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I've recently got into the hobby proper (I had a sad and lonely dark vengeance box from release, but only recently assembled) and am having difficulty figuring out which paint colours I actually need. I picked up a limited selection of Vallejo Model Colour paints, which I over-payed for from Hobby Lobby (I don't shop there anymore, but that's for political reasons which are irrelevant), I like them but they've gone on clear and shiny since the first mini I did (except black.) I digress, I would like to pick some paints to go along with my new DzC PHR army, which i plan on doing white with red, and would like to know how one goes about choosing which colours of paint to use (especially for non-basecoat layers)

FIrst of all it sounds like you haven't shaken your paints properly. With Vallejo paints this is very important, otherwise the pigment in the paint will sit at the bottom of the pot and you will paint with mostly medium which will make it shiny. A good tip is to add a 6-8 mm glass bead to the pot to act as an agitator. It is also very important no matter what brand of paints you use to thin them slightly with water and paint several thin layers instead of trying to make it cover with one.

For what paint colours you need, that of course depends on what colours you want to paint! For an easy red and white scheme I would get a dark red or burgundy or for the shadows and a vivid scarlet for the highlights. For white you can really use any light colour for the shadows, depending for which tone of white you are going for. Light grey for a neutral white, or an ivory or very light brown for a warmer one. With white you just use any colour and mix it with white.

Are you looking for a direct idea on what colours to get for a starter set?

 jorny wrote:
Are you looking for a direct idea on what colours to get for a starter set?

That'd be very much appreciated. Thanks for the advice (I need to redo that marine )

Hey I'm new to this hobby as well and I think the best thing to do when picking colours in first choosing a colour scheme that you really like. Just do a Google search and see what direction you would like to go. For instance I chose black legion it was simple but also looked really nice. I then added my own touch to it and bought colours specifically for that scheme. There is so much info you can get from the internet it's almost endless.

If your interested I have a blog from when I first started a couple months back with updates and tips on my progression.

Here is the link http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/640396.page

You don't need every colour you just need an idea and few paints to get started. my best advice is to search online for a scheme and go from there. Also search up the apathetic fish on YouTube he has many great painting tutorials and if you like one he has every colour you need to paint it.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Cheers!

 Virobrain wrote:

 jorny wrote:
Are you looking for a direct idea on what colours to get for a starter set?

That'd be very much appreciated. Thanks for the advice (I need to redo that marine )

I'll try to write up a list but first a few questions: What brand of paints can you get locally or is there any other preferences when it comes to brands? What colours are you planning to use for your colour scheme and what paints and equipment do you already have?

I know this might attract some flak, but if your learning to paint GW models and don't have much experience, then I would go for GW paints. They tell you how to use them, which ones to buy, how to basecoat and shade and they are very user friendly to 'cut your teeth on'. The Vallejo paints are fantastic but when your just starting out it can be handy to be told.... This is your base coat, this is your layer, this is wash and then you highlight with this. And then move on from there as you grow in confidence.

Reaper has a Learn to Paint Kit. The paints that come with the set make a pretty good starter set. Unfortunately, you don't know which paints to get until you have some experience with painting, and you don't get experience with painting until you have a set of paints to paint with!

Google some images that you want your mini's to look like and add the link here. Netizens here will help you identify the colours=)

 Inflatable love badger wrote:
I know this might attract some flak, but if your learning to paint GW models and don't have much experience, then I would go for GW paints. They tell you how to use them, which ones to buy, how to basecoat and shade and they are very user friendly to 'cut your teeth on'. The Vallejo paints are fantastic but when your just starting out it can be handy to be told.... This is your base coat, this is your layer, this is wash and then you highlight with this. And then move on from there as you grow in confidence.

To that point, Vallejo paints separate WAY more than GW paints and need to be shaken like crazy compared to GW (this is why your models are glossy). Plus, Vallejo paints MUST be thinned. I mean there are no ifs -- if you don't thin you Model Air, it will be lumpy and streaky. GW paints are better when thinned, but the difference is not nearly as stark.

