Best non-GW paints?

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**HinataXemnas**

Living in a small town, we don't have anywhere that sells GW paints.

So, are there any paints that would be good for painting that I could pick up at, say, Wal-Mart, or perhaps a hobby shop (not a Hobby Lobby)?

**Riquende**

Not familiar with ranges in American stores, but I would say that the best non-GW paints are a lot better than GW paints...

**Largeblastmarker**

Well, you can order online.... not sure what kinda paints a walmart has (tho they probably have decent sprayprimers).

**Polonius**

Walmart craft paints aren't bad. They tend to have lousy metallics, and reds and yellows are tough sledding.

Personally, I find Delta Ceramcote to work really well for most earthtones and dark colors. Actual artists acrylics can also fill in ranges. If you really want good metallics, you'll need to mail order them.

**piprinx**

The "craft" paint brands like plaid, apple barrel, ceramcoat, etc that you can find at Wal-Mart or places like Michaels can be hit or miss. Some thin down great and painting with them for models is no hassle, but some will have terrible pigment tearing and will leave little remnants on your model.

**Desubot**

Depends i suppose. chances are you will only have access to alcohol based testors or tamayas(at RC shops)

Its probably best to order online for basic paints. Vallejo and minitaure is available on Amazon and is free shipping with prime.

**darefsky (Flight Medic Paints)**

The crazy thing is that once you start using things like P3, Vallejo, Reaper, Army Painter, Tamiya. you wont want to go back to GW paints.

**Polonius**

darefsky wrote:
The crazy thing is that once you start using things like P3, Vallejo, Reaper, Army Painter, Tamiya. you wont want to go back to GW paints.

That's probably about 80% true. The old GW washes and foundations were top notch, if pricey. Their metallics are still among the best. I haven't played much with the new range, but I really liked a lot of what I had used in the old one. LIke a lot of their hobby stuff, it's not that its bad, its just pricey.

I think the OP is more concerned about not having access to any hobby paints though.

**Largeblastmarker**

darefsky wrote:
The crazy thing is that once you start using things like P3, Vallejo, Reaper, Army Painter, Tamiya. you wont want to go back to GW paints.

I use all of those and GW. Though they are all best for different things.

**darefsky (Flight Medic Paints)**

Polonius wrote:
darefsky wrote:
The crazy thing is that once you start using things like P3, Vallejo, Reaper, Army Painter, Tamiya. you wont want to go back to GW paints.

That's probably about 80% true. The old GW washes and foundations were top notch, if pricey. Their metallics are still among the best. I haven't played much with the new range, but I really liked a lot of what I had used in the old one. LIke a lot of their hobby stuff, it's not that its bad, its just pricey.

I think the OP is more concerned about not having access to any hobby paints though.

Right on. I was talking more so if you are gonna have to order online, might as well broaden your horizons.

**HinataXemnas**

Unfortunately, I don't have many opportunities to order online, either, otherwise I would probably just stick to GW paints. And another question; what brand would be best for a yellow paint? Apple Barrel has never really worked for me on this, any other suggestions?

**darefsky (Flight Medic Paints)**

Yellow is more about what you put under it first.