Hi all, questions on what paints to get.

I see that most everyone recommends vallejo and GW paints, but does anyone have experience with model master acryl's?

I haven't painted anything in over a decade so i'm starting from scratch, so the easiest paints to work with would be ideal.

thanks Sgt. Rock

I think model master is ok as long as it really is acrylic and not oil based or whatever the normal testors stuff is. I think people use GW and Valejo the most really just because that's what the game stores tend to have, but you'll find the testors stuff in generic hobby stores. they do make great sprays though even though the cans are so teeny. I use their dullcoat spray varnish on almost everything.

i know what the pros will say gw, vallejo, reaper, p3... but decent paints that won't break you are Delta Ceramcoat. Usually a buck for more than you might ever use, great color selection, and coverage is very good. their metallics are hit and miss, so i still use gw metals, and i use p3 washes. some will say they are low quality paints, but i used them to paint my Ozz in this forum and it came out fine. i just dont see the point of $4 paints when there are other great non-hobby paints out there.

For brushwork, craft paint like Folkart, Americana, etc., worked fine. Does not chip, it's acrylic, cleans up w/ water, but you have to squirt it out mostly. I mix & paint from a pallet (old lid) so it works fine. The color selection is huge, even the metallics...and they're cheap. The Folkart copper is outstanding and makes good rust effect. You can get the stuff at any arts & crafts store like Michaels.

Applebarrel is horrible though, dont do those. very chalky paint

If using the cheap paints at Michaels/Hobbylobby/Walmart/etc I personally recommend Delta Cermacoat.

I like Delta and Americana the best, Folk Art is kind chalky like mentioned above and have zero coverage.

Sgt. Rock said:

For the most part when brush painting I use mainly Valleo and some GW (mainly mettalics). I also still have some of my Ol Ral Partha paints (still good after 10 years!). I do use some Model Master acrylics but usually when Im airbrushing as some of their paints dont brush too well. They do have a good selection of colors though and airbrush pretty well with minimum thinning.

When doing terrain and groundwork I tend to use alot of the craft paints due to amount required (Delta Ceramacoat seems to be the best to me) for cost reasons and they have a good selection.

I like Gunze Sangyo paints. Most people know them as Mr Hobby Color. Their aqueous range is water-based and clean easily with water or window cleaning solution. I find their paint very smooth when used together with their Mr Thinner (aqueous). But the price is a bit on the pricey side.

Thanks for the recommendations everyone, I'll try out the model masters and mix in some vallejo.

Will go with the delta on terrain stuff.

Model Master is a good choice, not too sure since I've only used one color of theirs before. It's something like the Tamiya paints. Delta Cermacoat is good bet on the terrain. Good luck with your models.

Never tried Model Masters Acryl. If they are like Tamiya paints that [so]Rice mentioned then its farely simple like GW or Valejo paints. I know there are a ton of tutorials online on how to use the Tamiya paints. I would buy a cheap model at the hobby store, an action figure or something for like $5-10 and test some of the techniques out to see if they work. You could try them on the green army men you get at the dollar store. Just prime them and go at it. They wouldnt be to scale or anything but it would be something to test stuff on and inexpensive.

www.amazon.com/Basics-Acrylic-Color-22ml-Set/dp/B00175XBW6

That is what I started with. I've since bought the Vallejo Game Color set but I painted quite a few minis w/ the liquitex stuff. I still use the paints as well as the retarders and gloss/matte mediums from them.
Can't beat that price at all.

The craft acrylics from Michael's, mentioned above are also very good paints.

I wouldn't worry about any of the more expensive paints until you you decide for yourself what you like to paint with. So much just comes from experience.

Great video along the same lines

Take care!