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Ran out of black today...again.

So I am aware i tend to paint 40k models black....

and use a lot of boltgun metal.

Actually spent the pods of black paint on sallies and iron hands.

Is black really that neccessary when painting or is it me?
I do not choose the brighter paint-schemes and possibly would find a way to have black SW....

Any chance to use something else than black as primary color in darker paint-schemes?


Did several 'black' armies before:

i find that Cardon Granet is a nice dark color to use instead of black.

I do several Black armies, as well. I find black spray paint a much better alternative to hand painting the black. Incidentally, I go through a lot of spray paint.

Hey platuan4th if you want some cheap primer go to home depot and buy Quick Color black flat 97 cents a can. Works just as good as GW primer.

Thinning your paint properly with acrylic flow-aid and using a wet pallet will decrease your paint usage as well. I'm always using black to touch up fast base coats, bringing black items back to black. However, I only use a few drops of paint per session and some times all I need to do is add a drop of paint to refresh what is already moist and usable on the pallet from the last painting session.

Vindicator#9 wrote:Hey platuan4th if you want some cheap primer go to home depot and buy Quick Color black flat 97 cents a can. Works just as good as GW primer.

Oh yea, I second that for sure. I use that for my base coats. Its really good paint lol.


Also whatever color is your main color, your going to use alot. (unless your one of those weirdos that halve their armies lol)
I play Orks.... and for some weird reason... my stocks of green is seriously depleted! Damn those green paint gnomes

for some reason out of the masses amount of paints (3000pts total) i have only ever ran out of 2 paint pots (black and a wash) meh maby im just weird

i personally opt rather than for black for a darkest matte grey as i find the colors to be nicer and rounder in lamps; the biggest thing to remember about painting black is that from more than a foot away all details are lost but a deep, gorgeously rich grey will naturally shade to black in most gaming and display light.

Many deep grey primers are available for cheaper than black in fluid and spray cans

I can't believe there hasn't been a "once you go black" joke yet....

What really bothers me is that black is what I run out of more than any other color. This bothers me, because I basecoat using spray Chaos Black, and then only use black from the small pot to tighten down any color I paint onto the model.

Black should be the last thing I run out of! If anything, boltgun should be the paint pot I have to replace the most often.
How am I still on my first pots of yellow and orange, but go through black constantly?! It makes no sense to me.

My scheme:

Those look amazing. Yeah I go through a lot of black too.

As for a primer I tried the Depot 97cent cans, but I dont like how easily they scrape off (fingernail test). I've had good luck with Krylon indoor/outdoor flat black from walmart, for around $2.77 a can. It's the closest (and cheapest) thing I found to the durability and quality of Chaos Black spray.

Yeah, I seem to go through a lot of Black and Scorched Brown....blasted desert Guardsmen...black is a fairly essential colour, I'm with everyone else, pick up a can of Flat Black spray and use that. Hell, a can of Krylon flat Black is CHEAPER than a pot of Chaos Black.... I only use my Chaos black for eyes, touch ups, and shading.

stratassj wrote:i find that Cardon Granet is a nice dark color to use instead of black.

Iron Phoenix wrote:i personally opt rather than for black for a darkest matte grey as i find the colors to be nicer and rounder in lamps; the biggest thing to remember about painting black is that from more than a foot away all details are lost but a deep, gorgeously rich grey will naturally shade to black in most gaming and display light.
Many deep grey primers are available for cheaper than black in fluid and spray cans

Ok may try some dark grey on models too.
Most of my IG tanks are grey+grey+grey ( but there airbrushed not brush-painted...). Worth a look.

Platuan4th wrote:I do several Black armies, as well. I find black spray paint a much better alternative to hand painting the black. Incidentally, I go through a lot of spray paint.

Vindicator#9 wrote:Hey platuan4th if you want some cheap primer go to home depot and buy Quick Color black flat 97 cents a can. Works just as good as GW primer.

KingCracker wrote:

Vindicator#9 wrote:Hey platuan4th if you want some cheap primer go to home depot and buy Quick Color black flat 97 cents a can. Works just as good as GW primer.

Oh yea, I second that for sure. I use that for my base coats. Its really good paint lol.
Also whatever color is your main color, your going to use alot. (unless your one of those weirdos that halve their armies lol)
I play Orks.... and for some weird reason... my stocks of green is seriously depleted! Damn those green paint gnomes

deffskullz wrote:for some reason out of the masses amount of paints (3000pts total) i have only ever ran out of 2 paint pots (black and a wash) meh maby im just weird

Chi3f wrote: Yeah I go through a lot of black too.

