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I have a metric gak ton of projects going on.

Some of which are getting to some critical junctures to completion. A couple of ... issues have come up in regards to particular points that I'm getting to.

1. Paint. Between paints and painting, I have three issues.

( Issue One)
GW paints-
Paint is thinning out to the point of oily texture, and in applying several coats of the mix, the paint does a less then steller job of covering the primered areas. The texture is on par with a coat of slick, and it really makes the minitures .... look gakked up.

Second is the way in which the GW paints are really not doing that great a job as to covering the primer in general. Several coats of it, and the primer still shows through. THICK isn't the word for it, it is more on the lines of overcoating to the point of losing the detailing.

Is there a way to thicken the base of the paint, pigment wise, so that the colors give a better coverage, and if so is there a way to thin down the paint to usability in coverage in regards to covering the models?

OR is it in the use of primers?

(Issue Two)
Reaper Paints-

I find the reaper paints to be on the thick side. I use the old style potted paints, not the new dropper line. HOWEVER, I am seriously considering getting in on a batch case of the reaper master series. Can you give me discussion on the differences, if any, and is the set worth the price?

I would like to add in the thinning agent, but in it, will it degrade the old style thicker reaper paints? Basicly, issue with the GW, but the exact opposite. Paint is thick to the point of almost drying as you apply it, sending the chuncky texture to the paint, and leading to clumping on the brush.

Bottom line up front- WHAT do I have to do to the GW and Reaper paints to get better quality to the paints so that they cover over the models in one or two coats?

(Issue three) Painting faces, details, and better quality painting.

I'd like to step my game up in painting of faces on the figures. Inside the orks mouths, stubble, texture and complextion. Can someone point me in a good direction on advanced painting techniques or someone who can let me know where to go to find out some advanced style painting?

Between these, I'm getting stuck in on a few of the issues and they are holding back the projects.

Thanks in advance.

Ok, I can't speak to the Reaper paints as I have never used them. I use Citadel and Vallejo almost exclusively (a couple P3 colours have snuck in over the years though).

The GW paint problem isn't new and people have had it for years. First it depends on the colour you are trying to paint over the primer, as well as the primer colour you are using.

For example, if you are trying to paint red/yellow over a black primer, it won't work out well for you.

That said, the new/old Base/Foundation paints from GW are great at painting over primer. I have never needed more than 2 coats even using their yellows and reds (Averland Sunset and Mephiston Red, respectively).

So this doesn't get confusing, here is my advice in point form:

1) Try the GW 'Base' paints. They are designed to be painted right over primer, and have very high pigmentation to accomplish this.

2) Apply your desired colour over this 'Base' paint and you will find it looks a lot better.

3) Consider your primer colour when painting models. Sometimes a white primer works better for light colours and then washed over later to get shadows back. Army Painter makes a diverse line of coloured spray primers/paints to use, like GW used to do.

4) Win?

PM me if you'd like more info, I can't guarantee I'll see a post here since dakka topics cycle fairly quickly.

EDIT: Also, as to your current paint problems, it may be you have got a bad batch of paints, or you are using old paints that either froze (makes acrylic paints useless for the most part) or have seen too much sun. Regardless, try out a handful of the new GW line of paints, they may be expensive, but I've been very impressed with the new line of paints, excellent for new and old painters alike as its pretty easy to grab your base, highlight/layer, wash and possible glaze now all in one stop.