Paint Recommendations When Starting from Scratch

[Ryno]

Having been away a long time, I no longer have the paints collection I used to. I need to acquire new things, but as I'm starting from scratch I'm evaluating non-GW options. I've seen a lot of great stuff about the new Army Painter Fanatic range, and I'm leaning that direction, but it's not really available, yet. Also I don't really want to shell out many hundreds for the full set when I know I don't need all of it, but there's no telling when the singles and other combos will be released.

I'm particularly interested in the Fanatic lineup because of the dual triad colour system and real colour names—features which I consider to be almost mandatory for me because I'm colour blind.

 

Are there any other non-GW paint systems that people recommend, which use real colour names and potentially have a similar triadic system?

 

 

My current best thought is to just grab the few paints and colours I know I need now, and wait for the full Fanatic release to replace and expand, but I'm not sure. There's a bit of an investment to be made, and I'd like to not waste any money if I don't have to.

[Firedrake Cordova]

The Pro Acryl range has "real" colour names, and seems to be well-reviewed. I've never used them, so can't comment, but I know a few members on here do.

 

Vallejo re-formulated their Game Colour line last year, which is arranged into triads in their brochure. The paints are very matte, and the ones I've tried have excellent coverage (Sun Yellow and Bloody Red). They do, however, have "themed" names.

 

Duncan Rhodes' Two Thin Coats line seems to be getting good reviews, and are arranged in triads, but (again) have the "themed" names. I know a few members have tried them and like them.  

Edited February 28 by Firedrake Cordova

[andes]

It's hard to make a confident suggestion given the color-blind-friendly constraint. I've no frame of reference for that. That being said, I recently switched from Vallejo to AK paints. They have a wide range of colors largely 'inspired' by Vallejo's range. They're very consistent in color and texture (I switched from Vallejo as I didn't like the variability I was seeing in them, specifically around texture) and for the most part, the range is solid. I recommend them.

 

I've started picking up a few Pro Acryl colors and like what I've seen so far. They're a bit thinner, but cover quite well. Their Bold Titanium White is a miracle... covers amazingly well. I also like the sriracha style caps; normal dropper tips clog up, and if you use a pin to clear them you end up pushing paint boogers into the bottle when they might cause airbrush clogs farther down the line.

 

I'm wary about Army Painter. I've heard good things about the new Fanatic line, but my past experience with their product and their ongoing Domino's style re-re-reformulations ("No, it's really good this time. Really.") doesn't fill me with confidence. Happy to be proven wrong though.

 

I think picking up a few paints from each line and seeing what works for you is a great approach.

Edited February 28 by andes
clarity

[Firedrake Cordova]

1 hour ago, andes said:

I switched from Vallejo as I didn't like the variability I was seeing in them, specifically around texture

Out of curiosity, are you referring to the old Game Colour range, or the re-formulated one? The old formulation definitely had some variability, but the new formulation is supposed to be more consistent (I've only got 6 from the new range, which is not enough to be able to form a conclusion with any conviction).

Edited February 28 by Firedrake Cordova

[andes]

14 minutes ago, Firedrake Cordova said:

Out of curiosity, are you referring to the old Game Colour range, or the re-formulated one?

 

The Model Color range specifically. I've got a couple of Game Color colors I rely on for specific bits of armies that I've replenished from the new VGC line and they're lovely.

[Ryno]

2 hours ago, Firedrake Cordova said:

The Pro Acryl range has "real" colour names, and seems to be well-reviewed. I've never used them, so can't comment, but I know a few members on here do.

 

Vallejo re-formulated their Game Colour line last year, which is arranged into triads in their brochure. The paints are very matte, and the ones I've tried have excellent coverage (Sun Yellow and Bloody Red). They do, however, have "themed" names.

 

Duncan Rhodes' Two Thin Coats line seems to be getting good reviews, and are arranged in triads, but (again) have the "themed" names. I know a few members have tried them and like them.  

 

Thanks! 

I've heard good things about Pro Acryl as well, but I didn't realize they used "real" names, so I'll take a look into that!

I've heard the Two Thin Coats paints aren't true triads; as in there may be a light, medium and dark of a colour, but they're not the same hue, so they don't quite work together in the way you'd expect. Again, though, I can't personally tell so it might be a non issue? It's hard to know what information is current sometimes, too!

 

2 hours ago, andes said:

It's hard to make a confident suggestion given the color-blind-friendly constraint. I've no frame of reference for that. That being said, I recently switched from Vallejo to AK paints. They have a wide range of colors largely 'inspired' by Vallejo's range. They're very consistent in color and texture (I switched from Vallejo as I didn't like the variability I was seeing in them, specifically around texture) and for the most part, the range is solid. I recommend them.

 

I've started picking up a few Pro Acryl colors and like what I've seen so far. They're a bit thinner, but cover quite well. Their Bold Titanium White is a miracle... covers amazingly well. I also like the sriracha style caps; normal dropper tips clog up, and if you use a pin to clear them you end up pushing paint boogers into the bottle when they might cause airbrush clogs farther down the line.

 

I'm wary about Army Painter. I've heard good things about the new Fanatic line, but my past experience with their product and their ongoing Domino's style re-re-reformulations ("No, it's really good this time. Really.") doesn't fill me with confidence. Happy to be proven wrong though.

 

I think picking up a few paints from each line and seeing what works for you is a great approach.

