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I used to use GW paint. But im just not willing to spend their asking price on multiple pots of paint so im looking at using regular model paints. So my question is between these two. What are the diffrences going to be? Is one going to be better than the other?

Why on earth pay GW prices when there are paint ranges out there that are equally good and some better for cheaper.

Take a look at all the Vallejo ranges, P3, Reaper, Army Painter, to name the big ones.

Its a great time to be in the hobby as we have an incredible amount of quality choices.

As to enamel paints, I would imagine the cleanup and drying times would have something to do with people staying with acrylic paints.

This thread should tell you all you need to know about the difference between Enamel and Acrylic paints.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/548710.page

It is possible to use Enamels, I do, but acrylics are considered easier to use for miniatures and don't require smelly white spirit for clean up and solvation.

Thank you for the responses, I picked up a starter enamel set from work, since I get 10% off it. I'm going to prime up some models I got for free at a convention. They are terrible molds and low quality plastic but figured they would be good for bits if nothing else.

Just buy Vallejo and never look back again.


With enamel, you can use them but they're gonna be extremely hard to use. Not to mention you can't use your existing GW paints with it (remember that oil and water don't mix, and enamel is petroleum-based). Drying time and thinning your paint's also a bitch, as well as cleaning brushes. If I were you I'd stick with acrylics.

Enamels are more fiddly, it's true, though there are compensations. However there is no point wasting the acrylic paints you already own so it makes good sense to buy compatible paints from a different maker like Vallejo.

With Enamel, you need a lot of toxic chemicals everytime you work with them, e.g. for cleaning the brush or thinning paints. Acrylics just use water.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
Enamels are more fiddly, it's true, though there are compensations. However there is no point wasting the acrylic paints you already own so it makes good sense to buy compatible paints from a different maker like Vallejo.

I am looking at the paint companies listed earlier in the thread. I would love to use my old paints, but I stopped playing and modeling like 4 years ago so they are dead as a door nail. lol

You can much more easily strip paint off plastic models you've painted in acrylic than enamel. Actually, I'm not even sure you can strip enamel off plastic without harming the detail.

I would second Vallejo acylics. They aren't as easy to get hold of as GW paints, but you get more paint for less money.

 Velour_Fog wrote:
You can much more easily strip paint off plastic models you've painted in acrylic than enamel. Actually, I'm not even sure you can strip enamel off plastic without harming the detail.

I don't think I've ever painted a model thinking "hmmm, I should paint this in a way that is easy to strip" But then I value my time more than my money, if I spend 2+ hours painting each model I paint, I don't see me spending even more time to strip away that hard work.

But yeah, stick to acrylics for 95% of stuff. There are some techniques that are more easily achieved with enamels, they are easier to blend and easier to get a smooth solid coat, largely because they take longer to dry and also the oil base makes them spread more easily. BUT, they are a much bigger hassle to deal with, have longer drying times and you need to use chemicals that give off fumes. So unless you're actually working on a specific technique that is easier to achieve with enamels, stick to acrylics.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

 Velour_Fog wrote:
You can much more easily strip paint off plastic models you've painted in acrylic than enamel. Actually, I'm not even sure you can strip enamel off plastic without harming the detail.

I don't think I've ever painted a model thinking "hmmm, I should paint this in a way that is easy to strip"

No, neither have I, but as your skill improves you may want the option.

Thats true Velour, I found some of my old ultra's the other day and was horrified at how bad my painting skills were at that point.