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I understand the pros use something beginning with V as opposed to Citadel. Is that right? What about undercoats? Looking to paint some miniatures
Best paints for Games Workshop
- Thread starter Chimp Paradox
- Start date
Commissario
Vallejo?
I wouldn't so much say pro's, as people who have branched out (I'm anything but a pro and use them a bit).
I, and most of the people I play with tend to use a varying mix of paints depending on what we're doing and the colours we want, for example Vallejo game and model (air and hairy brush variants) to give some alternative/cheaper/different paints than GW*.
Vallejo model colour for example are great if you want a more "realistic" colour scheme as it's a range intended for military/scale modellers (whilst game colour is their wargame/fantasy themed range). My one big issue with Vallejo non airbrush paints is that they can be really thick and goopy, at least the game colour range, and as as a minor issue because they're in dropper bottles you can't just dip the brush in.
Coat d'arms paints are from memory the company who used to supply GW about 15 years ago and still make many of the old paints under their own name, so it's possible to get some of the old GW colours from them effectively (handy if you want/need to colour match some of them).
P3 are another paint maker who make some good paints.
As for undercoats we tend to use Hallfords black primer for metals and resin, and increasingly are using Vallejo model/game air primers for plastics, as you run them through an airbrush and can get better coverage in tricky spots (as you can get in close and control the amount coming out), it's cheaper in the long run (a 200ml bottle goes a very very long way), and they come in about 20+ different colours (black, grey, white, reddish, red, brown, greens, sandy, blue)..
*And paints that don't get phased out after about 3-5 years without warning.
I wouldn't so much say pro's, as people who have branched out (I'm anything but a pro and use them a bit).
I, and most of the people I play with tend to use a varying mix of paints depending on what we're doing and the colours we want, for example Vallejo game and model (air and hairy brush variants) to give some alternative/cheaper/different paints than GW*.
Vallejo model colour for example are great if you want a more "realistic" colour scheme as it's a range intended for military/scale modellers (whilst game colour is their wargame/fantasy themed range). My one big issue with Vallejo non airbrush paints is that they can be really thick and goopy, at least the game colour range, and as as a minor issue because they're in dropper bottles you can't just dip the brush in.
Coat d'arms paints are from memory the company who used to supply GW about 15 years ago and still make many of the old paints under their own name, so it's possible to get some of the old GW colours from them effectively (handy if you want/need to colour match some of them).
P3 are another paint maker who make some good paints.
As for undercoats we tend to use Hallfords black primer for metals and resin, and increasingly are using Vallejo model/game air primers for plastics, as you run them through an airbrush and can get better coverage in tricky spots (as you can get in close and control the amount coming out), it's cheaper in the long run (a 200ml bottle goes a very very long way), and they come in about 20+ different colours (black, grey, white, reddish, red, brown, greens, sandy, blue)..
*And paints that don't get phased out after about 3-5 years without warning.
Associate
I use a mixture of Citadel, Vallejo, Coat d'Arms and Army Painter.
To me the quality of the paints are all fairly the same. I don't notice any particular brand being that much different.
I would say the majority of my base colours are all Army Painter, washes are Citadel and Vallejo. I actually really like the texture paints that Citadel do now, I use those for basing.
To me the quality of the paints are all fairly the same. I don't notice any particular brand being that much different.
I would say the majority of my base colours are all Army Painter, washes are Citadel and Vallejo. I actually really like the texture paints that Citadel do now, I use those for basing.
Soldato
What consistency should they be. I was advisedva milky consistency but they just don't stick in my experience
- Joined
- 17 Sep 2014
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Cool, the all. What airbrush should I get? Sounds mandatory for a great undercoat
Associate
I also mix all my paints with flow improver before I layer them onto the model. Works a treat.
Commissario
If you're not already using a proper thinner, try something like Vallejo acrylic thinner (they do two types, you want the clear one), as thinning paints with water tends to lose a lot of the stick, whilst the proper thinners retain the stick.
If your budget will stretch for it, something like a Harder and Steenbeck Ultra (their entry level brush at about £60), and a small compressor with a tank (about £60+).
Although you can get sets with a cheap brush or two and a compressor with tank for £80+.
Allow for the fact you will bend the needle* from time to time, especially if you're tired/learning, so make sure you can get spares for whatever brush you go with.
As I said in another thread I spent about £400 on my main airbrush and compressor, but it's probably saved me a small fortune on undercoat, and has saved me a lot of time (which is probably the bigger issue for me).
I'm looking at primarily using the airbrush to do my Kroot hounds when I get around to them again, as last time I tried it was a nightmare with a hand brush (this time I'm going to try and use the air brush for everything bar some highlights, teeth/eyes and a wash)..
*We've bent two in about 30 hours of airbrushing over the last couple of months, mainly I think due to being too tired when cleaning it (a slightly painfull thing given the needles are about a tenner each for the ultra)
- Joined
- 17 Sep 2014
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Who is we?
(Thanks by the way)
(Thanks by the way)
Commissario
Sorry, "we" in this instance is myself and my brother, as we've been doing a realm of battle table together with a friend, using the airbrush for large areas 
(and a mix of different paints).
(and a mix of different paints).
- Joined
- 17 Sep 2014
- Posts
- 544
Cool, makes sense, thanks for all your advice guys
Associate
im using abit of everything! whatever has good reviews at a decent price.
Commissario
I was trying to work out the new names/versions of the paints I used for my Tau earlier, and remembered there was a useful paint equivalent chart on dakka dakka that shows the old GW, new GW and the likes of Vallejo, P3, Rackham etc.
They're not 100% matches but usually pretty close.
They're not 100% matches but usually pretty close.
Caporegime
I use mostly GW, I've got a few Vallejo but tbh I don't like them. They seem to require a ridiculous amount of shaking to mix and they settle really quickly. I've got a couple of P3 paints and I've been very impressed by them so I might get some more.