Non-GW Paint on GW Minis?

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**Disposable Hero**

So, I have a big question for the community. My dilemma is that I have no official GW paints - only Testor's model paint. I don't know what to do - I really don't want to spend the cash on GW's expensive paint, but if it's the only really good way to paint my CSMs, then I think is should get it. Can anyone help me with this problem?

**insaniak**

Testors paints (and many other decent enamel or acrylic paints) will work just fine.

You'll find any number of companies out there making model paints as good as (or better than) GW's paints.

**Clthomps**

I would avoid the testers paint, it is enamel based so its going to go on thick and leave a shinny and hard finish. Order some vallejo, or reaper paints. They are cheaper than GW, twice the size, and overall equal or better quality.

**agnosto**

Go to Michael's or Hobby Lobby and get some cheap acrylic paint. I use apple barrel. I found a comparison chart online for different companies and the equivalent GW paint color; do some google-fu and I'm sure you can find it.

You say GW is expensive but Testor paint is more so...

**winterdyne**

What is it with GW bashing? The foundation and wash range are excellent and nothing else is really comparable on the market. Most citadel colours are similarly very high quality. I use a lot of Vallejo colours, too, so I'm not exactly rabid fanboy, I just can't see the point in bitching about the little money the paint costs that you use on a model that's cost far more...

**insaniak**

winterdyne wrote: I just can't see the point in bitching about the little money the paint costs that you use on a model that's cost far more...

The paint you have is a lot cheaper than the paint you need to go out and buy...

Nobody was 'bashing' GW. Pointing out that there are cheaper alternatives is nothing more than pointing out that there are cheaper alternatives.

**FlyDog**

I might reccomend the P3 line from Privateer Press. I've been using it for years on my mins. Decent price, bigger and less annoying bottles that GW. Although I do like the new GW bottles more than the old ones.

**Shatter.proof**

I've used some Privateer press paints and primer and I've found them just as good if not better then GW's stuff and generally cheaper.

**CatPeeler**

p3 & vallejo both put out good stuff. The new GW washes are pretty swell, but the last GW paints I bought were at least two iterations ago. Coat d'arms is the current supplier of the old line, though I suspect that they're also making the p3 stuff.

**Happygrunt**

agnosto wrote:Go to Michael's or Hobby Lobby and get some cheap acrylic paint. I use apple barrel. I found a comparison chart online for different companies and the equivalent GW paint color; do some google-fu and I'm sure you can find it.

You say GW is expensive but Testor paint is more so...

I did google that, it brought me back here...

**themocaw**

Also, don't be a paint fanboy. I'm using about three different brands of paint for various reasons. Use what works for you.

**Fateweaver**

I love P3, Ral Partha, Vallejo, Citadel foundation and washes and soon to order some Coat D' arms.

I've not used a wash that compares to Foundation washes. Devlan mud is like sex in a jar.

**Fafnir**

Testor's red looks amazing, but being enamel, Testor's really just isn't good for minis. I'm a vallejo man myself, great paints at a great consistancy. Although GW's metals are hard to beat, I've gotten more and more towards using Vallejo for everything else, where as when I started, I used an equal mix of GW and Vallejo.

**c34r34lk1ll3r**

I use some GW, Some Apple Barrel, some P3 and some Reaper. My favorites being P3 and Reaper. I like a couple of GW colors more than others and the washes are amazing. The only thing I don't like about Apple Barrel is how thick they are because I'm a lazy bastard and don't like having to thin my paints.

**KingCracker**

I use Americana paints. You can get them in any craft store, and hell even Walmart and Meijers carry some of the colors. I personally love the way they lay out and look, and they are incredibly cheap. $1 for a tube twice the size of GW paints, and they have squeeze tops on them.

**ZacktheChaosChild**

winterdyne wrote:What is it with GW bashing?

It's Dakka. People bash GW a lot 'round these parts.

**KingCracker**

There are just as many fan bois as bashers

**Kid_Kyoto**

my redshirt told me that if you use non ge pwaint on your models than they will catch fire and die!

It's true!

**Le Grognard**

I'm using paints from half a dozen different manufacturers. Testors does have an acrylic line, but if memory serves me correct, they are a little pricey. It's basically a matter of what you like to use; personal preference. All the 'big boys' that are putting out paint sets right now are vying for your GW dollar. Prices are cheaper and quality is just as good or better. Plus you have a plethora to choose from. Good luck, try a bunch out and have fun doing it!

**Fafnir**

winterdyne wrote:What is it with GW bashing? The foundation and wash range are excellent and nothing else is really comparable on the market. Most citadel colours are similarly very high quality. I use a lot of Vallejo colours, too, so I'm not exactly rabid fanboy, I just can't see the point in bitching about the little money the paint costs that you use on a model that's cost far more...

Vallejo is better and cheaper. Short of the metallics (which GW does beautifully well, I'll give them that), you have no reason to pick GW over Vallejo.

**Dysturbed**

I like the reaper metallic and Vallejo for everything else. GW & Les' Awesome Paintjob.com washes. Tamiya for blood effect red color.
The worst part about using GW paints is trying to mix them with any concistancy. Vallejo solves that problem by having the dropper bottles.

**rokubungi**

I use cheap Delta ceramcoat it goes on a lot smoother and less gloppy than apple barrel paint a little bit of future makes it flow nicely. and my favorite metallics are reaper I do like GW's inks though.