 

I think for me, real names and true colour triads are the ticket to help keep me using the right colours, so as long as a line has some indication of proper triads and any non-primary colours have some form of true colour indicator somewhere (even an unofficial online list) I think I'll be able to manage with confidence. Without those, I'd have to rely on others' 'recipes' for painting, which can put some limitations in place, sadly.

Re: Army Painter, yeah I gather their range historically has left a lot to be desired, but what I'm hearing about the upcoming Fanatic line is very promising. Timing just isn't quite on my side on this occasion! 

 

 

 

 

Thanks again, all! I'll take a closer look at the Pro Acryl lines, they sound like the front runner currently.

[andes]

@Ryno Monument Hobby seems like a cool company; I'll bet if you reach out to them they'll be able to suggest some pairs or triads within their lines. Those, combined with a couple of common mixers (payne's grey for shadows and whatever their versions of sunny skintone, ice yellow, pale sand are for highlights) might go a long way for you.

[Ryno]

Great thought @andes! I've just sent them a message. Glad I checked back here, as I was just about to order a TTC Wave 1 box set from a UK shop (I'm in Canada, only found singles here). I'll see what the Monument Team gets back to me with before I pull the trigger on anything.  :)

[Grotsmasha]

Two Thin Coats is currently running a third Kickstarter, and are offering all three releases, I know you said you don't need the whole set, but any one of the three would be a great starting point for not a significant investment.

[Ryno]

I did actually look at it, but expected ship date isn't until September. Not keen to wait that long! :) 

[Firedrake Cordova]

 

9 hours ago, Ryno said:

I've heard the Two Thin Coats paints aren't true triads; as in there may be a light, medium and dark of a colour, but they're not the same hue

I've not heard that, but I also haven't been paying close attention - I have enough paints already! I just know the range is based around base-shade-highlight.  

[sarabando]

I cannot recomment TT combats paints highly enough they are fantastic, i painted yellow over dark blue with a smooth coat in just 2-3 coats. 

 

https://youtu.be/i3DhZS3MMsI?si=cBc7zz6BX2LCFm9l

[Ryno]

Thanks for your input, everyone! With a little help from Jordan at Monument Games, I've just placed an order for most of the colours I'll need to get started in the Pro Acryl line :)

 

Now I just need to work out a suitable mobile setup so I'm not reliant on the limited time I have at a friend's place, to work on stuff at home. The wife and I are in a one bedroom apartment with two large dogs and a cat, and my office is technically in the living room, so I need to make sure I can easily stash stuff away from furry paws :)

[Firedrake Cordova]

It's good to see Monument were responsive to your queries - sounds like good customer service  

[Agramar_The_Luna_Wolf]

I use a mix of The Army Painter, Vallejo (Game Color and historical range) and Scale 75. That last one was a excellent discovery, because they have the perfect colour for my SoH. And I'm also making some experiments with Dina Wakley's Media, from Ranger Ink. The acrylic paints are quite nice.

[andes]

1 hour ago, Ryno said:

Now I just need to work out a suitable mobile setup so I'm not reliant on the limited time I have at a friend's place, to work on stuff at home. The wife and I are in a one bedroom apartment with two large dogs and a cat, and my office is technically in the living room, so I need to make sure I can easily stash stuff away from furry paws :)

 

Not to sound like a Monument Hobby shill, but have you checked out their line of Go Bags? There might be something there to simplify your situation.

[Ryno]

1 hour ago, andes said:

 

Not to sound like a Monument Hobby shill, but have you checked out their line of Go Bags? There might be something there to simplify your situation.

I did have a look. Tempting. With a small set of decent brushes and the paints I was already at ~$200 with shipping. After the other few hundred I've spent on other hobby tools the last few weeks I decided to hold off on it for now, though. I think in the immediate term I'll be able to manage with a tacklebox. Should hold my essential hobbying tools, currently used paints and brushes, and the bits/models I'm actively working on. That'll get me through the next few months at least.

[jaxom]

1 hour ago, andes said:

Not to sound like a Monument Hobby shill

When a company makes good product, a company makes good product.

[crimsondave]

I think each individual paint can be judged on its own.  All the brands have good and bad.  I prefer Citadel over all but for every Averland Sunset there is a Pallid Witch Chalk.

 

2 paints I love that are not GW are…

 

Vallejo 70.950 black.  I think it’s the best black I’ve used anyway.

 

Pro Acryl bold titanium white.  I find Citadel and Army Painter whites lacking.  This one covers nicely when thinned.

 

 

Edited March 1 by crimsondave

[Tacitus]

On 2/29/2024 at 6:35 PM, crimsondave said:

I think each individual paint can be judged on its own.  All the brands have good and bad.  I prefer Citadel over all but for every Averland Sunset there is a Pallid Witch Chalk.

 

2 paints I love that are not GW are…

 

Vallejo 70.950 black.  I think it’s the best black I’ve used anyway.

 

Pro Acryl bold titanium white.  I find Citadel and Army Painter whites lacking.  This one covers nicely when thinned.

 

 

I'm a big time Vallejo Game Air fan.  I can't rattlecan to save my life. So I prime, and usually basecoat with the airbrush.  With that said the above is absolutely true.  I'll still go back to GW for metallics for example, unless I'm looking for specific effects.  There's a color matching chart on Dakka I use, but there isn't always a like-for-like match.  Boltgun in Vallejo is really really black with a suble metallic to it - I'll often use that as a shadow instead of the actual Boltgun replacement.  The inside of this Dread arm is supposed to be steel, but there's no light in there?  Vallejo it.   Vallejo the gun, and drybrush "real" boltgun over top of that is another example.