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I have been basing my models using Krylon spray paint of whatever color I happen to want to base with. Now, for colors. I have been using a mixture of citadel paints and Folk Art walmart paints. Anyone have an opinion on Testors? I used it extensively on model railroads when I was younger. Just curious about peoples experiences with it in 40k mini painting.

Testors paints are all terrible for what we do. Enamel will never strip, and the others are too thick to be much use. They are also sold in what is possibly the smallest size pots that Testors could find.

If you are looking for better paints, Vallejo is my preferred brand. The price per ml of paint is the best around and their selection is massive.

Are they the ones that make that liquid smoke stuff? Or was that Tamiya? Something starting with T I think. Anyway other than that I can't think of any reason to give them money.

Enamels are alright I guess, but it's easier to stick with acrylics as anything that'd strip the enamel would also dissolve the plastic. Not to mention my experience with them has been somewhat annoying...

 n0t_u wrote:
Are they the ones that make that liquid smoke stuff? Or was that Tamiya? Something starting with T I think. Anyway other than that I can't think of any reason to give them money.

Enamels are alright I guess, but it's easier to stick with acrylics as anything that'd strip the enamel would also dissolve the plastic. Not to mention my experience with them has been somewhat annoying...

Tamiya makes the liquid smoke, and iirc they do have acrylics.

Another thing worth mentioning is that pretty much any tutorial out there will be done using GW or Vallejo paints for the majority of the work. There are also comparison charts that show the color names across each range and what they are in other ranges.

Definately stick with Acrylics.

Vallejo is fantastic.

Cheap craft acrylics are great as well if used properly (there are a lot of tutorials on how to use them well, most involving flow aids and matte medium).

Testors enamels I would not touch with a 10 foot pole ever again. They just don't have the right consistancy, or value for your money IMO. Even most of the old-school model builders I know have switched away from enamels and over to acrylics.

If you want cheap paint, try Delta's Ceramcoat line of paint. It's not the best, but so long as you get paint labelled "Opaque" and not "Semi-Opaque" or "Transparent" it's almost indistinguishable from the best. It's so much better than Wal-Mart folk art paint. Just thin it down some, use at least 2 thin coats, and you can get that smooth look very easily that Wal-Mart paints just have a hard time with.

Krylon is great for primer. I go for the "Paint + Primer" in the Flat Black color myself, and it is absolutely fantastic that covers excellently and goes on incredibly thin (so long as the can is sufficiently far away from the surface and you're careful). It even works on metals so long as you wash the metal beforehand to remove residue.

I pretty much Vallejo for all my commission and personal work. The only Tamiya paints I use are Clear Red (gives the best looking blood spatter you'll ever see once dry) and the other clear paints, all of which dry semi-opaque are an fantastic for use on viewscreens and the like.

I despise GW paints. Even the new ones are poor quality and over-priced. Better than the old ones, admittedly, but not by much.

Also, you won't find better metallic paints than those produced for the Vallejo Model Air paint range.

Per ml, you're paying almost twice as much for GW paints as you are for Vallejo. Much better paints and much better value for money all at the same time.

Where can I get vallejo? and how good is GW compared to other paints?

 Rysgame wrote:
Where can I get vallejo? and how good is GW compared to other paints?

Your first place to look for anything hobby related is your local independent hobby stores. They are how people young and old, new and veteran keep the hobby thriving. There is nothing wrong with shopping at brick and mortar Games Workshop stores, but I believe you should always support the independent stores first. Most indie stores stock a wide range of miniatures from multiple companies and hobby supplies, including paint and such. If an indie store does not stock a particular brand of paint or miniature, ask if they will order them. If that does work, you can always try the internet, but I would recommend using it as a last resort or for items that are extremely hard to come by (stuff from other countries, out of production items, etc.).

As far as the quality of GW paints compared to other brands, it has been covered to death on this forum so I won't go in to detail about it here. As a matter of fact, I remember responding to a question you had about paints a couple of months ago and I gave a run down on some of the more common brands. Bottom line, any of the big name brands (P3, Vallejo, Reaper, and GW) are all fine paints and I would recommend using any and all of them. In my opinion it is good to have a wide assortment of paints available, no matter what the manufacturer is.

Online, one of the best places to get Vallejo paints is thewarstore.com. You probably want to look initially at the Game Color line, but take a look at the metallics from the Model Air line. Yes, they are meant for aibrushes, but they go on with a brush as well and the metallics are top notch.

They have a full line of spray primers and varnishes too.

If you really get into it, take a look at Vallejo's Liquid Gold series. They are the best golds, silver and copper paint around. Take some getting used to since they are alcohol based, but they are exceptional.

One thing I used testors enamels for was their gloss red. And then only to pick out some details (and paint up some bloody gibs)

I had some ral partha paints, but they wore off with only minor use, even on primerd and sealed minis.

But all that was years ago. I've been using GW paints for a long time now. They might not be the best, or cheapest, but I can pick them up easy at my FLGS.

My opinion on testors is that the enamels are not worth the trouble. But testors does make some decent acrylics that can be used with any of the other majors paint producers.

The Folk Art paints are alright. I use them personally and would say they are a B- paint but good to use because of cheapness and good color range.

The best are as others have said vallejo, reaper, and gw. Also I would throw my support to the P3 paints. They have some great colors and in my opinion have a really good formula for their paints.

My two cents -Fire-

Testors are awful. They take about a day or two to dry and have a disgusting, thick, enamel finish. Krylon is a terrible spray paint for minis. Rustoleum spray is great. They have a double coverage flat black primer that I use for all my minis. If you want cheap paint, folk art is okay. I personally use Vallejo, GW, and Army Painter. Army Painter is great but a bit thin.


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 FirePainter wrote:
My opinion on testors is that the enamels are not worth the trouble. But testors does make some decent acrylics that can be used with any of the other majors paint producers.

The Folk Art paints are alright. I use them personally and would say they are a B- paint but good to use because of cheapness and good color range.

I'll have to try the testors acrylics, never heard of them. Also folk art does work good if you want cheap. Just not on metal, yikes!

Vallejo all the way.

Worth every single penny.

Col Sgt Kell, you really DON'T want to try the Testors. They're thin, inconsistant, fairly toxic in comparison to other paints and they reek to high heaven of petroleum.

P3 paints do have an excellent formula. Unlike most paints, it take's forever for the pigments to separate from the medium, giving a good uniform consistency of colour and viscosity for longer than any other paint line I know of.

Still prefer Vallejo though.