Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I was assured on the package and from the store that the spray version is the same as the paint pot version.

Oddly, it does not seem to be the same. I used the brush-on paint on one model, and the spray on the other. I can see a difference. I used both over a black primer, and used multiple coats so its not like I did something different on each. I also shook the spray up very well, so its not like it was not mixed right...

I even painted a bit of the paint pot one on a sprayed model, and can tell where I brushed it, that it was a bit darker.

This is going to be an issue going forward...since after I put a wash on, I intended to clean it up using the paint pot. Now I don't think that will work.

Anyone else have this issue? Any tips?

I have had similar results, seems to be a slightly off shade.

I had the same problem with early cans of Leadbelcher Spray - newer ones got better.

That's a disappointment on the Grey. I have used Khorne Red from the spray can, and felt the match to pot was satisfactory, although not 100%, either.

I have no experience with MSG spray but in general a thing to keep in mind is spraying paint will produce a different surface finish to hairy brush painting it.

So even if the colour is a 100% match, you'll be able to tell which areas were done with a spray can or airbrush vs hairy brush.

Even if I airbrush a model and then come back with the *exact same* paint out of the exact same pot, the difference can be very noticeable.

In general, spraying tends to produce a fine grain to the surface which makes it look more matte which in turn tends to make the paint look slightly more pale.

You can alleviate (but it's hard to completely fix) by applying a varnish over the top to homogenise the surface finish somewhat.

Here are some pics for comparison.

First one you can see the shade difference. Both were sprayed with black primer. Then received 2 coats of the grey. One from a spray one from a brush.

Second picture you an see the sprayed piece (Mechanicus Standard Grey), with 3 other grey colors painted on. On the TOP LEFT is the brushed on Standard Mechanicus Grey, along with Dawnstone and Administratum Grey. There is a clear difference!

Now the issue is, the description of the spary:

"The colour in this spray is exactly the same as Citadel Base: Mechanicus Standard Grey, so if any part of the model gets missed when spraying, a quick tidy up with the equivalent paint will provide a complete basecoat."

This simply is not true. I feel like I wasted time and money on the spray can, since the reason I purchased it was due to what it said. Well lesson learned.

Try spraying some in to a cup, wait a few minutes for the solvent to bubble off, then apply it with a brush and see how it looks. That's really the only way to tell because as I said sprayed paint (typically) naturally looks more pale and less saturated than hairy brushed paint.

Just don't spray it in to a plastic cup because it'll probably melt.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
Try spraying some in to a cup, wait a few minutes for the solvent to bubble off, then apply it with a brush and see how it looks. That's really the only way to tell because as I said sprayed paint (typically) naturally looks more pale and less saturated than hairy brushed paint.

Just don't spray it in to a plastic cup because it'll probably melt.

Ok I will try it.

I understand and I was thinking the shades would be off, but when I brought up those concerns the GW store manager assured it it would not. "Its the same, you can neaten up with the brush on, no problem....etc.".

It did seem too easy.

Vaxx wrote:

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
Try spraying some in to a cup, wait a few minutes for the solvent to bubble off, then apply it with a brush and see how it looks. That's really the only way to tell because as I said sprayed paint (typically) naturally looks more pale and less saturated than hairy brushed paint.

Just don't spray it in to a plastic cup because it'll probably melt.

Ok I will try it.

I understand and I was thinking the shades would be off, but when I brought up those concerns the GW store manager assured it it would not. "Its the same, you can neaten up with the brush on, no problem....etc.".

It did seem too easy.

As stupid as it might sound, did you give the can a good long shake?

I've used MSG spray and haven't noticed it being off, but I usually spend a good minute or two shaking the can up.

 Kanluwen wrote:

Vaxx wrote:

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
Try spraying some in to a cup, wait a few minutes for the solvent to bubble off, then apply it with a brush and see how it looks. That's really the only way to tell because as I said sprayed paint (typically) naturally looks more pale and less saturated than hairy brushed paint.

Just don't spray it in to a plastic cup because it'll probably melt.

Ok I will try it.

