In the pot, Runefang Steel reads as a neutral metallic silver, mid-tone and muted. No shortage of substitutes here, Metalcote Polished Steel from Humbrol matches at 97 percent and 4 brands carry a strong same-finish near-match. Within the Citadel range it ladders cleanly, Grey Knights Steel for the shadows and Canoptek Alloy for the highlights. Bottom line: run out mid-project and another brand will get you within a shade.
Runefang Steel equivalents across other brands
The short answer: yes, Runefang Steel has a true equivalent. If the pot runs dry mid project, here is the closest color each brand offers.
Closest Humbrol equivalent: Humbrol Metalcote Polished Steel, indistinguishable once dry (delta E 0.5).
- The P3 Paints pick: P3 Paints Quick Silver, a swap nobody spots at arm's length (delta E 1.2).
- Nearest in the Two Thin Coats catalog: Two Thin Coats Mythril Blade, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 2.9).
- Best Tamiya option: Tamiya Metallic Grey, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 3.9).
- From Revell: Revell Steel/Eisen, workable at tabletop distance, not up close (delta E 7.4).
- Monument Pro Acryl's closest color: Monument Pro Acryl Metallic Medium, a usable stand-in rather than a twin (delta E 7.9).
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
Humbrol
P3 Paints
Two Thin Coats
Tamiya
Revell
Monument Pro Acryl
Vallejo
AK Interactive
Dark Gull Grey Fs 36231
Raf Dark Camouflage Grey Bs381C/629
Aggressor Grey Fs 36251
Medium Grey Fs 36270
F-15 Dark Grey (Mod Eagle) Fs 36176
Raf Medium Sea Grey Bs381C/637
M-485 Blue-Grey
English Grey
The Army Painter
Scale75
Green Stuff World
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Match difficulty
Found in 4 other brands with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Citadel Runefang Steel?
The closest same-finish match is Humbrol Metalcote Polished Steel at 97% color similarity.
What finish is Runefang Steel?
Runefang Steel is a metallic paint with a silver tone and a reflective finish. Because the shine comes from metal flake, a flat paint can match the color and still be wrong for the job, which is why cross-finish matches here are references rather than swaps.
What do I highlight and shade Runefang Steel with?
Highlight Runefang Steel toward Canoptek Alloy and shade it down into Grey Knights Steel, both Citadel paints in the same finish family.