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Hey everyone. I'm getting back into 40k and have a confession: I'm a broke college kid who can only afford cheap acrylics. Because all of his money went to buying the models.
is it possible to achieve good results without using an expensive acrylic?

Thanks
austin

Yep. You should be able to paint up units with different paints from P3, vallejo paints etc.

 Inkubas wrote:
Yep. You should be able to paint up units with different paints from P3, vallejo paints etc.

These are both cheaper and (imo) better than Gw paints.

As long as you don't buy the 49cent craftsman from Michael's

You don't have to blame yourself for not being able to buy GW paints. They sure are good products but they are way too pricey for what they are.

Vallejo is a very good match, especially because their packaging make them more durable. Personnally, I use Tamiya colors and Mr Hobby, both acrylics. They are well priced and stand very high in quality, IMO.

Can you get revell paints in the states? They are cheap and decent, and although it's mostly military colours, you can pick up a decent amount of core colours.

Yup, most other ranges are cheaper per-pot than GW. I'd also recommend looking at The Miniature Painter and Coat d'Arms.

Coat d'Arms used to make the original range of GW paints so their colours are all very familiar and pretty good.

I'd also recommend checking the amounts you get for the price. GW paints are 12ml, but Vallejo are cheaper and 17ml, and Mr Hobby are only 10ml...

Army painter is also great. Their starter set is ~$25 and gets you a lot of core colors + a wash

As said, Vallejo are great quality.

For washes, look for Army Painter.

There are a couple of paints where the GW one is indisputably better and worth paying for, especially Rekland Fleshshade and the sepia (the AP soft tone is similar but distinctly darker).

The place to find all the equivalents is here:

Paint Range Compatibility chart/

Army painter do great Wash's, highly recommend them.

I would like to know where someone would get alternate (non gw)paints for khorne themed units

And get some glaze medium/medium glaze to help thin paints and do your own washes. Love that stuff.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Scorpionov wrote:
I would like to know where someone would get alternate (non gw)paints for khorne themed units

There's a paint comparison chart within the depths of Dakka that'll help.
Edit #1: Link a few posts above.

ok thanks have an exalt

Non-Citadel paints will eventually melt GW plastic, so I'd advise against that.

Evidence of that?

-DE- wrote:Non-Citadel paints will eventually melt GW plastic, so I'd advise against that.

ShaneTB wrote:Evidence of that?

Read his post again and have a think about it ShaneTB

Umm proof of that?

Well. Coffee time.

ShaneTB wrote:
Evidence of that?

Jokes on the internet. the horror.

I'm one of the millions who did get told off for painting one mini with a non-GW paint in store. The official line is "we can't guarantee the results." I thought the implication was more spontaneous combustion.

OP, bear in mind that some rival manufacturers, ie Coat D'Arms actually produced GW paints in the past; other people, like Army Painter, use some of the factories that produced previous GW ranges. Their dark tone is a direct equivalent of GW's much-missed Badab Black wash, and actually seems better than the current GW black wash. The AP gunmetal is exactly the same as the old GW boltgun metal, and is a fantastic paint.

(I still like a lot of GW paints but i'm lucky enough to live near a store that gives discount).

sangheili wrote:
As long as you don't buy the 49cent craftsman from Michael's

I did this out of curiosity recently. There was almost no pigment in the dang bottle.

Vallejo has my loyalty currently. The dropper bottles make mixing to find new colors very reproducible and also prevent paint drying in the bottle (at the cost of occasionally plugging the spout, but that's easy to fix). The only issue is that it rubs off/strips easily but I fix that with a layer of varnish.

You can get thinner media for acrylics but I just use tap water.

i have painted plenty with the .49 stuff from Hobby Lobby .. you just have to be cautious when watering it down ... to much will require a second or third coat .. and try to not handle the model directly to much till you can get a clearcoat on it.

 Redbad wrote:
Hey everyone. I'm getting back into 40k and have a confession: I'm a broke college kid who can only afford cheap acrylics. Because all of his money went to buying the models.
is it possible to achieve good results without using an expensive acrylic?

Thanks
austin

All depends on your level of "good." Liquitex Basics are great for my purposes:

Do you thin your liquitex paints?

Thanks
austin

these were painted with the .49 paints from HL

SilenzZzz, what brand?
Dahler Rowney?

Thanks
austin

these are the main brands i have bought.

You have yielded some nice results!

How did you do the flesh?

Thanks
austin

from the Anita's brand they have a flesh color selection ... i just found one that was a bit to pink .. then drybrushed a little white on top of it.

 Redbad wrote:
Do you thin your liquitex paints?

Thanks
austin

I do not. Use them straight out of the tube.

For washes, I use acrylic ink, usually a 50/50 water/ink mix.

 Redbad wrote:
Hey everyone. I'm getting back into 40k and have a confession: I'm a broke college kid who can only afford cheap acrylics. Because all of his money went to buying the models.
is it possible to achieve good results without using an expensive acrylic?

Thanks
austin

GW paints are of middling quality. They're overpriced in what is, essentially, a very competitive market. You can find superior quality for a cheaper price, especially on ebay. Vallejo, Tamiya and Coat D'Arms are my go-to's at the moment. Though I do want to try Scale75, Minitaire and Army Painter at some point soon.

These are my Forgeworld 30k Alpha Legionaires. Not a drop of GW paint on them:




I recommend Googling all brands that people list in this thread, price them up, read the odd review and get a few colours to use as testers to try the brands out.