In the pot, Violet Red reads as a warm red, dark and moderate. It builds a smooth gradient with Purple underneath and Leather Brown on the highlights, all in the Vallejo line. Violet Red is a bit distinctive: no other brand carries a strong same-finish match, though Scale75 Indian Shadow comes nearest at 79 percent. Any substitute is a mixing base rather than a drop-in, so tune it on the model.
Violet Red equivalents and near misses
Fair warning: nothing matches Vallejo Violet Red cleanly. The options below are the least bad, and every one of them drifts.
Closest Scale75 equivalent: Scale75 Indian Shadow, a usable stand-in rather than a twin (delta E 4.2).
The Army Painter's closest color: The Army Painter Moldy Wine, workable at tabletop distance, not up close (delta E 4.4).
Nearest in the Two Thin Coats catalog: Two Thin Coats Sword Hilt Burgundy, a usable stand-in rather than a twin (delta E 4.8).
Best Humbrol option: Humbrol Wine, workable at tabletop distance, not up close (delta E 5.6).
The honest caveat: Scale75 Indian Shadow dries slightly lighter and warmer than Violet Red, so expect recess shading and edge highlights to shift with it.
How to read the score
90+Close
80sUsable
<70Mix
Scale75
The Army Painter
Two Thin Coats
Humbrol
Citadel
Tamiya
AK Interactive
Revell
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Pairs well with
Try any paint in the scheme toolMatch difficulty
Found in 0 other brands with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Vallejo Violet Red?
The closest same-finish match is Scale75 Indian Shadow at 79% color similarity.
Is there a The Army Painter equivalent of Violet Red?
Yes. The closest The Army Painter option is Moldy Wine at 78%, a same-finish match.
What color is Violet Red?
Violet Red is a dark moderate red with a warm undertone (hex #63353F).
What do I highlight and shade Violet Red with?
Highlight Violet Red toward Leather Brown and shade it down into Purple, both Vallejo paints in the same finish family.