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I notice that quite often people speak of certain acrylic paints very highly, while disparaging others. One that comes up quite often is Vallejo. Other people feel that GW paints are just as good, if not better. Still others laugh at that whole lot and support "craft" paints for their cheap effectiveness. But is there really such a huge difference? I mean arent all these [acrylic] paints, more or less, the same? I know certain paints have flow extender mixed in at various ratios, while others dont. Some have fancy schmancy pigments.

So why do you paint with the paints you do? Availability? Colour Options? Cheapness? Threats of Violence?

And what kind of painter are you? Just trying to get pieces on the table? Or are you trying to get that coveted Platinum Demon award?

This is a list of paints that I've seen that are associated with miniature painting. Of course, Im not an artist, and I live in Canada, so Im sure ive missed something. As well, Im only looking at acrylics.

Americana
Apple Barrel
Coat d'Arms/Citadel/Games Workshop
Delta Ceramcoat
P3 (Privateer)
Reaper
Tamiya
Vallejo (Game Color & Model Color)
Warpaints (Mantic)
Revell Aqua Color
Liquitex Artist Colors
Golden Liquid Acrylics
Humbrol Super Hobby Acrylic
Testors Model Masters

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So....opinions?

Very interested in the outcome of this thread. It'd also be informative to know about paints that have gone tits-up, so to speak.

I'm still a bit of a novice, but I do have some experience in this department. I want my models to look as good as possible, at my current skill level. I take my time (and then some), but I'm not going to win any GD awards anytime soon. For the paints I've used, thus far, the biggest differences I've found are density of pigment and consistency.

Craft paints like Apple Barrel and the like are relatively lacking in the pigment department, so thinning with water even slightly will kill your coverage quickly. Vallejo, P3, GW and the like are much higher quality, in that respect, as they contain more and finer pigment giving better and more even coverage when thinned.

Consistency is the other big thing. I've found that GW paints have a tendency to dry out incredibly quickly. They get gooey in the jar and even after thinning on the palette, they're dry by the third brush reload. Granted, I'm using water and might have better luck with matte medium/flow extender, but paints drying on the brush just seems wrong (I'm a slow painter, but not that slow).

I've used Citadel, VGC, and Apple Barrel. All have their place in my painting station. Craft paints are big and cheap, by comparison, so I don't mind dealing with their shortcomings when I just need to basecoat a huge piece of terrain. I use the GW washes and foundation paints, since both are made of awesomesauce, though I was relatively unimpressed with the standard paints (not as bad as some people say, but I do think that others are way better). For general painting, I use Vallejo Game Color. Every color GW offers and more, better consistency, handy dropper bottle, and more bang for your buck.

"Best" in my opinion is definitely P3. The colors are gorgeous, the pigments cover perfectly and you can thin them to even just slightly tinted water and they still work great.

That said, I still love Vallejo, GW and Reaper Master series paints. I also have some Wargames 'Foundry' and Andrea paints that are pretty cool so far in my limited experience with them.

I have a ton of cheap Apple Barrel stuff that I use on terrain and it always looks good. I'm also a big fan of Liquitex products - from inks, to their various mediums, and even their acrylics.

I started to use Tamiya in my airbrush, and they are indeed nice but they are not a true water-based acrylic and required some additional thinning products and I eventually just moved on to Vallejo Air for the airbrush.

But yeah, imo - P3 is the 'best' or at least my favorite, but fortunately most of the tops brands are quite good.

And also, Ive heard that certain paints have other additives, like Reaper and Vallejo have flow enhancer added in. Is that true? Are there other paints that are similarly doctored up.

I'm growing fonder and fonder of the P3 line. The Beaten Purple is a gorgeous color.

I use:

P3
Citadel Foundation and Washes and Metallics
Ral Partha
Vallejo GC and MC
Createx Auto Air
Createx Wicked

If I can airbrush it I will. I prefer Wicked colors for airbrush. If I must use a P3 color I will but I don't like to mix up just a tiny little amount for airbrushing.

Oh, and of course a good primer. Krylon and Rustoleum are my primers of choice.

Aren't all these acrylic paints basically the same ? Well yes but then aren't all ice skates basically the same ? yes, but you wont find an NHL pro playing with a pair of $90 skates.

Early on in your painting life, any paints will be good. Later on as you develop a style, you will find that different paints will suit different styles of painting. That is why one person will proclaim that GW are great and another will maintain that they are overpriced rubbish.

it all depends on your style of painting, and what works for you. The same goes for brushes btw.

The only one in that list I wouldn't recommend is the Reaper Master Series. I don't like how much flo-aid they put into their paint, it has a tendency to flake out of the pot.

Later on as you develop a style, you will find that different paints will suit different styles of painting.

So which paints are best with which styles?

My understanding is that Reaper, because of all the flow aid, is good for blending.
Which are best for layering?

