No shortage of substitutes here, Gravedigger Denim from P3 Paints matches at 88 percent and 3 brands carry a strong same-finish near-match. Russian Blue sits in the blue family: dark in tone, moderate in saturation, cool in cast. It builds a smooth gradient with Matt Tank Grey underneath and WW1 Blue on the highlights, all in the Humbrol line. Bottom line: run out mid-project and another brand will get you within a shade.
Russian Blue equivalents in other ranges
No brand clones Russian Blue outright, but 1 range comes close enough to swap. The best candidate from each catalog:
- Closest P3 Paints equivalent: P3 Paints Gravedigger Denim, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 2.5).
- Scale75's closest color: Scale75 Cantabric Blue, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 3.4).
- Nearest in the Revell catalog: Revell Grünblau (RAL 5001), a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 3.5).
- Best The Army Painter option: The Army Painter Thunderous Blue, a usable stand-in rather than a twin (delta E 4.2).
- From AK Interactive: AK Interactive Rlm 83, workable at tabletop distance, not up close (delta E 4.7).
- The Two Thin Coats pick: Two Thin Coats Oxidation Green, a usable stand-in rather than a twin (delta E 4.8).
Check it on a spare model first, because P3 Paints Gravedigger Denim sits slightly cooler than the original and the difference grows over large flat panels.
How to read the score
90+Close
80sUsable
<70Mix
P3 Paints
Scale75
Revell
The Army Painter
AK Interactive
Two Thin Coats
Vallejo
Citadel
Monument Pro Acryl
Tamiya
Green Stuff World
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Pairs well with
Try any paint in the scheme toolMatch difficulty
Found in 3 other brands with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Humbrol Russian Blue?
The closest same-finish match is P3 Paints Gravedigger Denim at 88% color similarity.
Is there a The Army Painter equivalent of Russian Blue?
Yes. The closest The Army Painter option is Thunderous Blue at 79%, a same-finish match.
What color is Russian Blue?
Russian Blue is a dark moderate blue with a cool undertone (hex #2F4A5D).
What do I highlight and shade Russian Blue with?
Highlight Russian Blue toward WW1 Blue and shade it down into Matt Tank Grey, both Humbrol paints in the same finish family.