Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:
No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.
If you are already a member then feel free to login now.
Alright, so, I am currently with Citadel paints. I'm sick and tired of them. I want paints that aren't overpriced, in pots that don't dry out in 30 seconds, and come in slightly larger pots so I don't have to get new ones every three days. Double with the paintbrushes, who, without fail, have split hairs no matter how nicely I treat them. I'm looking for some cheapish, yet still reliable paints for minatures, and if there's some paintbrushes you fine folks use, I'd love to know them as well.
Vallejo Model Color is a great paint range. Way cheaper, 17ml vs.12ml (citadel), good coverage, consistent throughout the whole range. DROPPER BOTTLES!
Almost every color can be a base paint. 220+ tones to chose from. The paint flows really well.
IHMO Citaldel paints are just an inferior product to Vallejo and to most other ranges.
This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2018/04/12 18:35:35
Bi'ios wrote: If you actually close the lid on the paint pot it won’t dry out.
Exactly. You take out the paint you need, put it on a palette, then close the paint pot. That shouldn't even be open for 30 seconds
Although, I agree Valejo is better. I've gotten to the point that I mix so many of the colors I use that my paint collection consists of Citadel, Valejo and various cheapo acrylics from the local hobby store. I still like Citadel for washed and bases.
-
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/04/12 15:09:06
Yeah after using citadel paints for twenty plus years I find myself in the same boat lately. I've started bugging my FLGS to begin stocking other brands.
Our INSTAR range fits your requirements perfectly, we have a large range of paints to choose from, sizes from 2ml to 100ml, cheaper than GW and Vallejo and our paints sit somewhere between the two, great coverage and useable straight from the bottle or on a wet palette.
Oh, I forgot to mention as well that they are in dropper bottles with finer tips than Vallejo bottles, Death of a Rubicist did a review on them recently, it’s worth checking out
For the paint issue, I made a free tool you can print to easily decant citadel pots into dropper bottles. Its even easier to move on when your paints are all in dropper bottles and share the same rack.
Bi'ios wrote: If you actually close the lid on the paint pot it won’t dry out.
I've got Citadel paints I've had "in stock" for a year or two that have been useless from the first second I've opened them for the first time, so it clearly isn't that simple.
We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark
The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.
The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox
Reaper has a huge line of good paints as well. Between Reaper and Vajello you don't ever need to look at other brands of paints...but Citadel does have a few advantages, like dedicated Air versions of their paints, or that GW stores are seldom sold out of the color you want when you're in the middle of a project. This may be a moot point if you have a FLGS nearby with a good range of other paint lines.
Dropper bottles have their own issues (clogs), but they are generally superior to flip tops and waste far less paint than Citadel flip tops. I think the only good use for flip tops is washes, as you use them straight from the pot most of the time.
I look forward to trying some INSTAR paints, but it's still hovering around freezing in my neighborhood, so ordering paints through the mail isn't an option yet.
Yeah some stink. But all brands of paint dry out and all brands of brushes get schwacked. Find the good products in each line and use them. Some GW paints can't be topped, e.g. Mephiston Red - what base coater...
As for the brushes, I have found it is a great investment to get hold of some superior sable brushes, but it does not solve the problem on its own. Buy some proper brush soap, or they will expire just as quickly as GW brushes. I have brushes that are five years old and still going strong, both fancy ones and GW ones. The GW ones are still good enough for most jobs, as I clean every brush after I finish painting. That saves the fancy ones for really delicate work.
Though guards may sleep and ships may lay at anchor, our foes know full well that big guns never tire.
These days I use mostly P3 (cheap, big pots, hear they're expanding the range soon too?) with Army Painter washes. The Citadel I still use are legacy colors I stocked up on before the new line pushed them out - Scorpion Green for example <3
Just dipping my toes into Vallejo, but I don't really like dropper paints (AP is teaching me) and am sort of intimidated by the size of Vallejo's multiple lines. So far I'm just picking up their versions of things Citadel doesn't make any more - Dheneb Stone + Tin Bitz to start
Oh yes. Keep the brushes clean after every use. Don't use hot water as it might comprimise the glue binding the Sable hair. Use Sable hair brushes although I hear that might be difficult in USA. My brushes are from citadel as well and are also over 3 yrs old. Im only now considering replacing my base coat brush due to heavy use.
As a UK based poster, Rosemary & co. 33 series brushes are what you want .
As to paint, if you want dropper bottles with more paint in them than GW pots, then you're really down to Vallejo, Army Painter or Scale 75 as the established brands.
If I had my time again, I'd go all in on Reaper Master Series (12ml bottles and difficult to source in the UK I find) and Scale 75 because I love their very matte finish.
As many have said above, switch to Vallejo. Both their Model Color and Game Color lines are great. I have stuck with the base paints from GW, but now Vallejo has them as well. Their washes are just as good too.
sockwithaticket wrote: As a UK based poster, Rosemary & co. 33 series brushes are what you want .
As to paint, if you want dropper bottles with more paint in them than GW pots, then you're really down to Vallejo, Army Painter or Scale 75 as the established brands.
If I had my time again, I'd go all in on Reaper Master Series (12ml bottles and difficult to source in the UK I find) and Scale 75 because I love their very matte finish.
If you're unfamiliar with these guys, give them a go. Availability can be spotty, but they're bringing fresh stock in regularly, and always have the date of the next order on the main page, so you know roughly how long a wait you're in for if you order an OOS item.
We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark
The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.
The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox
sockwithaticket wrote: As a UK based poster, Rosemary & co. 33 series brushes are what you want .