**Breotan**

Clthomps wrote:I would avoid the testers paint, it is enamel based so its going to go on thick and leave a shinny and hard finish.

You know that Testors makes acrylics too, right? Just pay attention to what you're buying.

**odinsgrandson**

Many companies make good acrylic paints, and there's no reason not to use those either in addition to or instead of the Citadel line of paints. Testors has some good products and there's no reason why you can't use them.

That said, Beotan is right- you should make sure you're getting the testor's acrylics and not their enamels.

**Andrewdrexler**

I personally use Delta Cermacoat (2oz bottle craft paint), P3, V. Game colors, V. Model colors, GW washes, GW inks (now oop), GW paints, Tamiya (for airbrushing), a ceramics red stain that is to die for, homemade ink washes, Artist Inks, Charcoal pencils, chalks, artists pastels (ground up), and pretty much anything with a pigment in it.

No ONE brand of paint is 100% perfect for every application. The key is to buy your collection slowly and not splurge on “premium” paints that your painting style is not appropriate for. If your just learning to paint, I would suggest using a higher end “craft paint”. They can be really good for learning on, and I know of a few “pro painters” who still swear by some of the colors.

Ohh, and if you can find a good yellow that will cover in 1 or 2 coats..buy an extra one for when you run out lol.

**hstubbs3**

My friend who's been doing 40k forever and still hates to paint would be just as likely to basecoat with a cheap can of spray paint from walmart...

I think for his chaos army he primed black with Armory Primer - Black spray primer (i think that's the brand - with the dork tower people on it)
and touched up with Apple Barrel and Folk Art for details..

I personally spray prime gray and use those paints.. but I have a slightly different brush technique it'd seem, and so far I've only painted Orks..

I think the biggest thing with painting is what you want from the finished product, how the paint works when ya get it, and how you brush.... If you've painted a zillion figs in the past and are just starting in on a chaos army, I'd suspect you'd get more mileage from sticking to the brands and process your familiar with, assuming so far you've been consistently pleased AND you think ya got an idea of how to achieve what you got in your head.

**agnosto**

Happygrunt wrote:
agnosto wrote:Go to Michael's or Hobby Lobby and get some cheap acrylic paint. I use apple barrel. I found a comparison chart online for different companies and the equivalent GW paint color; do some google-fu and I'm sure you can find it.

You say GW is expensive but Testor paint is more so...

I did google that, it brought me back here...

From Tauonline:

Citadel- ABP

Scab Red- Red Spice
Red Gore-Burgundy
Blood Red-Red Apple
Blazing Orange-Pumpkin Orange
Fiery Orange-Apricot
Golden Yellow-Yellow
Sunburst Yellow-Yellow
Bad Moon Yellow-Yellow
Scorched Brown- Burnt Sienna
Bestial Brown-Nutmeg Brown
Snakebite Leather-Toffee
Bubonic Brown-Carmel Candy
Vomit Brown-Kiwi
Bleached Bone-Antique White
Dark Flesh-Chocolate Bar
Vermin Brown-Goose Feather
Dwarf Flesh-Flesh
Bronzed Flesh-Fresh Apricot
Elf Flesh-English Lace
Liche Purple-Wild Iris
Warlock Purple-Cranberry
Tentacle Pink-Bubble Gum
Midnight Blue-Night Sky
Regal Blue-Too Blue
Ultramarines Blue-Neon Blue
Enchanted Blue-Colbat Blue
Ice Blue-Bright Blue
Hawk Turquoise-Viking Blue
Dark Angels Green-Forrest Green
Snot Green-Woodland Green
Scorpion Green-Green Apple
Goblin Green-Leaf Green
Rotting Flesh-Lemon Chiffon
Camo Green-Country Tan
Scaly Green-True Teal
Shadow Grey-Blue Stoneware
Space Wolves Grey-Dolphin Gray
Chaos Black-Black
Codex Grey-Pewter Gray
Fortress Grey-Country Gray
Skull White-White
Terracotta-Burnt Umber
Graveyard Earth-Burnt Sienna
Kommando Khaki-Sandstone
Desert Yellow-Country Tan
Catachan Green-Hunter Green
Tanned Flesh-Brown Oxide
Mithril Silver-Metalic Silver Sterling
Chainmail-Metalic Silver Sterling
Boltgun Metal-Metalic Silver Sterling
Tin Bitz-Couldn't Find One
Dwarf Bronze-Kings Gold
Brazen Brass- Pure Gold
Burnished Gold-Pure Gold
Shining Gold-Kings Gold

**Mistress of minis**

Clthomps wrote:I would avoid the testers paint, it is enamel based so its going to go on thick and leave a shinny and hard finish. Order some vallejo, or reaper paints. They are cheaper than GW, twice the size, and overall equal or better quality.

Testors has a pretty extensive acrylic line too, the 'Model Master Acryl' are good paints, just the metal lids on glass bottles do get gummed up and hard to get off. And theyre 1/2 oz bottles, so they're pretty good for feeding hungry airbrushes.

If I cant get a color I want from Vallejo, they're usually my second choice.

**Skarboy**

Bear in mind that, come 2011, Games Workshop models painted in non-Citadel paints will no longer be eligible for official GW events. Something to keep in mind.

**Happygrunt**

Skarboy wrote:Bear in mind that, come 2011, Games Workshop models painted in non-Citadel paints will no longer be eligible for official GW events. Something to keep in mind.

WHAT?!?!

What dose that mean? I want a link or it didn't happen!