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Gavin Thorne wrote:I dunno what all the mess about painting the top of the bottles or having clear tops is about, but maybe I'm a little OCD with my paint box. Every color is in it's place and I can grab pots without looking and know what I've pulled.

Recently I've begun transferring my GW paints into dropper bottles I bought in bulk on ebay. I'm able to dilute and add flow aid/drying retardant when they get switched over so I don't need to mess with them after they get on the palette. Also, screw tops keep them sealed much better and have significantly less mess.

The only problem I have with the 25mL bottles I bought is a paint pot barely fills them halfway.

How do you transfer the paint without wasting any? I'm interested in doing this.

My issue is less about waste and more about the fact i end up with a thumb smeared and can't pick up the model again before the paint on the brush is dry... I found with the old flip top bottles mess was reduced by the fact they had a lip around them you had to get past so the paint didn't spill or end up all over my thumb when i open the pot.

but yea the lack of the little tab at the back which holds the foundations and inks open, i think is also responsible for the leakage from the back.

I use vallejo...

Simple as that.

I'm very careful.

There's some mess involved and, of course, I keep my surfaces clean with preparation. Newspaper on the table, cleaning spray nearby with a roll of paper towels. No funnel necessary as the paint pours pretty smoothly after you add just a little flow aid and water to them.

There's always the leftover paint in the pot that refuses to come all the way out. I'll add some water and matte medium to it to loosen it up and get the last dregs out.

After the first 3-4 bottles, you'll get a process/technique down that works and bang the rest out. I've got 25 in new bottles that I'm in love with and can't wait for the the spare cash to get another 25. There's a bunch of ebay vendors that sell them, mostly in China. I got mine from a place in Portugal. They are the same style bottle that Reaper uses but mine are a little larger and the plastic is a little more flexible.

I guess the second complaint that I have is you have to snip the tips of the dropper tops and if you're not careful trimming too much off results in a less of a dropper than a pourer. That's less an issue with the bottles than it is with my own cutting ability, but if I used an xacto instead of scissors it would be more precise.

Not everybody paints using a pallet. Dropper tops would hinder me a lot more then they would help.

I would never switch brands, only because the quality of gw paimts i feel are much better than others ive used.

Jollydevil wrote:I would never switch brands, only because the quality of gw paimts i feel are much better than others ive used.

Of the four i've used, GW are by far the worst. They dry out in a matter of months once opened. I have ral partha and cote d'arms pots that are close to twenty years old, and they are still perfect. Vallejo is probably as good or better than GW simply because it has the little nozzles which preserve the life of the paint.

Not a huge fan of the new GW pots either. The only thing I really don't like about them is that they don't stay open. I've tried to use something else to hold the top down leaving the pot open but stopped because of constant tip overs and watching a third of the spill out. I've read alot of people saying Vallejo is a way to go. What do you mean by dropper bottles? I'm picturing the cap has a dropper on it? I might start going to them to replace my paints as I need... anyone have a conversion chart for their paints and GW paints? I've got a small problem with seeing colors, I can't really really between various shades, so I'd never beable to look at their paint chart and match it to a GW paint.

Been painting since the hexagonal pots. I fething hate these new ones. They were much better when that little tab was in the back hinge. Also, these new one's don't twist open if you need to pour paint into something. Which brings their usefulness down to about 10% of the old ones.

If you're like me, and like to prop your pots open while you paint, there's a simple solution that I'm rather fond of. Stick an old paintbrush under the lid and put it an angle so it also keeps the pot steady :3

My colors are clear topped, while foundations are solid white. Washes are black top.

These jars always close when I need some more paint, I prefer the old chunky ones while painting (but I don't have any, I use my friend's), but these guys look more "cute" laying around.

Coolyo294 wrote:Not everybody paints using a pallet. Dropper tops would hinder me a lot more then they would help.

Quoted for truth. I wish all you vallejo guys would bite your tongue before saying "just use a pallatte". I've found pallattes just make you waste paint. Not to mention they dry out much quicker when they're on there. Specially if you work under hot lights. I do see merit in pallattes, but primarily for blending.

ya i really don't like the new pots i would of liked for them to kept the octagonal paints pots but i don't have the farting paint problem at all never seen it.

hemingway wrote:

Jollydevil wrote:I would never switch brands, only because the quality of gw paimts i feel are much better than others ive used.

Of the four i've used, GW are by far the worst. They dry out in a matter of months once opened. I have ral partha and cote d'arms pots that are close to twenty years old, and they are still perfect. Vallejo is probably as good or better than GW simply because it has the little nozzles which preserve the life of the paint.

None of my paint pots dry up ever really.
But what i mean to say is that i like the color, as well as how thin/ thick, of the gw paints. Alot of the paints ive used before need several layers until they even look acceptable, and even then still look very dry.
Overall, its probably because i started with gw paints, but thats just my opinion.

49p each


47p each

eBay is probably cheaper if you're willing to go through the auction process. Currently considering transferring mine over to dropper bottles as I always use a palette and could do with some more space in my paints box.

starsdawn wrote:First World problems

The whole hobby is that. Your point is?

