Which PROSCALE Rack Fits Your Paints: A Diameter Compatibility Guide
PROSCALE racks use three slot diameters — 26mm for dropper bottles (Vallejo, Army Painter, AK Interactive), 33mm for Citadel pots, and 36mm for large-format dropper bottles (Vallejo 72ml). If the slot diameter matches the bottle’s widest point, the fit is correct.
Slot diameter: the width of the hole drilled into a paint rack tier. A bottle fits when its widest measurement — typically at the bottom of the label or the shoulder of the bottle — is equal to or slightly smaller than the slot diameter.
THE DIAMETER QUESTION — FIRST DECISION POINT
A paint rack is a permanent purchase. The slot sizes are fixed. Buying the wrong diameter means either loose bottles that tip inside the slot or bottles that won’t fit at all. The single most effective way to avoid a wrong purchase is to know your paint brand’s bottle format before selecting a rack.
Most hobby painters own paints from one or two dominant manufacturers. The diameter decision is usually straightforward. Where it gets complicated is with mixed collections — Citadel alongside Vallejo, or a transition in progress from one brand to another. The guide below covers every major paint brand used in miniature painting and fine arts.
[IMAGE: close-up of three rack tiers showing a 26mm slot with Vallejo dropper, a 33mm slot with Citadel pot, and a 36mm slot with large Vallejo dropper — all seated correctly]
BRAND-BY-BRAND COMPATIBILITY TABLE
| Paint brand | Product line | Bottle format | Slot size | PROSCALE models |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo | Model Color, Game Color, Game Ink, Mecha Color, Xpress Color | 17ml dropper | 26mm | PR-A, PR-2-A, PR-3-26MM, PR-5-26MM, PS-A |
| Vallejo | Model Air, Game Air | 17ml dropper | 26mm | PR-A, PR-2-A, PR-3-26MM, PR-5-26MM, PS-A |
| Vallejo | Model Color 72ml, Game Color 72ml | Large dropper | 36mm | PR-A (mixed slots), PS-A |
| Army Painter | Warpaints, Speedpaints, Speedpaints 2.0 | 18ml dropper | 26mm | PR-A, PR-2-A, PR-3-26MM, PR-5-26MM, PS-A |
| AK Interactive | 3rd Generation Acrylics, RC Series, Enamel | 17ml dropper | 26mm | PR-A, PR-2-A, PR-3-26MM, PR-5-26MM, PS-A |
| Citadel | Base, Layer, Contrast, Shade, Dry, Technical | 12ml flip-top pot | 33mm | PR-33MM, PR-2-33MM, PR-3-33MM, PR-5-33MM, PS-B |
| Tamiya | Acrylic, Enamel (panel line), Lacquer | 10ml / 23ml square jar | Universal | PR-4-U, PR-2-U, PS-U |
| Scale75 | Scalecolor, Fantasy & Games, Instant Colors | 17ml dropper | 26mm | PR-A, PR-2-A, PR-3-26MM, PR-5-26MM, PS-A |
| Reaper | Master Series Paint, Bones | 15ml dropper | 26mm | PR-A, PR-2-A, PR-3-26MM, PR-5-26MM, PS-A |
| Green Stuff World | Chameleon, Intensity, Wash Ink | 17ml dropper | 26mm | PR-A, PR-2-A, PR-3-26MM, PR-5-26MM, PS-A |
| Mr. Hobby / GSI Creos | Aqueous Hobby Color, Mr. Color | 10ml square jar | Universal | PR-4-U, PR-2-U, PS-U |
| Revell | Aqua Color, Email Color | 14ml round jar | Universal | PR-4-U, PR-2-U, PS-U |
| Monument Hobbies | Pro Acryl | 22ml dropper | check dimensions | Typically fits 26mm; verify before ordering |
| Golden | Heavy Body Acrylic (59ml), Fluid | Tube / bottle | Universal | PR-4-U — tubes lay flat on shelves |
| Winsor & Newton | Galeria, Professional | Tube | Universal | PR-4-U — tubes lay flat on shelves |
| Liquitex | Basics, Professional | Tube / bottle | Universal | PR-4-U — tubes lay flat on shelves |
HOW TO VERIFY A BOTTLE’S FIT BEFORE BUYING
Manufacturer specifications aren’t always consistent, and bottle shapes change across product generations. The safest approach is direct measurement with a caliper — a 5€ digital caliper from any hardware store measures to 0.1mm precision, more than enough for slot compatibility.
Measure at the widest point of the bottle body, not the cap. For dropper bottles, the widest point is typically at the bottom quarter of the bottle. For paint pots (like Citadel), it’s the rim around the lid base.
