Martian Ironcrust vs Sharpnel Red

How close are they?

ΔE 4.8, very close: most people won’t see a difference side by side. Sharpnel Red is a little darker than Martian Ironcrust. They are different kinds of paint: Citadel Martian Ironcrust is a technical paint or medium and Scale75 Sharpnel Red is an opaque base/layer paint, so they won’t behave the same on the model even where the colour is close.

Can I use Sharpnel Red instead of Martian Ironcrust?

Yes, for most jobs. Very close match (ΔE 5). Sharpnel Red is a little darker than Martian Ironcrust. They are different kinds of paint.

Can I use Martian Ironcrust instead of Sharpnel Red?

The same difference applies the other way round: Martian Ironcrust is a little lighter.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.