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Hello fellow painters,
I am looking for a cheaper alternative to GW paints. I have come across several but coat d' arms seems to be the most reliable (GW used to use them). If I were to buy coat d' arms would the models painted look roughly the same to GW paints, or would they look completely different? Any advice, cheaper/ better alternatives, would be greatly appreciated!

Here you go mate- http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Paint_Range_Compatibility_Chart

EDIT: I personally have been switching over to Vallejo and I like them a lot.

some of GW's paints are too good to pass up.

if you want to be a good painter learn to use all ranges.

army painter warpaints are also great.

Aus prices, not sure about international.
- GW: 12 ml, $6
- Vallejo: 17 ml, $2.60
- Minitaire: 30 ml, $1.80 (discounted). ~$3.50 (normal).

I have ~120 VGC/VMC/VMA paints and the set of 80 Minitaire paints. I tried GW paints and do not like the tubs and in general prefer the paints from the Vallejo range. Minitaire paints behave differently so are harder to compare, but I really like them too.
- Vallejo Game Colour closely match the old GW range and is ull of vibrant colours for sci-fi and fantasy themes. They can be very thick, and some colours settle badly enough to need to be stirred, not just shaken.
- Vallejo Model Colour is a larger but more muted range than Game Colour. Less settling problems but still fairly thick.
- Vallejo Model Air is a pre-thinned range for airbrush use, but brushes on nicely too. Widely considered a great range with few flaws. Has the best metallics for airbrushing that also brush really well.
- Vallejo Liguid Gold has the best brush applied metallics, but are harder to use due to being alcohol based.
- Minitaire is a new paint line from the Badger airbrush company. As expected, they're mainly for airbrushing but can be brushed on too. Can generally be obtained at a very good price per volume and colours tend towards the vibrant sci-fi/fantasy spectrum.

If you really want to penny pinch you can use the "Folkart" brand paint from your local walmart. 1USD for 59mls... doesn't get much cheaper.

+1 to any who said Vallejo. I'm switching over to them myself.

Oh and OP you can get most of the miniature paint ranges from Wayland games.

There's no point sticking to one range, my preferred combo is now Army Painter for basic colours/washes and Vallejo for interesting specifics, but I still use my old Citadel stuff (up to the Devlan Mud era), and Coat D'Arms, and even some Rackham paints that are still alive.

The only paints I won't buy new now are GW's, as I won't buy paint from a company with a history of replacing their entire line with non-matching alternatives.

On the subject of Coat D'arms - I think they're okay, but I prefer AP and Vallejo.

Ive started using vallejo more recently but still use the GW washes as i really like the Nuln oil etc.

Ive found the vallejo are better for me than the GW bases and older paints which i have a lot of.
Wish i had swapped over years ago.

 usedboltershell wrote:

Wish i had swapped over years ago.

Me too, and I would have also started 40k first instead of WHFB

I mostly use Vallejo now, but I still use the old GW range (not the new ones), some P3 stuff and good old fashioned Liquitex for terrain stuff. Sometimes you like a color from a certain range and you don't have to pick just one (but if you have to pick one, go with Vallejo). Just remember that each paint will have slightly different properties, even if they're on the same range. Some paints tend to thicken up faster, some cover quite well while others need multiple layers. So get to know your paints! Test them out first and practice.

i hate GW but there paits are good....Vallego are the best alternative
try coat d arms.....these are very old GW before GW changed over

Imo the paint tends to be the cheapest end of this hobby. If you want value you can do a couple things.

Buy paint sets

Buy from online you normally save 20% or so.

Now you can have any paint brand online.

Gw makes good paint.

I use all of the above except reaper. I think they are a little too watery for me. They don't take thinning as well as almost every other brand.

Pick colors you like even if it's gw because the color is what matters.

The idea is definitely to use multiple ranges. Each range has its pros and cons.

I've got some GW, Americana, Winsor & Newton, Badger, Badger Wicked, Badger Spectra-Tex, and a couple bottles of Reaper Master Series. I even had the hardware store color match 1 color for the base coat of 1 of my armies. Works wonders.

Anymore, I just grab the colors I like. Thinned properly, they all paint the same, and spray the same (AB). Only difference after proper thinning is coverage. 2 coats, or 4? No big deal.

So if cutting prices is your goal, go check out the Deco Art "Americana" range at your local arts/crafts store. WAY more paint for much cheaper, with a great expanse of color choices. Keep in mind tho that "You get what you pay for" does sometimes apply, and this I would urge you to get quality metallics. Cheap metallics are depressingly sparkly and glittery....