Rule of thumb:
- Measurement within 1mm below the slot size → good fit, bottle stays upright and is easy to remove
- Measurement 2–3mm below the slot size → bottle fits but has some lateral movement; workable for heavy bottles, less ideal for very light bottles
- Measurement at or above the slot size → won’t fit, or fits so tightly that removal damages the label
If a measurement falls between two slot sizes — 28mm, for instance — the universal format is the safer choice over forcing a borderline fit.
MIXED COLLECTIONS: HOW TO HANDLE MULTIPLE BRANDS
A mixed collection is the norm rather than the exception. Most painters accumulate paints across two or three brands as they explore different techniques — Citadel for washes and contrast paints, Vallejo for base colors, AK Interactive for weathering.
Three approaches handle mixed collections:
Separate racks by brand. A 26mm rack for all dropper bottles (Vallejo, Army Painter, AK Interactive, Scale75) and a 33mm rack for all Citadel pots. This approach maximizes storage density and gives each bottle a fitted slot. The trade-off is two separate rack units on the desk or wall.
Universal format for everything. The PR-4-U or PR-2-U accommodates every bottle size on open shelves. Less precise positioning, but one unit handles the entire collection. The best choice for painters in transition between brands, or for collections with unusual bottle formats (Tamiya jars, tubes, large Golden bottles).
Hybrid approach. A dedicated 33mm rack for the Citadel collection (the largest and most numerous format for most wargamers) and a PR-4-U as overflow for dropper bottles, tubes, and oddly shaped containers. This combination covers the two most common scenarios without requiring three separate rack units.
There is no single right answer. The decision depends on collection size, desk space, and how much visual uniformity matters to the painter.
[IMAGE: desk setup showing a PR-2-33MM with Citadel pots on one side and a PR-4-U with mixed dropper bottles and jars on the other]
OPERATIONAL SCENARIO
A painter orders a PR-2-A after seeing it recommended for Vallejo Model Color. The rack arrives, they assemble it, load their collection — and the Citadel pots they use for bases and washes don’t fit. The 26mm slots are too narrow for the 33mm Citadel format.
The Vallejo bottles fit perfectly. The Citadel pots end up in a mug on the same desk.
The problem wasn’t the rack quality. It was an unverified assumption: that all hobby paint bottles are the same size. They aren’t. Two measurements with a caliper before ordering would have resolved the question.
The lesson: diameter compatibility isn’t a brand preference or a quality judgment. It’s a physical constraint. Check the bottle before selecting the slot size.
FAQ
Do Vallejo dropper bottles fit a 26mm PROSCALE rack? Yes. Vallejo’s standard dropper format — used across Model Color, Game Color, Game Ink, Mecha Color, and most other Vallejo ranges — is sized for a 26mm slot. The bottle sits upright in the slot with a snug but removable fit. Vallejo 72ml large-format bottles require the 36mm slot, not the 26mm.
Do Citadel paints fit a PROSCALE 26mm rack? No. Citadel pots are 33mm at their widest point — they won’t fit in a 26mm slot. PROSCALE’s 33mm models (PR-33MM, PR-2-33MM, PR-3-33MM, PR-5-33MM, PS-B) are designed specifically for the Citadel pot format, covering the entire Citadel range including Base, Layer, Contrast, Shade, Texture, and Dry paints.
What PROSCALE rack fits both Citadel and Vallejo paints? No single drilled-slot rack covers both formats simultaneously because the slot diameters are different (33mm for Citadel, 26mm for Vallejo standard dropper). The PR-4-U Universal and PR-2-U Universal use open shelves instead of drilled holes, accommodating both formats on the same unit. The trade-off is that bottles rest on the shelf rather than sitting in a fitted slot.
Does Army Painter Speedpaint fit a 26mm rack? Yes. Army Painter Speedpaints and Speedpaints 2.0 use the same dropper bottle format as Warpaints, which fits the 26mm slot in all PROSCALE models designed for that diameter.
What’s the best PROSCALE rack for Tamiya paints? Tamiya enamel and acrylic paints use a square jar format that doesn’t fit circular drilled slots. The correct choice for Tamiya collections is the Universal format — the PR-4-U or PR-2-U — where bottles rest on open shelves regardless of shape. Square jars sit stably on the flat shelf surface.
How do I measure my paint bottles to check PROSCALE compatibility? Use a digital caliper — available for under 10€ at hardware stores. Place the caliper jaws around the widest point of the bottle body (not the cap or label). The measurement in millimeters tells you which PROSCALE slot size to order. Under 27mm fits the 26mm slot. Around 33mm fits the 33mm slot. Between 34–37mm fits the 36mm slot. Anything outside these ranges, or in an unusual shape, is best served by the Universal format.
Knowing the right slot size before ordering removes the main variable from a PROSCALE purchase. For collections with a single dominant brand, the slot size is a direct lookup in the table above. For mixed or transitional collections, the PROSCALE product guide covers the full range of compatible product options.