As to paint, if you want dropper bottles with more paint in them than GW pots, then you're really down to Vallejo, Army Painter or Scale 75 as the established brands.
If I had my time again, I'd go all in on Reaper Master Series (12ml bottles and difficult to source in the UK I find) and Scale 75 because I love their very matte finish.
If you're unfamiliar with these guys, give them a go. Availability can be spotty, but they're bringing fresh stock in regularly, and always have the date of the next order on the main page, so you know roughly how long a wait you're in for if you order an OOS item.
Cheers for making the effort, that's where I do get mine, but they are basically the ONLY reliable UK stockist I've found. So if they're out, then the UK's out.
I've started using Army Painter alongside my GW, and it is a noticeable difference. I've has several GW pots dry up because of not having a tight seal (I'll take the blame for a couple of those), and the thinner dropper bottles from Army Painter do make travel easier. That being said, I've found the AP paints to be thinner than GW, to the point I am putting on 4 or 5 layers when I used to only put on 2. I'm happy using both, and I prefer the GW metallics. I may try INSTAR soon as well.
feeder wrote: Frazz's mind is like a wiener dog in a rabbit warren. Dark, twisting tunnels, and full of the certainty that just around the next bend will be the quarry he seeks.
Heh. I've got 20 year old GW paint that is just as usable as it was when I bought it. The newer pots certainly don't have the staying power of the original line.
Please excuse any spelling errors. I use a tablet frequently and software keyboards are a pain!
Go with Vallejo for the bulk, but I pick and choose other ranges for other stuff. Citadel does great metallics, one thing I cannot fault them on. Every other brand has been runny or just gak, not so with Citadel metallics.
Games Workshop Delenda Est.
Users on ignore- 53.
If you break apart my or anyone else's posts line by line I will not read them.
sockwithaticket wrote: As a UK based poster, Rosemary & co. 33 series brushes are what you want .
As to paint, if you want dropper bottles with more paint in them than GW pots, then you're really down to Vallejo, Army Painter or Scale 75 as the established brands.
If I had my time again, I'd go all in on Reaper Master Series (12ml bottles and difficult to source in the UK I find) and Scale 75 because I love their very matte finish.
If you're unfamiliar with these guys, give them a go. Availability can be spotty, but they're bringing fresh stock in regularly, and always have the date of the next order on the main page, so you know roughly how long a wait you're in for if you order an OOS item.
Cheers for making the effort, that's where I do get mine, but they are basically the ONLY reliable UK stockist I've found. So if they're out, then the UK's out.
Haven't used them for Reaper stuff, but placed a couple of orders for other stuff and they're not perfectly acceptable.
We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark
The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.
The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox
I second the Vallejo / Rosemary combination. I also got a bottle of brush cleaning fluid from Rosemary that works really well; a quick dip and rinse after you finish using a brush has been keeping mine in great condition.
I’ve found that Vallejo metallics are OK, not quite as good as citadel, but perfectly serviceable, but I’ve had very mixed results with their washes. Blue is OK, if thinned ever so slightly, but their black is poor; Nuln oil is far superior.
Zed wrote: *All statements reflect my opinion at this moment. if some sort of pretty new model gets released (or if I change my mind at random) I reserve the right to jump on any bandwagon at will.
I'm still using the original Citadel line. Bought a couple Mega Paint Sets when I found out there's a new set on the way. I still have one full box.
I make liberal use of Matte Medium on a wet palette to keep the paints wet. The paints usually last a couple days before they even start to thicken.
I also use Vallejo, Minitaire and Windsor Newton oils. While the dropper bottles are convenient, the thing I don't like about them is the amount of paint that comes out each time you squeeze. It's a little harder to control the exact amount than it would be on a brush.
I've been a Vallejo convert for the past few years. Even the Air range is good for brushwork as you don't have to bother with thinning it.
Probably worthwhile investing in some mixing balls for the bottles because the paints last for years and you're going to get separation over that period of time.
I don't like the washes as much - don't get me wrong, but people seem to like the Army Painter ones so I'm thinking of getting some of those (either that or a big bottle of floor polish and DIY it!)
Brushes? W&N Series 7. Get some Masters Brush Soap and treat 'em right.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/04/13 09:26:44
I transfer my Citadel colors to dropper bottles (expect for the washes), and it solves most of the issues (not the cost, but seriously, how quickly do you empty a pot?).
Most of my paints are from Vallejo though (Game color, Model color, Model air, and Mettalics air), but GW does produce a few very nice colors, like most their golds.
I've not got much to add on paint brands that hasn't been said already (most of mine at the minute are Army Painter and Vallejo, contemplating trying a few others), but for brushes BrokenToad are very good. Great quality, and cheaper than, say, a Series 7.
Inquisitor Lord Bane wrote: I've started using Army Painter alongside my GW, and it is a noticeable difference. I've has several GW pots dry up because of not having a tight seal (I'll take the blame for a couple of those), and the thinner dropper bottles from Army Painter do make travel easier. That being said, I've found the AP paints to be thinner than GW, to the point I am putting on 4 or 5 layers when I used to only put on 2. I'm happy using both, and I prefer the GW metallics. I may try INSTAR soon as well.
Big fan of Army Painter too. Cheaper than GW paints also. The key problem with GW paints is the flip lid bottle. If they were in dropper bottles, they'd be easier to use.
You can find me in the Chicago Tiki Room, where the drinks are always strong but don't taste that way!!!
3100+
Cadre Coronal Afterglow w1;d0;l0 
