Paints

Ok, so I am thinking I will be heading out to find some paints. I know, everyone uses Vallejo and GW paints, but I am wondering something. Are there any other paints that would work for mini's? I was thinking Hobby Lobby or Michaels might have a host of paints, but not sure what to look for. Any ideas?

PitFighterTrainer wrote:

Ok, so I am thinking I will be heading out to find some paints. I know, everyone uses Vallejo and GW paints, but I am wondering something. Are there any other paints that would work for mini's? I was thinking Hobby Lobby or Michaels might have a host of paints, but not sure what to look for. Any ideas?

I knew a guy that ONLY used the Apple Barrel (Think that is the brand name) type paints that you get from those craft stores. He used to swear by them, and actually got pretty good with them. I think he started using them because they are SUPER cheap. I personally use them for all my buildings for the same "cheap" reason.

For a little bit I used a brand called Liquitex http://www.liquitex.com/Products/paintmedvisartcol.cfm, its an artists acryllic with a very nice large paint range, and quite easily adapted to airbrushes. They aren't cheap, but not quite as expensive. They have a pretty good pigment to them so they take thinning well, and the pots are about double what you would get with Vallejo. You can even find these in the art section of some frame stores like Arron Brothers etc.

I have personally found that some colors in some ranges are better than others, and it never hurts to test out new products. Some products will cater to different styles and techniques better than others.

Hope that helps.

I use Americana & Folk Art paints; both are readily available from Michael's. They REALLY are quite good paints, which I've found to be superior to GW's stuff AND they're 1/8 the price. COOL, huh!?

the P3 pigments from Privateer Press are rather nice, aswell.

Most of the time I use a cheaper but good quality acrilic paint found in art stores (No use giving brand names here, as these i believe are local to Mexico), with pretty good results.

Sometimes I paint the basic "block" colors with these cheap paints, and the final coats with Vallejo or GW (admitedly, they have some very attractive colors, not available with chaep paints).

I usually change all my paints to droppers (like Vallejo) as I find them very useful, but that's a metter of taste. You hate or love droppers.

Hope that helps.