As for a primer I tried the Depot 97cent cans, but I dont like how easily they scrape off (fingernail test). I've had good luck with Krylon indoor/outdoor flat black from walmart, for around $2.77 a can. It's the closest (and cheapest) thing I found to the durability and quality of Chaos Black spray.

Black spray may decrease the amount of pots, but not really solve the resources problem. Spray painting isnt so welcome inside
and i may not paint and watch dakka then..
Will stick with spray / airbrush for vehicles.

inzeos wrote:Thinning your paint properly with acrylic flow-aid and using a wet pallet will decrease your paint usage as well. I'm always using black to touch up fast base coats, bringing black items back to black. However, I only use a few drops of paint per session and some times all I need to do is add a drop of paint to refresh what is already moist and usable on the pallet from the last painting session.

Possible reason. I suck when it comes to watering down or mix your own color.
Still funny that this bad moon yelllow pot survived 10 years.

Kaaihn wrote:What really bothers me is that black is what I run out of more than any other color. This bothers me, because I basecoat using spray Chaos Black, and then only use black from the small pot to tighten down any color I paint onto the model.

Black should be the last thing I run out of! If anything, boltgun should be the paint pot I have to replace the most often.
How am I still on my first pots of yellow and orange, but go through black constantly?! It makes no sense to me.

Good point.

I am always impressed with your flamy marines. So keep posting the pics, upgrades any thread theyre in.



@ all:

Got some black today, next black force is RG and i may wait for IA 8 to bring them to 5th ed.

Thanks for the tips.
- more spray for coats
- more water
- try dark grey
- buy more black....

the great thing about grey is that it tends to be fuller and cheaper, but i should mention something i forgot which is that the most gorgeous ash color is still an ash color. Not everyone likes what greys produce (wanting that really black-black). In this case i think it's still better and cheaper to go with a dark, warm, gorgeous ash grey and then you do a deep turquoise ink+ water dipping to get warm+cool contrast and a really seductive black which is still cheaper than a real black paint

Wet Pallets are great for GW paints. The Vallejo and craft paints do not do too well on wet pallets. For my blacks, I use the GW Black Primer and if I needed more black, I use Apple Barrel Black Craft Paint. Other people have told me that Creamcoat has better coverage but since I have yet to use up my 50 cent Apple Barrel supply, I have yet to try the creamcoat.

Greys are a good alternative to Black or you can go to the darker shades of any other color like brick red or olive green. I find that changing the colors you paint from time to time will motivate you to paint more. I got tired of painting white in my white scars, so I started my tau army.

1hadhq wrote:

Kaaihn wrote:What really bothers me is that black is what I run out of more than any other color. This bothers me, because I basecoat using spray Chaos Black, and then only use black from the small pot to tighten down any color I paint onto the model.

Black should be the last thing I run out of! If anything, boltgun should be the paint pot I have to replace the most often.
How am I still on my first pots of yellow and orange, but go through black constantly?! It makes no sense to me.

Good point.

I am always impressed with your flamy marines. So keep posting the pics, upgrades any thread theyre in.

Thanks

Finally after just over two years, I have my 2000 point army soooo close to done! Five more Marines to go. Hopefully very soon I will have full army fiery picture goodness to share.

I have a box full of Tyranids as my next paint project. My solution for not needing lots of black, an army with no black! Greys, reds, and Minwax dipping here I come!

Kaaihn wrote:
Finally after just over two years, I have my 2000 point army soooo close to done! Five more Marines to go. Hopefully very soon I will have full army fiery picture goodness to share.

I have a box full of Tyranids as my next paint project. My solution for not needing lots of black, an army with no black! Greys, reds, and Minwax dipping here I come!

Looking forward to your completed work.

Tyranids could be a good choice in early 2010.

I find this too. I've gone through 2 pots on about 25 models :S

I thinks its a necessary evil really. But I have been recently using codex grey as a base, then I only use black where necessary and It uses less coats for bright colours.

Oh and Kaairn, Those Terminators are hot. I would sleep with them

If you go through THAT much black, a cheaper alternative is to go to a craft store and buy the MUCH bigger pot of Acrylic black and thin accordingly. You'll get a lot more bang for the buck.

