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I'm painting my first army and I'm having a bitch of a time with Testor's Model Master series. I got some colors I like, but they don't seem to coat very well (I'm also using a fluorescent, so I'm sure that's part of the problem).

Does anyone use these paints? Are they considered inferior? Is GW/Vallejo/P3 the only way to go (I have some P3 paints & quite like them, but I haven't used the other two)?

I'd greatly appreciate any input. Thanks!

Testor's paints are usually enamels, which are a big no no.

Testors makes a great range of acrylics.

http://www.testors.com/category/136648/Acrylic_Paints

They are very good paints, but thinner than gamer paints so you have to have good brushes and technique. I wouldn't try to cover black primer with any of the lighter colors. They also are a better price per ounce.

Brother: the Model Master series are acrylic paints. I sure as hell wouldn't try to use enamel paints, but thanks for looking out for me.

Zip: Yes! This is good to know. They seemed thinner than my P3 paints, but I wasn't sure. Now I think I'm ready to buy some Vallejo or possibly GW Foundations. The Model Master paints are good, but are just too thin for what I need. I don't want to have to paint 5 coats before I get a good-looking orange.

Another thing to consider is that Testors colors are often more accurate than other manufacturer's.

I love Testors paints, but be prepared to use more coats to cover your figures than you're used to. The paints are generally thinner because Testors designs their product for use in airbrushes.

Hans Chung-Otterson wrote:(I'm also using a fluorescent, so I'm sure that's part of the problem).

Sorry, I got hung up at this part.

I think I'm giving up on Testor's, because I REALLY don't want to paint 5 coats on every model.

Still, this seems true:

Breotan wrote:Another thing to consider is that Testors colors are often more accurate than other manufacturer's.

I bought some Vallejo fiery orange (or whatever it's called; it's the brightest orange they have) to try out different paints. When I dropped some paint from the tube, it came out looking orangey-pink. WTF.

some colors separate in the bottle and have to be shaken alot to come out right. Other times the batch is bad and they can't be saved. Your retailer will likely replace it for you if it was a bad batch.

I've never used Vallejo before, so maybe that's just the color it's suppose to be?

Hans Chung-Otterson wrote:I'm painting my first army and I'm having a bitch of a time with Testor's Model Master series. I got some colors I like, but they don't seem to coat very well (I'm also using a fluorescent, so I'm sure that's part of the problem).

Does anyone use these paints? Are they considered inferior? Is GW/Vallejo/P3 the only way to go (I have some P3 paints & quite like them, but I haven't used the other two)?

I'd greatly appreciate any input. Thanks!

No matter what kind of flourescent paint you use, enamel or acrylic, it will be transparent. For best results use over white. Your model will look awesome in a blacklight.

Testor's model master line is thin because they are intended for airbrushes, maybe leave the lid off until it thickens to suit you?