Samus_aran115 wrote:

Coolyo294 wrote:Not everybody paints using a pallet. Dropper tops would hinder me a lot more then they would help.

Quoted for truth. I wish all you vallejo guys would bite your tongue before saying "just use a pallatte". I've found pallattes just make you waste paint. Not to mention they dry out much quicker when they're on there. Specially if you work under hot lights. I do see merit in pallattes, but primarily for blending.

To each his own :-).

I started out with GW and haven't tried the new pots yet - but the whole design irritated me to no end with the foundation pots. I've made a huge mess a few times, when I couldn't close the lid properly because of dried paint residue - something that never happened with the old GW designs or my favorite dropper bottles.

Apart from the lid not staying open which annoys me something chronic, as I like to get my paint from the lid,

THE MOST ANNOYING THING IN THE WHOLE WORLD

is when I pop open the lid with my thumb and I get paint on it.

Happens Every time, unless I remember to use the stem of a paint brush between thumb and tab. Which isn't as often as I would like. . . . .

I use a mix of Vallejo, Coat D'Arms, oldCitadel (CDA) that I bought up big on when they changed their paints in '98 or whenever, P3.

I have several GW washes and the Foundation set, though I also just bought the Vallejo wash set and plan to buy the Vallejo Foundations (and coloured primers!) next time there's a Maelstrom sale. I've also got several tubes of quality artists' acrylics I use for certain things as well.

I also plan to go to town on a bunch of the materials for Les' Washes in the next week or so.

The hex-screw-on pots I bought when they came out have all dried up, and while the flat-topped flip-tops are better, the paint still dries far too fast compared to the older CDA formula. And I've not yet had a Vallejo paint dry up on me.

Just my two cents:

I like the foundation and wash paint pots.

The only thing I don't like about the colour paint pots is they don't stay open.

This isn't much of an issue, since I don't keep my paint in the pot when I use it, it goes onto a palette, like it should.

pallets are for people with sense. I use the back of my hand like a true pro >.>

when I run out of a colour I just put the new paint into my old paint pot....easy

I don't like that they don't stay open on their own but not enough to abandon the company. I'm used to working with particular hues and consistencies and I don't want to have to refigure my usual palette all over again.

AG. wrote:
Do you really think a bunch of designers sat around a table and said:

"Right, we have a master plan - we're gonna change the pot shape on our range of paints so that they waste 2% more paint than they used to. That means that all of our customers will have to buy more paint - which will make us MILLLLLLIONSSSSSSS!"

Yes, Yes i do.

Heres why:

GW paint pots are designed to create maximum waste. There is a reason there is no dropper, and they have a drying accelerant in the paint. GW knows that if just 2% of their purchasing population has to purchase just three more pots of paint a year, because of these steps, then that can equate out to hundreds of thousands of dollars towards their bottom line. GW also know that paint is a destination item - meaning people will come into the store with the specific intent to buying it. Once you are in the store, they can attempt to sell add on products, either by active or passive selling. There is an amazing amount of psychology in sales, and GW is a big company, they hire people to plan this stuff out, the same way Hasbro hires people to come up with mythic rarity to increase Wizards of the Coasts magic the gathering sales.

Every wonder why a GW pot or paint dries faster, doesn't mix well with other manufacturers, never have a dropper, and typically come watered down, and don't pour well? its because water is cheap, droppers save users money and cost GW money, dry faster because their formulated to do so, and the ridges and tapered lip on the GW pots dont let them pour evenly and smoothly, creating massive waste. to top it all off, everyone in the industry normally puts out their paint in 17.5ML bottles, but GW does so in 11.5ML bottles, which they say is mitigated because GW paints can be painted from the pot, so to speak, but when you read articles, the painting articles are recommending you use a palette to better mix colors.

so yes, i do think that GW does plan that out. its a grab for money. Yes there are people that sit around and figure this out. The trick to it is to reduce efficiencies to make more money, but not so much that people abandon their product line. thats why its small and incremental. there is also a process to this, i was taught as gradual exposure selling - slow changes to a product line to change the product line, but not so abruptly that they loose sales. The cost savings on this ranks up there in the millions after its extrapolated over the course of several years. (10)

AG. wrote:
Do you really think a bunch of designers sat around a table and said:

"Right, we have a master plan - we're gonna change the pot shape on our range of paints so that they waste 2% more paint than they used to. That means that all of our customers will have to buy more paint - which will make us MILLLLLLIONSSSSSSS!"

Wait...you don't? Really?

If the articulate MBA holder whose post is above mine hasn't convinced you, well, you frankly need to educate yourself in regards to business practices. Here's another example to get you started:

Ajinomoto, the world's top ranked MSG producer (HQ here in Tokyo) wanted to stimulate sales which had stagnated. Long story short---they widened the holes in their little shaker bottles slightly and increased their revenue by a huge figure.

My GW paints of about 5+ years, I think it's finally time to get some new paints.

I paint slowly, very slowly, hence why my paints are 5+ years old. I still have some paint that is 1+years old.

