GW paints

[Matt J]

I've always used GW paints, I know they're expensive but they've always done the job for me, in fact I have only recently discarded some pots of the more outlandish colours that had finally gone off after 20 years.
Now i've just looked at the website and everything has changed looks like you need god knows how many different version of yellow - base , layer 1, layer 2, wash, professional.... (normally I use about 20 colours and mix everything from that). Or I could buy the whole set for £333!

I need an alternative. So are Vallejo any good, are they as good as GW?

[fred.]

If you are used to the old GW paints in the white topped round bottles then have a look at Coat d'Arms

I use Vallejo and really like them, both game colour and model colour. The dropper bottles are very handy for mixing small amounts of paint, though you will need a palatte, even just an old blister pack is pretty good.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Vallejo are great and have lovely pigments, but can be a bit 'fragile' when on the figure, they need a good varnish! But then I also use Coat'd'arms, which can be a bit thin at times, Reeves artists acrylic and revell (and even a couple of 20 year old Humbrol acrylics too)

[Si Tyler]

I had a quick play with the new GW stuff and not overly impressed but then they said that about the steam engine......lots of discontinued colours so if you are mid progress then stock up quickly,  I am going to miss Devlan Mud so need to get some net purchases made

I freely intermix GW and Vallejo paints on my figures.  Vallejo, currently, covers very well and has a wide range especially if you are trying to match FS colours etc.  I also have coat d'arms as well.  From an acrylic perspective we are spoilt for choice.  Vallejo get my vote on the dropper bottle along.  Very little wastage and storage is a whole lot easier.

[nikharwood]

This might be useful in relation to the new GW paints: http://www.gruntz.biz/2012/03/games-workshop-new-paints.html

I've used Vallejo for years now - they're lovely paints, great value, mix well & very comprehensive range. Oh - and that nice Leon sells them too  

[Nosher]

Slowly moving over to VJ from GW as each pot of GW runs out, that said I did pop into GW this week to buy elf flesh which I had run out of.

The spotty/greasy gimp in the shop was lost for words when my response to his stock question 'What are you painting at the moment?' was 'Naked Ladies...' 

Poor boy is probably still trying to work out what a naked lady is

[Avalon]

The spotty/greasy gimp in the shop was lost for words when my response to his stock question 'What are you painting at the moment?' was 'Naked Ladies...' 

Poor boy is probably still trying to work out what a naked lady is

I've just bought two of the Vallejo pre-packed sets, the 14 bottle (German Army) set which also came with a helpful colour chart which even gave the position on the rack that the colours should be in, it also had a Humbrol to Vallejo colours conversion chart (not full be enough for the basics).

I also like the eye-dropper format as you have a bit more control over how much you put on the pallete for mixing, the up/down side is that they seem to dry quite quickly, I based a 10mm Para last night and it was dry within 5-10 minutes, in the summer I can see the drying time going down very quickly.

[Matt J]

thanks for the replies.

This might be useful in relation to the new GW paints: http://www.gruntz.biz/2012/03/games-workshop-new-paints.html

Good article thanks Nik although left me more indecisive.

Vallejo are great and have lovely pigments, but can be a bit 'fragile' when on the figure, they need a good varnish!

This concerns me somewhat as I never varnish my figures. Is the paint that fragile ie pick the model up a few times and the paint comes off?

Also if they dry pretty quick that may be a problem for me because I mix up most of my colours.

Slowly moving over to VJ from GW as each pot of GW runs out, that said I did pop into GW this week to buy elf flesh which I had run out of.

The spotty/greasy gimp in the shop was lost for words when my response to his stock question 'What are you painting at the moment?' was 'Naked Ladies...' 

Poor boy is probably still trying to work out what a naked lady is

Naked elf ladies  one for the fantasy requests board

[lentulus]

...looks like you need ...

Still a good product, and easy to pick up even here on the fringe of civilization in North America.  You only need what you are going to put on a figure; I use them for the things that don't quite work in craft paints, and I will continue to.  This is especially true since Delta Ceramcoat, the best of the craft lines, can no longer be found here.  That does not mean I have to buy into the whole program.

Sure, there are great competitors available to mail order, but when I want to paint yellow turnbacks, I want to paint them *now*.

[Jim Ando]

Hi

I use GW paints but don`t hold that against me but why the bloody hell are they changing the names of the colours.

I only got used to the last ones.

Jim

[Si Tyler]

So people don't get confused when moving to the new mediums.  I have had a play the last two days in the local store with the limited palette they have for demos and actually need to reappraise my "not overly impressed" to one of.."actually these are quite good".  The base colours have good opacity and don't dry out like the old foundation paints.  The washes are pretty simple to use as well.  I haven't seen what the new ones do on my historical figures compared to devlan mud but I have some on pre order to try out.

For my mind it should mean that you should see painted armies appearing a whole lot quicker.  I turned out a Space Marine and Dire Avenger in about 5 minutes.  Drying time is increased somewhat though when using the washes and glazes.  I have tested dullcote on the new system as well and I get a good finish as expected.  The problem with 145 paints is that I don't want them all and it is going to take a while for people to work out their standard packages.  The GW site painting guide has some useful info for GW products and I would imagine it won't take long for others to populate non GW guides. 

I have an order in with an indi stockist saving me 40p a pot on these new paints which should arrive while I am on holiday (I am having them shipped to the hotel as the family agreement is that I can paint in the mornings until 1000 when on holiday  so will have them in my hand on the day of release)

Si

[mijalo]

I always used to use GW paints but now that I'm in Korea, getting them is only available by mail (thus somewhat expensive) but i stumbled upon a local hobby shop selling Vallejo. Satisfied thus far.

[Jerrylee]

I use GW paints and have to say I find they work ok. They have done ok on my AWI, FPW and WW2 early British.

[Annatar]

Perhaps this chart might be useful

http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Paint_Range_Compatibility_Chart

[Blaxkleric]

Always used GW paints until now... I refer to their latest change in their paints as the start of the Third Age of Treachery 

The First Age being when they suddenly stopped doing Palid Flesh, and I was halfway through a huge horde of Foundry Ancient Germans... never could find a close approximation so shelved that project. The Second Age is when they got rid of their inks for the washes (although I admit the washes were better) so I sought Coat D'arms Inks for some 6mm forces I was painting at the time (using the old base colour, ink and then drybrush technique). The Coat D'Arms inks worked well until I brushed varnish over them (and it came away from the models... even when I used Coat D'Arms varnish!?!).

This latest 'change of the old guard' has caught me mid-way through a load of Pendraken Russian Armour 

Having been to my local GW store and seen the new paints in action I can see new painters may well see the benefits. Bases, shades highlights and glazes etc. But if like me, you have OCD when it comes to paint colours not matching, then it doesn't matter how many times the GW sales troll tells me that all the Ultramarines look the same, I can still spot the seven painted using the new paints (and washes) from the other side of the store. The paint colours (and I understand they're once again UK manufactured as opposed to being made in France; as the Foundation Range were) aren't even similar... they're miles apart... and so soon... sob... will be the colours of some of my Russian tanks 

Thus having been forced by GW to reset my painting palette once again, I've decided after thirty years to say "Yabbo, and Sucks to you GW" and try out Vallejo; especially as a certain top Miniatures manufacturer now sells them 

Blaxkleric
http://fantorical.blogspot.co.uk/