Color-wise this is a muted, very dark black leaning neutral. For highlights, the next step up in the Monument Pro Acryl range is Transparent Green. Substitutes are thinner on the ground; Citadel Nuln Oil is the nearest same-finish option at 95 percent, with 1 brand in strong-match range. Expect a close but not identical result from a swap, so check it on the model before committing a whole unit.
Payne's Grey Wash equivalents, brand by brand
1 of the 10 brands with a mapped match get genuinely close to Monument Pro Acryl Payne's Grey Wash, though none is a clone. Brand by brand, the nearest colors are:
- Closest Citadel equivalent: Citadel Nuln Oil, a swap nobody spots at arm's length (delta E 1.0).
- Nearest in the The Army Painter catalog: The Army Painter Grim Black, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 2.9).
- Best AK Interactive option: AK Interactive Smoke Black, a usable stand-in rather than a twin (delta E 6.4).
- From Humbrol: Humbrol Gloss Black, close enough that batch variation matters more (delta E 1.5), but it is an opaque acrylic so treat it as a color reference, not a swap.
- Scale75's closest color: Scale75 Black, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 2.2), but it is an opaque acrylic so treat it as a color reference, not a swap.
- Nearest in the Revell catalog: Revell Black/Schwarz (RAL 9005), a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 2.5), 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
Citadel
The Army Painter
AK Interactive
Humbrol
Scale75
Revell
Green Stuff World
Tamiya
Vallejo
P3 Paints
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Match difficulty
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Monument Pro Acryl Payne's Grey Wash?
The closest same-finish match is Citadel Nuln Oil at 95% color similarity.
What is Payne's Grey Wash used for?
Payne's Grey Wash is a wash that flows into recesses and pools in shadow. Common uses: all over grime shade; deepen recesses and panel lines.
What do I highlight and shade Payne's Grey Wash with?
The next step up for highlighting Payne's Grey Wash is Transparent Green in the Monument Pro Acryl range. Nothing sits directly below it in the same lane, so reach for a wash to shade.