 Talys wrote:

 Inflatable love badger wrote:
I know this might attract some flak, but if your learning to paint GW models and don't have much experience, then I would go for GW paints. They tell you how to use them, which ones to buy, how to basecoat and shade and they are very user friendly to 'cut your teeth on'. The Vallejo paints are fantastic but when your just starting out it can be handy to be told.... This is your base coat, this is your layer, this is wash and then you highlight with this. And then move on from there as you grow in confidence.

To that point, Vallejo paints separate WAY more than GW paints and need to be shaken like crazy compared to GW (this is why your models are glossy). Plus, Vallejo paints MUST be thinned. I mean there are no ifs -- if you don't thin you Model Air, it will be lumpy and streaky. GW paints are better when thinned, but the difference is not nearly as stark.

But but........paint pots......yuck......=p. I'm biased towards dropper bottles. haha.
The vallejo model colours you own have awesome coverage by the way. My fav paint range. They separate less than the game colour range but you still have to shake em like everyone has been saying.

This is the general vibe i was going for.

The models

Virobrain: What brand of paints can you get locally? Or do you have any other preferences?

It looks like you are going for a neutral white. Just get a neutral grey to shade your white, for instance Vallejo MC Neutral grey or Vallejo GC Stonewall Grey.

For the red you could either go for P3 Khador red for a brighter base, or GW Mephiston Red for a slighty darker. Shade could then be for instance Vallejo MC Hull Red (mixed with your base, depending on how dark shade you want, hull red is very dark). Another option could be Vallejo GC Gory red or GC Scarlett Red for the shades. Highlight with a scarlet like Vallejo MC Scarlet or maybe Vallejo GC Hot orange.

Vallejo have som suggestions for Game Colour triads of highlight-base-shade in this PDF:
http://cdn.acrylicosvallejo.com/8fd17290d7e9c7bf61e6a487a1161d09/CC072-Rev14.pdf

Bluedorian wrote:
But but........paint pots......yuck......=p. I'm biased towards dropper bottles. haha.
The vallejo model colours you own have awesome coverage by the way. My fav paint range. They separate less than the game colour range but you still have to shake em like everyone has been saying.

Fair 'nuff

By the way, I own 100% of the game air/game color range, and probably 70% of the Model color/model air range, with a smattering of the other stuff (Panzer line, additives, and all that). They are good paints. You can't get away from the Game range if you're doing 40k/GW stuff unless you're playing Imperial Guard, because these are all the vibrant colors.

Also, you can't just use "Air" (well you can, but..) because it's very runny, making certain tasks like highlighting, detail work, or freehand all but impossible (you touch the model, and the paint won't stay in one place). Some of the colors have exact matches between Air and Color lines, others, especially in the Model Air/Color range, strangely do not. OR.. they have a matching color NAME, but the color is totally different. It's enough to drive you bonkers if you're trying to airbrush and paintbrush with the same color!

 Talys wrote:

Bluedorian wrote:
But but........paint pots......yuck......=p. I'm biased towards dropper bottles. haha.
The vallejo model colours you own have awesome coverage by the way. My fav paint range. They separate less than the game colour range but you still have to shake em like everyone has been saying.

Fair 'nuff

By the way, I own 100% of the game air/game color range, and probably 70% of the Model color/model air range, with a smattering of the other stuff (Panzer line, additives, and all that). They are good paints. You can't get away from the Game range if you're doing 40k/GW stuff unless you're playing Imperial Guard, because these are all the vibrant colors.

Also, you can't just use "Air" (well you can, but..) because it's very runny, making certain tasks like highlighting, detail work, or freehand all but impossible (you touch the model, and the paint won't stay in one place). Some of the colors have exact matches between Air and Color lines, others, especially in the Model Air/Color range, strangely do not. OR.. they have a matching color NAME, but the color is totally different. It's enough to drive you bonkers if you're trying to airbrush and paintbrush with the same color!

Not to hijack this thread too much, but I have a question that relates. I'm just getting into 40k (used to collect on and off when I was younger but didn't really do any of the painting side of the hobby), and a friend I know hasn't really done any painting but wants to start, so we are both going to go halves in a paint set. We'd looked at the valejo air set but we have no idea what we're doing. Any pointers/advice? It seems like a set is the way to go though. We'll also need brushes, but that question doesn't have to be answered here