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Hi all,

Since I got back into the hobby about 2 years ago I have consistently used GW paints and washes to paint my models. As I am soon to be starting a second army I am considering the switch from GW colours to Vallejo as I have heard nothing but good things about the quality, volume and storage of the paint. I was considering opting for the 'hobby box' paint set (shown here) as I think it contains pretty much everything I could possibly need.

My question to you guys is: are there any colours/washes that are *better* in the GW line than Vallejo? Also, is there anywhere I can find a conversion chart that details the Vallejo equivalent of a GW paint?

Thanks in advance.

L. Wrex

Here's the conversion chart:

http://www.evicerator.com/vallejotogwconversiontable.htm

I havent used the Vallejo washes, but I will say, if you havent used the new GW washes then you should definatly try them out. They are fantastic.

As far as vallejo paints..they are the bees knees!

I have not used Vallejo washes as I have had very good success w/ GW washes...and anything that GW does not make, I just make my own.

Ashton

Ha, it's funny how much Vallejo rips off GW's names for the paints...good for them though, GW is so overpriced its daylight robbery.

I actually made the mistake of buying a rather large pot of Vallejo "ready to use" black shade wash.
Compared to GWs black wash it is bad. Unthinned it is basically unworkable and even with lots of additives it performs fairly poor. The Vallejo wash acts more like an old school ink.

So my advise would be to stick with the GW washes.

Also while Vallejo paints are generally great, keep in mind that the paint for most colors need far more shaking before use than the GW ones since they tend to separate quickly.

Metallics from Vallejo are also quite different, Vallejo uses finer metal particles in their paint and that makes their metallics a lot shinier than their GW counterparts. A matter of taste really, but I prefer the GW ones (even if the Vallejo paint itself is nicer to work with imo)

So in short imo:
Vallejo paints > GW paints
GW washes > Vallejo washes

imark789 wrote:Ha, it's funny how much Vallejo rips off GW's names for the paints..

I'm pretty sure there's a backstory to that, though it escapes me at the moment.

fiddler6291 wrote:So in short imo:
Vallejo paints > GW paints
GW washes > Vallejo washes

This is also my experience. GWS wash is awesome, but for paint, Vallejo is not only equivalent or better (generally), you get more (17ml vs 12ml) for less (2.60 vs 2.95). I'm slowly transitioning over to Vallejo for future models, but imagine I will still use some GWS; their metallics I also find excellent with the exception of Brass\bronze, in which case Vallejo is far better.

many edits, I cannot spell tonight.

imark789 wrote:Ha, it's funny how much Vallejo rips off GW's names for the paints...good for them though, GW is so overpriced its daylight robbery.

Bald Moon Yellow is probably my favorite.

I already use the Devlan Mud/Badab Black washes from the GW line, so from common consensus I think I'll stick with them. They truly are really great washes, and Vallejo would have had to release something truly special to compete with those two.

fiddler6291 wrote:Vallejo paints > GW paints
GW washes > Vallejo washes

This was the impression I'd got from talking to a fair few hobbyists. Good to know, thank you!

L. Wrex

On another sidenote, AFAIK Vallejo does not have an equivalent to GWs Foundation Colours (yet).
Please correct me if I'm wrong - I'm desperately searching for an alternative to Necron Abyss.

Ashrag wrote:On another sidenote, AFAIK Vallejo does not have an equivalent to GWs Foundation Colours (yet).
Please correct me if I'm wrong - I'm desperately searching for an alternative to Necron Abyss.

They do now, the Game Color "heavy" paints.

Thank you for this information, ArmorOfContempt. I will look those up immediately

Ashrag wrote:Thank you for this information, ArmorOfContempt. I will look those up immediately

From what I understand (I only have experience with the red, but I have read that it's the same case with the orange), the VGC Heavy paints are a slightly deeper color than their Foundation equivalents, but they're still pretty close and they cover just as well, better, I've found, in the case of the red.