closest same-finish match is Tamiya Clear Yellow at 97% color similarity.
Is there a Citadel equivalent of Maize Yellow?
Yes. The closest Citadel option is Bad Moon Yellow at 92%, a same-finish match.
Is Maize Yellow a one-coat paint?
Maize Yellow is a contrast paint, made to basecoat and shade in a single pass over a light primer. One coat drops color into the recesses and leaves the raised areas brighter; a second coat deepens the tone if you want it richer.
What do I highlight and shade Maize Yellow with?
Shade Maize Yellow with Charming Chartreuse in the same The Army Painter range. For highlights, mix in a lighter tone or move to a brighter paint in the lane.