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Hi Everyone,

Not quite an update on the main paint line (Though there is news coming soon!) but something that I've been asked a lot in the past couple of months is if I can produce colours that were before the newest range of colours that we are all now familiar with as some shades are no longer available, even from alternative suppliers.

Basically yes and no.

Yes, I can replicate them and sell them for the same price as the INSTAR line.

No, because I don't have the colours. I threw mine away a long time ago (If only you could predict the future!) and also, the internet and online colour swatches are practically useless when trying to compare colours due to differences in light and whatever the monitor is set to.

Anyway, I'm more than happy to revive the old line (Foundation paint, Crystal jars, Hex jars etc) but I will need help from the community. One member has already supplied me with Scab Red that was nearing the end of its life and I plan to replicate that as soon as I have finished producing the current match to the GW base line. However, if you have any old jars or tubs that are dried, drying out, almost empty etc and you want to send them my way to get them revived into a brand new line which i'm calling "INSTAR Vintage" then by all means send me a PM and I'll give you my address details.

I appreciate that I may not be able do all colours due to availability, but if you're willing to help, I'll make sure the paint is revived so everyone can enjoy the shades that are no longer existent.

Man i wish i had a bottle of chardon granite right now.

id chuck it over seas soo fast you wouldnt know what hit ya.

Haha! I'm sure I'd definitely notice that one arrive!

But this is the reason for the Vintage line, I understand why GW stopped the previous colour range, but the fact that the colours are still popular makes me wonder why they didn't carry it out as a separate line themselves.

Do you actually need the wet paint and/or pot?
Surely you could be sent a painted plasticard or card swatch of X cm2 and scan the true colour from that?
I think that you'd fill up the chart pretty quickly that way as people could just post from anywhere relatively cheaply without giving up the very last of their treasured Bilious Green or Hobgoblin Orange.
I'd be glad to help as I have most GW paints ever made but most are in good condition and half full at least.

Although how to test consistency and coverage from a swatch? Surely you'll have the same problem with getting half dried pots?
A really important feature of the paints that people love is the coverage/consistency, not just the colour. Remember when Bleached Bone went all watery?


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Also be aware that some paint colours did change over time despite having the same name and/or pot style.
You may want to get a decent range of samples before you put anything into production or create Snakebite Leather MK 1/2/3.

Alex Kolodotschko

It's not a prerequisite for the pots, though swatches on plasticard or white craft cardboard works equally as well. When creating my own swatches for replication, I tend to do four thickish layers about 2x2cm so that the carrier material can't been seen through the paint. This makes the works so much easier!

And I get your point about having to give up pots of colour, however these colours, once they are gone, will be gone forever and I'm not privy to GW paint formulas hence why I have to create my own.

As for consistency, this is one part that I really can't replicate given that I don't have the original paints and most of them are provably dry nowadays. However as these will be based o. The same paint as the upcoming INSTAR line, the coverage is very good as well as slightly thinner than GW base paint, but slightly thicker than GW layer paint.

Out of all the testers who trialled the paint, the feedback was largely positive with coverage being fairly equal to GW paints. I feel that this Vintage line will benefit the whole community as it will bring back extremely rare colours such as the renowned Charadon Granite which is unbelievably difficult to find nowadays.

Cool.
If swatches work then I can help out.
Do you have a full list of what you have/need.
Maybe post it up here and change the text colour as you get the samples you're missing.
Are we going back into the mists of time with the white top round pots from the 9 paint sets, Monster, Creature, Space Marine, Ork and Eldar etc? I can probably dredge up a full list and a good chunk of those paints. I know that I have a BNIB Metallic set that would be a challenge for you, it probably wouldn't sell too well as it was awful stuff but a fun project for nostalgia's sake.
Charadon Granite is not that long OOP, I still have a dozen pots as I stocked up hard when that was going out but should have most of that range.

Alex Kolodotschko

Anything and everything is useful, there's no defined list as such that I have in mind, but starting with foundation and and going back through the years would be a good start. I'm currently looking at some of the old hex jars but since everything will not be available, anything you can send would be very helpful.

As for the Charadon Granite (The most asked for colour), it is strange how something that's not long OOP can be so hard to find, you can't even get hold of the old foundation paint set anymore.

And I looked absolutely everywhere on the internet, even going to other countries to find it!

Didn't realise the demand was so high.
I just bought it for personal use as it's a great colour.
I've probably missed the sweetspot for ebay prices by now though as I'd imagine people have lost hope and given up looking for it.
Give me a week or so and I'll try and dredge up as much as I can, there's a reason that the Vallejo swatch books cost silly money!

Alex Kolodotschko

Yeah, it is a little weird how that colour is no longer available or not easily obtainable.

Thanks for being part of the endeavor, it's really appreciated! I'll probably construct a list soon with all the colours that are no longer existent.

Once I get the colours replicated (Which can take a little time in itself) and produced, then they will be available at competitive prices as and when they get produced, there will be more on this later but they will be the same price as the INSTAR main line and available in the same sizes.