So if I start buying Valeijo paints, will they still work with GW paints side by side?

hsojvvad wrote:
So if I start buying Valeijo paints, will they still work with GW paints side by side?

yes.

Sc077y wrote:

AG. wrote:
Do you really think a bunch of designers sat around a table and said:

"Right, we have a master plan - we're gonna change the pot shape on our range of paints so that they waste 2% more paint than they used to. That means that all of our customers will have to buy more paint - which will make us MILLLLLLIONSSSSSSS!"

Yes, Yes i do.

Heres why:

GW paint pots are designed to create maximum waste. There is a reason there is no dropper, and they have a drying accelerant in the paint. GW knows that if just 2% of their purchasing population has to purchase just three more pots of paint a year, because of these steps, then that can equate out to hundreds of thousands of dollars towards their bottom line. GW also know that paint is a destination item - meaning people will come into the store with the specific intent to buying it. Once you are in the store, they can attempt to sell add on products, either by active or passive selling. There is an amazing amount of psychology in sales, and GW is a big company, they hire people to plan this stuff out, the same way Hasbro hires people to come up with mythic rarity to increase Wizards of the Coasts magic the gathering sales.

Every wonder why a GW pot or paint dries faster, doesn't mix well with other manufacturers, never have a dropper, and typically come watered down, and don't pour well? its because water is cheap, droppers save users money and cost GW money, dry faster because their formulated to do so, and the ridges and tapered lip on the GW pots dont let them pour evenly and smoothly, creating massive waste. to top it all off, everyone in the industry normally puts out their paint in 17.5ML bottles, but GW does so in 11.5ML bottles, which they say is mitigated because GW paints can be painted from the pot, so to speak, but when you read articles, the painting articles are recommending you use a palette to better mix colors.

so yes, i do think that GW does plan that out. its a grab for money. Yes there are people that sit around and figure this out. The trick to it is to reduce efficiencies to make more money, but not so much that people abandon their product line. thats why its small and incremental. there is also a process to this, i was taught as gradual exposure selling - slow changes to a product line to change the product line, but not so abruptly that they loose sales. The cost savings on this ranks up there in the millions after its extrapolated over the course of several years. (10)

I'm sort of stunned that people are so paranoid. I cannot comprehend.

AG. wrote:

Sc077y wrote:

AG. wrote:
Do you really think a bunch of designers sat around a table and said:

"Right, we have a master plan - we're gonna change the pot shape on our range of paints so that they waste 2% more paint than they used to. That means that all of our customers will have to buy more paint - which will make us MILLLLLLIONSSSSSSS!"

Yes, Yes i do.

Heres why:

GW paint pots are designed to create maximum waste. There is a reason there is no dropper, and they have a drying accelerant in the paint. GW knows that if just 2% of their purchasing population has to purchase just three more pots of paint a year, because of these steps, then that can equate out to hundreds of thousands of dollars towards their bottom line. GW also know that paint is a destination item - meaning people will come into the store with the specific intent to buying it. Once you are in the store, they can attempt to sell add on products, either by active or passive selling. There is an amazing amount of psychology in sales, and GW is a big company, they hire people to plan this stuff out, the same way Hasbro hires people to come up with mythic rarity to increase Wizards of the Coasts magic the gathering sales.

Every wonder why a GW pot or paint dries faster, doesn't mix well with other manufacturers, never have a dropper, and typically come watered down, and don't pour well? its because water is cheap, droppers save users money and cost GW money, dry faster because their formulated to do so, and the ridges and tapered lip on the GW pots dont let them pour evenly and smoothly, creating massive waste. to top it all off, everyone in the industry normally puts out their paint in 17.5ML bottles, but GW does so in 11.5ML bottles, which they say is mitigated because GW paints can be painted from the pot, so to speak, but when you read articles, the painting articles are recommending you use a palette to better mix colors.

so yes, i do think that GW does plan that out. its a grab for money. Yes there are people that sit around and figure this out. The trick to it is to reduce efficiencies to make more money, but not so much that people abandon their product line. thats why its small and incremental. there is also a process to this, i was taught as gradual exposure selling - slow changes to a product line to change the product line, but not so abruptly that they loose sales. The cost savings on this ranks up there in the millions after its extrapolated over the course of several years. (10)

I'm sort of stunned that people are so paranoid. I cannot comprehend.

Its because GW are the "almighty evil" that plagues us. Similar to EA. Pretty much I just see them as a business just like any other. They recieve alot of hate purely because they are the "big boys". Paranoia usually comes with hate.

It's not paranoia, it's common sense when it comes to how businesses are run.

The only advantage the paint pots have is that they show the color from the outside. Barring that, the paintpots contain less paint, have poorer seals, don't stack on eachother, and I've also got issues with their stock around here (because I refuse to buy GW directly). The prices are the same too so..... wee bit infuriating.

also, glad to see im not the only one who is hacked off with the pots doing the paint-fart thing. I've noticed this happening fairly often whenever I close or open the pot. Not a big deal until the little dots start accumulating on the wall.