What are other styles that the other paints are good for?

I use:

Vallejo Game colour/model colour - Wont dry out, needs a palette but covers well and are priced OK

Vallejo Model Air - Awesome airbrush paints, perfect for when im too lazy to thin my own.

Citadel/GW Regular paints - Are OK and handy for when I cant be bothered to thin, the metallics in particular are the best I have used. Main problem is there a little pricey and they pots arent the best.

Citadel/GW Foundation - AWESOME paints, Cover well and can do magic when thinned in an airbrush BUT they are pricey and I find they dry out really badly.

Citadel/GW washes - Again very good, have took my painting to a new level, especially my nids, I have 2 full sets, dont dry out like the foundation, well not yet anyway!

Basically I prefer foundation and vallejo air in my airbrushes. GW for a quick palette free session of painting and Vallejos regular ranges for "Normal" painting. Cant reccomend GWs "special" paints enough despite the issues with the foundation bottles.

my favorite line currently is P3. They are excellent in pretty much every way. I use some GW (metallics, Washes, and I really like their bleached bone), I don't use any Vallejo because no FLGS have it, I use Apple Barrel and Americana for simple colors (some primaries, black, white).

Mostly GW because I still have a boatlaod of pots, and having taken care of them; they've lasted years, heck some I have have lasted more than a decade. Started to get some Vallejo Model Color for the military colors for FoW. Haven't delved into Reaper, P3 or Army Painter colors (although I'd recommend AP color primers). GW foundation and new washes are just plain awesome. I did pick up a can of Army Painter Quick Shade, but have yet to try it; still basecoating some figs.

countchocula86 wrote:So why do you paint with the paints you do? Availability? Colour Options? Cheapness? Threats of Violence?

And what kind of painter are you? Just trying to get pieces on the table? Or are you trying to get that coveted Platinum Demon award?

I use Vallejo (Game & Model), GW, and Liquitex (extenders, matte, etc., not paints) mostly because of availabily, price, and experience using them though I'm not opposed to trying other lines to see how they stack up. Vallejo air will definitely be added once I graduate to using an airbrush.

I try and paint everything to the best possible standard that more than a few people have called me an obessive perfectionist.

I use a mix of Vallejo, GW and coat d'arms (some old, discontinued GW colours). I made the decision to switch to Vallejo a while ago, but need to finish off some of my others first.

All i can suggest is to try them out, they are very different from GW paints, and if you stray into the model colour range, you get masses of choice. But the different brands are handy for different tasks, so a mix can be a good thing.

They require a different technique and have a different finish, but can get great results. The dropper bottles are great for mixing and thinning, but as was said, it needs a pallette.

So far though, i am sticking with the GW chaos black, as it is a lot easier to work with than the vallejo version.

GW paints require 50/50 thinning but cover well. The pigments seem fine and i've used them the most until recently.

Vallejo paints require the same thinning as GW paints but they seperate when on the pallet (i.e the blue starts to seperate from the beast brown colour very quickly). They have some very good vivid colours though.

Vallejo Model Air is great for brushing straight on or with a bit of flow aid. They are obviously good for airbrushing but still require a bit of isopropyl alcohol thinning to get them bang on with smaller needle sizes.

P3 paints are good for red and i only use their reds because of this. They require thinning like GW/Vallejo but spray better and don't seem to clog the airbrush much if at all when spraying for a longer session.

Reaper master series. Well i've only tried 2 colours to test them and I'll probably be switching over to them for the most part (i'll still use some P3 and GW foundations/washes though!). They are thin enough to paint straight on for a basecoat and require little thinning for blending (flow aid again). Very nice but expensive if you order a set direct.

I don't like Tamiya acrylics. Just don't get on with them and have had some bother airbrushing them for some reason.

I use a mix of GW, Vallejo and Reaper.

Basically, GW for Foundations and Washes.

Reaper for most other things.

Vallejo because they make some additives that Reaper doesn't and they were much more common when I was visiting San Antonio for a few months.

Two main things in terms of paints though.

First, I wish I had half the knowledge of this stuff that some of the folks around here and Warseer have. I've certainly gotten my share of help from them over the last couple of years.

Second, try things out and find something you like. If you're a person who doesn't like mixing on a palate, then Reaper and Vallejo stuff probably isn't your cup of tea. If you despise paint pots, the GW and P3 are probably going to annoy you. You're also going to find that your style of painting will evolve and change, so be open to trying new things......rather like those little Danactive yogurt bottle things, they're tasty!

I prefer VMC, mostly because they come in the tones I like, contain more pigment and the dropper bottles are wastly superior to GWs made-to-dry pots
Downside is that they do require more care when handling until you varnish the models, since unlike GW and Vallejo Game they don't contain any varnish in the paint.
I do use Citadels metallics, washes and a few of the foundation paints