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2022/09/03 05:18:55
Subject: Your favourite good coverage off white (and maybe off black too)
I'm looking for an off white for details that you want to read as white but pure white would be too stark.
I say "high coverage" because, yeah, I'm thinking specifically in terms of small details that where you don't want to use the method of either priming white to begin with (which is what I'll do if the model is predominantly white) nor do want to have to build up 20 layers to create a good effect because it's only something small like the dude's belt buckle or something like that.
Specifically at the moment I'm painting ultramarines symbols on Epic 40k scale models, so it'd be great to have something I can just use out of the pot, lay down as few layers as possible, maaaybe give an edge highlight of pure white then call it done.
Do you have a favourite paint that you reach for when you want an off white?
Personally, for pure white, I really like Morrow White from P3, good coverage, pretty easy to paint smooth, but if I wanted an off white I'd have to mix it with something.
I guess it'd also be good to know what people like as an off black for the same purpose, when you have small black details that don't warrant spending a lot of time on and don't make up a large portion of the model. I know of Tamiya rubber black which is really popular among scale modellers when they want something to read as black without using pure black, but that's an alcohol based paint so not something you'd want to use on wargaming miniatures.
2022/09/03 09:35:21
Subject: Your favourite good coverage off white (and maybe off black too)
Thinking about it more, I guess there's going to be varying answers depending on what is trying to be achieved. I grabbed a Vallejo Deck Tan and Grey Seer to try out for now, Deck Tan being a bone that is more on the cool side, Grey Seer is kind of neutral. Ulthuan Grey is one I used in the past and is a cold blue-grey, but my bottle of it is a bit worse for wear now.
I did notice while at the hobby shop that Vallejo Model Colour has a few almost-whites, and VMC is usually good coverage, didn't want to pick up too many options though as most would inevitably sit in my drawer unused, lol.
Heftruck wrote: If it's specifically for painting small details I would look at using a heavy body acrylic.
Any specific recommendations on brands / lines / specific colours?
I've been wanting to try heavy body acrylics but kind of don't know where to start.
2022/09/05 03:53:30
Subject: Your favourite good coverage off white (and maybe off black too)
Reaper master series Polish bone (creamy white)
Reaper master series Misty Gray (Gray white) <- best true not white, white.
Reaper master series Linen white (Yellow white)
Reaper master series snow drift white. (Blue white)
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/09/06 16:41:13
To many unpainted models to count.
2022/09/18 12:49:45
Subject: Your favourite good coverage off white (and maybe off black too)
Thought I'd give an update as I bought a few options and had a play...
Pro Acryl Bright Warm Grey: As it says on the packet, it's a warm off white. Has a slightly greenish-yellow tone to it, pretty smooth out of the pot and over my dark blue ultramarines gave a good solid colour in 3 coats.
Vallejo Deck Tan (recommended by queen annes revenge): Almost an identical colour to the Pro Acryl Bright Warm Grey, but it's a bit thicker and needs a bit of thinning, but it's more opaque and it gives a good solid colour in 2 coats (almost in 1).
Grey Seer (recommended by Toofast): More on the neutralish greyish side, but I don't think it's a fully neutral grey, still a bit warm. My pot came very separated and took a lot of shaking and mixing, but after that it worked pretty well, solid in 2 to 3 coats. Past experience with Citadel greys/whites and their pots makes me worry that'll go off over time, we'll see I guess.
Vallejo Grey White: A little bit harder to work with than the others, mine was very thick out of the pot and has the typical white paint problem of drying quickly and if you're not careful a bit clumpy. BUT, to my eye it reads as white better than the others. The others read as either grey or beige, but this one reads as white without being pure white. It was pretty good after 2 coats but a 3rd helped.
So, depends how you want to use it I guess. In some ways I think Insectum might have the best idea of starting with a pure white and then washing warm/cold/grey as you like, but for really fine details it's nice to have something that can just be thrown on and highlighted without too much effort.
Reaper master series Polish bone (creamy white)
Reaper master series Misty Gray (Gray white) <- best true not white, white.
Reaper master series Linen white (Yellow white)
Reaper master series snow drift white. (Blue white)
I'll have to give some Reapers a try, Reaper is a bit harder to find around these parts and I had a bad experience with my last batch of Reaper where the pots were all very badly clogged and difficult to unclog. But the paints themselves worked fine.
This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2022/09/18 13:23:45
2022/09/18 19:09:04
Subject: Your favourite good coverage off white (and maybe off black too)
FW white acrylic ink is my go to white paint, it’s ace, look up examples on YouTube, much better than any acrylic paint I’ve tried. I think, if I wanted an off white, I would just add a dab of what ever shade I wanted to that. But I haven’t tried this
2022/09/18 21:11:40
Subject: Your favourite good coverage off white (and maybe off black too)
Another vote here for Grey Seer. I resisted it for a long time as in the pot it looked to much like a pure grey. However it covers amzingly over dark colours and looks a wonderful off white.
2022/09/19 00:05:51
Subject: Your favourite good coverage off white (and maybe off black too)
AllSeeingSkink wrote: Thought I'd give an update as I bought a few options and had a play...
Pro Acryl Bright Warm Grey: As it says on the packet, it's a warm off white. Has a slightly greenish-yellow tone to it, pretty smooth out of the pot and over my dark blue ultramarines gave a good solid colour in 3 coats.
Vallejo Deck Tan (recommended by queen annes revenge): Almost an identical colour to the Pro Acryl Bright Warm Grey, but it's a bit thicker and needs a bit of thinning, but it's more opaque and it gives a good solid colour in 2 coats (almost in 1).
Grey Seer (recommended by Toofast): More on the neutralish greyish side, but I don't think it's a fully neutral grey, still a bit warm. My pot came very separated and took a lot of shaking and mixing, but after that it worked pretty well, solid in 2 to 3 coats. Past experience with Citadel greys/whites and their pots makes me worry that'll go off over time, we'll see I guess.
Vallejo Grey White: A little bit harder to work with than the others, mine was very thick out of the pot and has the typical white paint problem of drying quickly and if you're not careful a bit clumpy. BUT, to my eye it reads as white better than the others. The others read as either grey or beige, but this one reads as white without being pure white. It was pretty good after 2 coats but a 3rd helped.
So, depends how you want to use it I guess. In some ways I think Insectum might have the best idea of starting with a pure white and then washing warm/cold/grey as you like, but for really fine details it's nice to have something that can just be thrown on and highlighted without too much effort.
Reaper master series Polish bone (creamy white)
Reaper master series Misty Gray (Gray white) <- best true not white, white.
Reaper master series Linen white (Yellow white)
Reaper master series snow drift white. (Blue white)
I'll have to give some Reapers a try, Reaper is a bit harder to find around these parts and I had a bad experience with my last batch of Reaper where the pots were all very badly clogged and difficult to unclog. But the paints themselves worked fine.
Honestly dropper bottles clogging up is nothing really new. For some reason they have this bizarre plastic space piece just under the nozzel of the dopper bottle on the inside. If you take one of the dropper tips off and soak it in like rubbing alcohol and clean it up you will see what i mean.
Just either clean that up, and cut it out, or just have a paper clip handy to punch a bigger hold through the dropper bottle. I know exactly what you are talking about and yeah its a weird thing that Reaper has. Great paints though IMO some of the best.
Heresy World Eaters/Emperors Children 
Cadre Coronal Afterglow w1;d0;l0 