I understand and I was thinking the shades would be off, but when I brought up those concerns the GW store manager assured it it would not. "Its the same, you can neaten up with the brush on, no problem....etc.".

It did seem too easy.

As stupid as it might sound, did you give the can a good long shake?

I've used MSG spray and haven't noticed it being off, but I usually spend a good minute or two shaking the can up.

Couldn't agree with this more!! I normally shake the colour sprays for close to five minutes before letting it see a model, and have had no problem with the grey especially!!

Shake it, haven't had any issue with it matching.

Kanluwen wrote:

Vaxx wrote:

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
Try spraying some in to a cup, wait a few minutes for the solvent to bubble off, then apply it with a brush and see how it looks. That's really the only way to tell because as I said sprayed paint (typically) naturally looks more pale and less saturated than hairy brushed paint.

Just don't spray it in to a plastic cup because it'll probably melt.

Ok I will try it.

I understand and I was thinking the shades would be off, but when I brought up those concerns the GW store manager assured it it would not. "Its the same, you can neaten up with the brush on, no problem....etc.".

It did seem too easy.

As stupid as it might sound, did you give the can a good long shake?

I've used MSG spray and haven't noticed it being off, but I usually spend a good minute or two shaking the can up.

NathanD298 wrote:

 Kanluwen wrote:

Vaxx wrote:

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
Try spraying some in to a cup, wait a few minutes for the solvent to bubble off, then apply it with a brush and see how it looks. That's really the only way to tell because as I said sprayed paint (typically) naturally looks more pale and less saturated than hairy brushed paint.

Just don't spray it in to a plastic cup because it'll probably melt.

Ok I will try it.

I understand and I was thinking the shades would be off, but when I brought up those concerns the GW store manager assured it it would not. "Its the same, you can neaten up with the brush on, no problem....etc.".

It did seem too easy.

As stupid as it might sound, did you give the can a good long shake?

I've used MSG spray and haven't noticed it being off, but I usually spend a good minute or two shaking the can up.

Couldn't agree with this more!! I normally shake the colour sprays for close to five minutes before letting it see a model, and have had no problem with the grey especially!!

dracpanzer wrote:Shake it, haven't had any issue with it matching.

I shook the hell out of it for about 5 mins.

According to GW Customer Support, there is a consideration to change the wording on the web store.

Reason being -
"Now to get to the heart of your questions on the spray paint color, you are correct in noting that the spray paint is a bit lighter in tone than the paint from the pot. The paint that is used in the spray can is the same paint/pigment, however the consistency is different that straight out of a pot. To get the paint to flow for spray, it is a bit thinner and has to accommodate the propellant as well. The paint out of the pot is of a thicker consistency, therefore the same pigment there is richer."

Well, I'm glad you got an answer even if it isn't the one you wanted!

The Air paint is a 1:1 match, if you have an airbrush and would consider that for an option.

 Kanluwen wrote:
Well, I'm glad you got an answer even if it isn't the one you wanted!

The Air paint is a 1:1 match, if you have an airbrush and would consider that for an option.

If you have an airbrush you could just thin the original paint instead of buying an "Air" version. But as I said earlier in this thread....

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
Even if I airbrush a model and then come back with the *exact same* paint out of the exact same pot, the difference can be very noticeable.

Spraying paint and touching it up by hairy brush just doesn't work all that well and should be avoided. Whenever I spray something I keep in the back of my mind that I absolutely do not want to be touching it up later.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

 Kanluwen wrote:
Well, I'm glad you got an answer even if it isn't the one you wanted!

The Air paint is a 1:1 match, if you have an airbrush and would consider that for an option.

If you have an airbrush you could just thin the original paint instead of buying an "Air" version. But as I said earlier in this thread....

That's definitely doable too. I just don't like to suggest it, as the Base paints if improperly thinned can clog airbrushes up real quick.

If your airbrush has changable needle sizes going up a size will probably stop them clogging.

I actually bought a 0.7mm nozzle for my airbrush recently and it works quite well just for the sake of basecoating and doesn't clog at the sight of more heavily pigmented paint.

That said I've never really had any problems with base paints clogging my usual 0.3mm nozzle, no more than any other paint at least.