I understand the need for GW/Vallejo pots (i.e. the convenience of pre-mixed colors) but for primary or base colors there is very little reason to not buy bulk.

KingCracker wrote: Damn those green paint gnomes

Ugh. The Red Paint Gnomes came all the time while I was painting my Blood Angels.

As for conserving black for basecoats, buy it cheap and water it down. A somewhat thin coat is okay for basecoats as it's just meant to brighten or darken your base colours and provide later layers of paint with something to stick to.

Also, thinning your black basecoat will make for easier and quicker painting.

And, I had to throw this totally OT thought in here (because it's the first one that came into my head when I saw the title).

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
I see a line of cars and theyre all painted black
With flowers and my love both never to come back
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a new born baby it just happens evry day
I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and it has been painted black
Maybe then Ill fade away and not have to face the facts
Its not easy facin up when your whole world is black

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing happening to you
If I look hard enough into the settin sun
My love will laugh with me before the mornin comes

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
Hmm, hmm, hmm,...
I wanna see it painted, painted black
Black as night, black as coal
I wanna see the sun blotted out from the sky
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black
Yeah!

dietrich wrote:Also, thinning your black basecoat will make for easier and quicker painting.

And, I had to throw this totally OT thought in here (because it's the first one that came into my head when I saw the title).

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
I see a line of cars and theyre all painted black
With flowers and my love both never to come back
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a new born baby it just happens evry day
I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and it has been painted black
Maybe then Ill fade away and not have to face the facts
Its not easy facin up when your whole world is black

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing happening to you
If I look hard enough into the settin sun
My love will laugh with me before the mornin comes

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
Hmm, hmm, hmm,...
I wanna see it painted, painted black
Black as night, black as coal
I wanna see the sun blotted out from the sky
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black
Yeah!

Damn I wish I'd thought of that

CrazyMez wrote:Damn I wish I'd thought of that

Thinning your paint or the Rolling Stones?

I start with black spray so I do not really need THAT much black. Though white and black always go through fast, no matter what you are painting.

CrazyMez wrote:I find this too. I've gone through 2 pots on about 25 models :S

I thinks its a necessary evil really. But I have been recently using codex grey as a base, then I only use black where necessary and It uses less coats for bright colours.

GoFenris wrote:If you go through THAT much black, a cheaper alternative is to go to a craft store and buy the MUCH bigger pot of Acrylic black and thin accordingly. You'll get a lot more bang for the buck.

Owain wrote:
As for conserving black for basecoats, buy it cheap and water it down. A somewhat thin coat is okay for basecoats as it's just meant to brighten or darken your base colours and provide later layers of paint with something to stick to.

Dracos wrote:I start with black spray so I do not really need THAT much black.

Thinning may help a bit with figs. Still never basecoated anything bigger ( vehicles ) using pods.
Me + compressor + paint = vehicle speed painting...

Owain wrote:

KingCracker wrote: Damn those green paint gnomes

Ugh. The Red Paint Gnomes came all the time while I was painting my Blood Angels.

Black paint gnomes?

dietrich wrote:

CrazyMez wrote:Damn I wish I'd thought of that

Thinning your paint or the Rolling Stones?

Not sure if music reduces your paint-usage, possible too paint too much because following the rhythm.....

Dracos wrote: Though white and black always go through fast, no matter what you are painting.

There is hope GW never becomes too clever and puts essentials like black, white ,... into smaller pots.

I use Rustoleum Auto primer in black for black based models (mostly just SoB now) and their light grey for everything else. Fairly cheap at 3$ or so from WalMart, and I have great luck with it not getting fuzzy or glogging detail. Plus the black is exactly the color of the cheap acrylic black you get at Wal Mart, so it is easy to match.

Really though, I try to avoid proper black on anything but power armor, and use Vallejo's "German Grey" with highlights instead. Straight black comes across as a bit too dark since most things that are "black" are actually a fair bit lighter in color due to texture. I think only hard, shiney, black painted surfaces look decent with it now. But then again I am sort of in a grey period and want everything that color.

Question though: what exactly is a "Wet Pallet"? I thin my paints, but they still dry after a few hours. What is the difference with that pallet?

dietrich wrote:

CrazyMez wrote:Damn I wish I'd thought of that

Thinning your paint or the Rolling Stones?

Both mash the two together, get the rolling stone to thin your paint for you??

Keith movement is like a paint shaker anyway.......