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Hi all,

Brand new to painting. Used to play a bit of 40K about 20 years ago and just now trying to get into it now that I live near a shop. I'm having some trouble with some color going on really badly. Others go on just fine, not sure why. I'm priming the models though I haven't been cleaning them beforehand. I thin plenty I think.

I've put 3 attachments on here showing 1, 3, 5 coats of orange. I have no idea how much time you're supposed to wait before coats. For all the guides I've read, I've never seen anyone say anything about it. I've painted with reds, blues, blacks, greys and they don't smear all over the place like this. I've had the same smearing issue with whites and yellows. Is this something that bright colors just do or something to do with rounded surfaces on these models (I had similar issues with SM shoulders)? I had to put on like 10 coats of while to get it solid on a few models and then it don't look clean at all. I'm a bit at a loss. I'd like to figure out what I'm doing wrong before I paint my Admec boys this orange color. Am I just looking at doing 10 coats of this?

I've used the Citadel paint and Valleio paints to about the same success. The Citadels seem a bit better thicker.

White, Red, Yellow (and Orange)...these are colours that generall suck ass to paint. The brighter, the tougher they are to paint.

I can't explain why that well, it's just experience. What you can try to do is find a colour with better pigment as a base, something like an Ochre, etc. Find a base which is closer to orange but covers well - then try a couple light coats of orange on top? Not sure.

There is a reason you rarely see Orange miniatures. If you can find a quality orange spray it might be the way to go.

there are tips on youtube for painting lighter colors, to using different under coats like Elbows said. I usually do multiple coats.
I like Lukes AP for beginner and Kujo painting for advanced skills

Yellow and orange are kinda difficult colors to paint, especially if your basecoat isn't a close enough match to compliment the colors. If you are a newbie I strongly suggest picking an easier color.

However if you're set on orange, I suggest you try priming with Averland Sunset. It's a rich yellow that might make layering the orange a bit easier. If you can find an actual orange primer then that's even better.

With yellow I've had some good success priming white and using just shades and glazes: White undercoat, Cassandora Yellow shade and a couple coats of Lamenter's Yellow glaze. That will give you a good solid yellow coverage. For orange I might try: white undercoat, Fuegan Orange shade, Lamenter's Yellow glaze and if it looks too yellow you can tint it towards orange with a coat of Bloodletter red glaze. HTH!

Bone as a base is the best way I've found to do a good clean yellow.

for yellow i use a bone or light yellow-tan (sand,desert,etc).

For orange any flesh tone or ocher will work as as a base. Never found a straight yellow or orange that worked (other than a rattle can, even the they can be dubious).