Archived from groups: rec.games.miniatures.warhammer (
More info?)
"Robert Singers" <rsingers@finger.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xns95EC7D8B96AC4rsingers@IP-Hidden...
> Out from under a rock popped Karyth Teel and said
>
> > It may just be mw, but it does seem that we get this question a lot,
> > and the conventional wisdom seems to be the same. Is there any way we
> > could simply type up a "how to buy paints" article? As an aside, I'd
> > love to put up a "how to start painting Minis for under $50" article
> > that stresses the joys of the Walmart craft aisle. While I'm slowly
> > upgrading to Vallejo paints, my initial discovery of Ceramcote allowed
> > me to double my pallete for $20.
>
> Write it and send it to me.
here it is, in a raw, unformatted, probobly barely coherent form. It's
effectivly two bits: the first is a simple "what paints should I use" essay,
and the second explains what exactly to buy to have a decent paint bench for
$50 US. Feel free to amend, edit, counter, etc. anything in here, it's
meant to be a Group response to a Group question, but I'm sure my personal
leanings showed. Also, I wrote it in a casual first person style, that can
easily be changed to a more formal style that speaks for the group.
****************Start Essay*****************
What paints should I use?
The question is often asked around here, as folks take a look at GW paints
and wonder if there is an alternative. To save time for the regulars around
RGMW, the "conventional wisdom" was codified for future generations to
enjoy.
Short Answer:
Don't buy GW paints, instead buy craft paints (Delta Ceramcoat, Plaid Apple
Barrel) for most paints, and Vallejo paints for Metallic shades. Craft
paints are available in Wal-Mart, Michael's Crafts, and Joann Fabrics for
under a buck a 2oz bottle, and Vallejo's are available in most hobby shops.
Longer Answer:
For a beginning painter, there is a bewildering array of paint ranges to
choose from. Realistically, there's only a handful that the average painter
needs to concern himself with:
Citadel Color Paint (GW Brand):
In a word, mediocre. At $2.50 a 12ml pot, they're average in price, and
they've recently switched to a longer lasting "Flip top" lid that prevents
the nearly instant dry out of the old pots. That said, they color coverage
isn't very good, many report that the paint is watery and thin, and their
color range, while adequate, isn't exactly breathtaking (it lacks a strong
neutral grey and their browns tend to be reddish.) For the most part, the
colors are clumped into groups of three for easy highlighting/shading. Many
painters use the color names as standard keys for describing a paint job.
Pros: Not as bad as they used to be two years ago, convenient, easy to
find,
Cons: Not as good as they were eight years ago, cost high for average
quality.
Delta Ceramcoat/ Plaid Apple Barrel
http://www.deltacrafts.com/Paint/Ceramcoat/
Craft paints widely available at discount stores in the US, Delta paints
provide the highest value for the cost of any paint brand, and their actual
quality is comparable if not equal to Citadel, Reaper, etc. The large, 2oz
(60ml) bottles have both a flip top lid and a screw off cap, making them
easy to use. Larger 4oz and 8oz sizes are available in basic colors. The
color range is almost 300 shades, though they skew far more to pinks and
purples than most gamers are used to. At an average of $1 a pot, they're a
fantastic bargain. Sample kits are available for even cheaper.
There are some problems, however. Their reds are uneven, but the comparable
Apple Barrel Bright Red is excellent. Metallics are generally poor, and
should be avoided. The range of flesh tones is generally too cartoony to be
of much use.
Pros: Low Cost, Huge range of colors, convenient pots, wide availability
Cons: Poor Metallics and bright reds, inadequate flesh tones.
Reaper Pro Paints
Reaper recently released a new line of Master Paints that I have
yet to use, but their Pro Paints are still available and are often
encountered. As a range, Reaper is decent, with strong colors, nice
consistency, and a neat molded skull as a shaking bead. Their color range
is limited, but their price of $2.50 for 3/4oz (22.5 ml) is quite
reasonable. Their metallics are among the finest available for the price.
Pros: Slightly better and cheaper than GW, very nice metallics, cool shaker
bead
Cons: Uneven quality across range, limited availability
Vallejo Model Color / Game Color
A range of roughly 200 colors designed for use by the military
modeling community, though miniature painters have flocked to this brand for
it's top shelf quality, consistency, color range, and bottle design. A
large majority of painters use and adore these paints, and nearly all who
try them prefer them to Citadel Paints. The new Game Color line is an exact
copy of Citadel's color chart, in case you're stuck on a certain GW color.
