What is the difference between Thousand Sons Blue and Medium Blue?

ΔE 10 (close). Medium Blue is a little darker, warmer. Swatch colours are estimates.

Thousand Sons Blue vs Medium Blue

Thousand Sons Blue

Brand: Citadel / Warhammer
Range: Colour: Base
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #1a5a8a (estimate)

Medium Blue

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Model Color
Code: 70.963
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #224676 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 9.6, close: similar, with a visible difference side by side. Medium Blue is a little darker, warmer than Thousand Sons Blue.

Can I use Medium Blue instead of Thousand Sons Blue?

Usually, if you are not matching paint already on the model. Close match (ΔE 10). Medium Blue is a little darker, warmer than Thousand Sons Blue.

Can I use Thousand Sons Blue instead of Medium Blue?

The same difference applies the other way round: Thousand Sons Blue is a little lighter, cooler.

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.

See Thousand Sons Blue on the colour wheel See Medium Blue on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Thousand Sons Blue

Thousand Sons Blue vs Light Turquoise (70.840)Model Color · ΔE 11, fair
Thousand Sons Blue vs Imperial Blue (72.020)Game Color · ΔE 11, fair
Thousand Sons Blue vs French Blue (71.088)Model Air · ΔE 12, fair

Other Citadel paints close to Medium Blue

Medium Blue vs Night Lords BlueColour: Base · ΔE 5, very close · closer than Thousand Sons Blue
Medium Blue vs Night Lords BlueColour: Air · ΔE 5, very close · closer than Thousand Sons Blue
Medium Blue vs Altdorf Guard BlueColour: Layer · ΔE 10, fair

All matches: Thousand Sons Blue equivalents · Medium Blue equivalents