This is a common color; 5 other brands cover it, the nearest being Citadel Thondia Brown at 92 percent. Color-wise this is a moderate, dark red leaning warm. Within the Vallejo range it ladders cleanly, Royal Purple for the shadows and Dirty Grey for the highlights. Treat it as an easy swap, just confirm the finish type matches before you commit.
Black Red equivalents, brand by brand
No brand clones Black Red outright, but 2 ranges come close enough to swap. The best candidate from each catalog:
- Closest Citadel equivalent: Citadel Thondia Brown, a swap nobody spots at arm's length (delta E 1.6).
- Nearest in the Humbrol catalog: Humbrol Hull Red, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 2.4).
- Best Scale75 option: Scale75 Brown Black Pudding, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 3.2).
- From AK Interactive: AK Interactive Dark Shadow Flesh, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 3.4).
- Revell's closest color: Revell Dark Brown (RAL 8015), close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 4.0).
- Nearest in the Monument Pro Acryl catalog: Monument Pro Acryl Burnt Umber, workable at tabletop distance, not up close (delta E 5.5).
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
Humbrol
Scale75
AK Interactive
Revell
Monument Pro Acryl
Two Thin Coats
Tamiya
The Army Painter
P3 Paints
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Pairs well with
Try any paint in the scheme toolMatch difficulty
Found in 5 other brands with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Vallejo Black Red?
The closest same-finish match is Citadel Thondia Brown at 92% color similarity.
What color is Black Red?
Black Red is a dark moderate red with a warm undertone (hex #552F2C).
What do I highlight and shade Black Red with?
Highlight Black Red toward Dirty Grey and shade it down into Royal Purple, both Vallejo paints in the same finish family.