Prices range around $3 a 17ml pot, which isn't cheap by any means, but
actually cheaper than Citadel paints. Many painters outside of 'Eavy Metal
are switching, meaning that many clinics and tutorials will begin cropping
up refrencing these paints. Further, while the Game Color range is an exact
match, the following link contains a chart that provides euivilencies:
http://home.att.net/~katamaran/vallejo.html
Outside of cost (some retailers charge far more than online
vendors) and availability, there is very little downside to the Vallejo
range. Any painter serious about the hobby and willing to pay the price
should seriously consider these paints:
Pros: Highest Quality, Convenient Bottles, huge range, excellent metallics
Cons: Limited (but growing) availability, often high cost
How to Start Painting for under $50 bucks:
Every Painter, bare minimum, needs a brush, some water, a mixing surface,
and five paints: White, Black, Red, Blue, and Yellow. In practice, you need
far more colors, and most likely several brushes. If you're new to "The
Hobby" and are looking for a cheap way in, here's some hints, tips, and even
a shopping list.
Brushes:
First off, you need some brushes. While verteran painters have dozens (I
know I do), most find themselves using the same brushes over and over. The
roles most called for are: Terrain brush, Vehicle/Base Brush, Workhorse,
Detail, Eyeballer, and Dry brush. The teraain brush is for painting terrain
and isn't even a craft brush. Get this one a Home Depot. The Vehicle Base
brush is your large, indiscriminate brush for when you need to put a lot of
paint on something. Typically a Size 1-3, buy the brush size that you like
best.
Workhorse: this is the brush that you could paint nearly an entire model
with. Never, ever skimp on this brush, as it's going to be in your hand a
lot of the time. Sizes vary from a slim 0 to a fat 3/0, and for this brush
I highly recommend springing for Fox Hair or Golden Nylon. Simply ask the
hobby store for a good brush in the size range you're interested in.
Detail/Eyballer: These are small, typically 3/0 or 5/0 for details and a
10/0 or smaller for eyeballs. Use them sparingly and they'll last. I
sometimes prefer to use cheap nylon brushes in these sizes and replace them
often, though a high quality 5/0 brush can be cared for well into a couple
of years life.
Dry Brush: any old brush, but for now, buy a pack of cheap brushes. Dry
Brushing ruins bristles, so use an old or cheap brush for this task.
While hobby stores carry fine selections of paint brushes, you can get cheap
nylon brushes at discount craft stores, often in a bundle for much less.
To start, I'd buy the following:
Floquil (or equivalent) Size 1 and Size 10/0 [~$10 for both]
Plaid Essentials Brush Set (size 2, 4, 6, 3/0) [~$5]
Paints:
If you're on a budget, or are simply open to a bargain, then Acrylic Craft
paints are the solution to your paint needs. Instead of paying $3 for a
half ounce or less of hobby paint, you can get a 2oz bottle for under a
buck. You can find these paints in Wal-Mart, JoAnn's fabric, Michaels, and
many other discount craft stores. You'll find a wall of paints from which
to choose in a variety of brands and colors. I prefer the Delta Ceramcoat
for all but Bright Red, for which I use the Apple Barrel color. Obviously
the colors you need are dependent on your project, but here's a great
starting Palette:
White
Black
Light Grey
Dark Grey
Bright Green
Forest Green
Camo Green/Olive drab
Yellow
Orange
Bright Red (consider Apple Barrel over Delta)
Dark Red
Purple
Royal Blue
Navy Blue
Tan/Khaki
Leather Brown
Dark Brown
...And any colors that strike your fancy
As for the rest of the colors, go back to the hobby store, and buy Vallejo
paints for your metallics. I've never had great luck with Delta's
metallics, and Vallejo has a great range. Pick up the following:
Steel
Gunmetal
Brass
Copper
Silver
~20 Delta Ceramcoat Paints [~$20]
5 Vallejo Paints [~$15]
And there you have it, a reasonably well stocked paint bench for $50, and
only two stops. Of course, you'll want to expand as time goes on, but that
can be done a couple of colors at a time for a few bucks a week. Enjoy your
painting, and welcome to the hobby!
***********************End Essay*************************
Karyth Teel
Is it my fault if the rest of the news group is composed 
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