Best Paints On the Market

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**Jetman360**

I am just getting back into 40k, and need some good paints. I've heard that the GW paints are crap so what else is there? I paint Ultramarines and IG. Thanks for the help.

I can get paints from overseas!

**Yonan**

**marv335**

There is no one "best paint" range.
And GW paints aren't crap.
I use a combination of GW, Vallejio, Tamiya, and Winsor & Newton.
Each range has something to recommend.
I particularly like the GW foundation paints and their metallics.
W&N Inks are fantastic also.

**Ultra Grey**

I have to agree with marv. GW isn't crap, but they are overpriced. Look into Vallejo, less $$$ for a bigger bottle, and very compatable with GW's recently discontinued line. Here's a compatability chart as well:

http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Paint_Range_Compatibility_Chart

**ScootyPuffJunior**

Jetman360 wrote:
I am just getting back into 40k, and need some good paints. I've heard that the GW paints are crap so what else is there? I paint Ultramarines and IG. Thanks for the help.

I can get paints from overseas!

It makes no real difference, GW, Vallejo, P3, Reaper, etc... All of them are fine. Buy the colors you like and are easiest to acquire.

**JWMarines**

I like GW paints quite a bit. Reaper master series are great, as are the Vallejo and P3 lines. Two big gripes with GW/Citadel paints is that they keep changing the colors/formulations and they only give you 12 ml for $4 US vs 15-18 ml for $3-$3.50. None of them are particularly easy to acquire for me, so value for the money is a bit more important because I also have to pay shipping on all of them. No flgs for me.

**Cave_Dweller**

Vallejo is getting my money these days, but I do use a lot of citadel abbadon black, I just like the feel and finish of that paint in particular.

As the above posters have said, diversity is good. GW is grossly overpriced at this point, but definitely not crap, they have a really nice finish when properly applied. But a small jar of citadel paint is like, what, nearly 5 bucks now? You can buy vallejo much cheaper for more paint, and get awesome results with their lines.

I'm with the other posters here, try out a lot of different paints, and see what you like best.

**wolfmerc**

I get my paint supplies at any generic arts and craft store, it really is the cheapest option most likely, and i am happy with the quality. but you can get a lot better results in paints like vallejo and the like.

**Augustine**

It's a rather complex question, as the matter of fact.

Problem is that different manufacturers use different formulae for colors, resulting in wildly different qualities.
So same color equivalents are different in different brands.

The "easy" brand, in my opinion, is Reaper - they have lovely triad sets. Which means you get nice little triple packs of related paints, that allows you to construct easy and effective paint schemes, eliminating a lot of headache, and matching issues.

Though personally, my paints are a collection of various GW, Vallejo, Reaper, P3, Liquitex, and Windsor & Newton products.

**MRPYM**

I use vallejo since most paint recipes I find online use them. Also where I get them they are cheaper than citadel.

**Nem**

I use a mix. The applications of some colours in some brands are better for me than colours in another, for example a strait white I use Vellejo as I prefer the cover, however in the metallic colours I prefer GW paints.

**davethepak**

If you EVER plan on airbrushing, get a line that has airbrush colors, and use those (yes, most of them you can brush on).

Why? Because color matching will NOT be an issue later.

Of the airbrush paints;

Vallejo model air - good paint, dropper bottles, lots of military colors, but limited range in other colors (they have maybe 20 greens and brown variants, but only two oranges for example).

Minitaire by badger - good paints, hard to find. Some people don't like their bottles. most paint on ok. Has a very wide range.

best of luck!

**frozenwastes**

I'd go with Reaper MSP if I were to start over again. Their new HD paints are really nice as well. Like the GW foundation paints from the last line.

**Dullspork**

davethepak wrote:
If you EVER plan on airbrushing, get a line that has airbrush colors, and use those (yes, most of them you can brush on).

Why? Because color matching will NOT be an issue later.

Of the airbrush paints;

Vallejo model air - good paint, dropper bottles, lots of military colors, but limited range in other colors (they have maybe 20 greens and brown variants, but only two oranges for example).

Minitaire by badger - good paints, hard to find. Some people don't like their bottles. most paint on ok. Has a very wide range.

best of luck!

Airbrush paints are handy, but they do tend to be more expensive, as you're going to go through them pretty quickly. And color matching isn't an issue if you're just thinning down hobby paints (which takes practice, but it doable).

**Augustine**

davethepak wrote:
If you EVER plan on airbrushing, get a line that has airbrush colors, and use those (yes, most of them you can brush on).

Why? Because color matching will NOT be an issue later.

Of the airbrush paints;

Vallejo model air - good paint, dropper bottles, lots of military colors, but limited range in other colors (they have maybe 20 greens and brown variants, but only two oranges for example).

Minitaire by badger - good paints, hard to find. Some people don't like their bottles. most paint on ok. Has a very wide range.

best of luck!

I would have to disagree. Air paint is convenient, but ultimately unnecessary - one can get the same result by mixing in an airbrush medium to regular paints. Cheaper too.

**nwns**

I like gw and army painter, price is not an issue to me.