With these paints, you start by choosing a set of six base colour paints based on the type of tank you want to paint. We answer all enquiries you may have about model paints, what paint to choose, where to buy specific model paints, etc. For painting scale models of tanks and AFVs with airbrush, the choice is rather clear Vallejo AFV painting system. Acrylic urethane is the most common type of paint that you can use if you are painting a car by yourself. You just have to compare prices and choose the best one for your needs. So, what are the differences between Vallejos Game Air and Model Air paints? They are part of Vallejo Model Air range of acrylic airbrush paints. For those who are painting Fantasy miniatures and for those who are going to be painting Historical. In this section we will analyze several reputable paint options for painting fantasy figures, for brush-on application. Glaze (for transparencies and vitrified effects). It also comes with an 85ml airbrush cleaner. The downside is that they take a rather long time to dry, especially when compared with acrylic paints. What more can you ask? This means that these are specific colors to hone in on the details of your models even more. read about Air War Series paints and why they are awesome for painting aircraft models, Read more about Tamiya AS series synthetic lacquer for model airplanes, everything you need to know about Vallejo Metal color paints, For airbrush use but can also be used with paintbrush, Click here to see all the base color paint sets and choose the one for your tank, Click here to see all the camouflage boxes available, Click here to see the weathering paint sets for your tank. The paint set colors have been designed to allow you to paint specific armies like World War II Allied or German forces, medieval armies, etc. So you get a flawless finish and changeable viscosity without any trouble. Each pack includes a primer, several base tones and highlights, and a Matte Varnish. Besides, Game Air are intended to adhere to plastic, resin, lead and white metal miniatures. These are paint kits with 8 colors in each box, specifically designed for painting model aircraft. But no, if we look at the price for various Citadel paint packs that you can get on the official Games Workshop website and calculate the price per bottle and the price per ml of paint, we see again and again that Citadel paints are pricier than Vallejo or The Army Painter, even when bought in packs of 24 or 51 colors. I try to keep up with the research whenever I can. Vallejo Model Air paints usually come in sets of 8 or 16 paints and they have an impressive colour range. Here you can read about Air War Series paints and why they are awesome for painting aircraft models. To help fellow enthusiasts out I have done a bunch of reviews on miniature painting setsand how-to-guidesfor beginners. Yes, you can paint with enamels and acrylics on top of lacquer, but not vice versa. Tamiya acrylic paints are called by the letters X-XF, they are based on a water-soluble resin and they can be used both with brush or with airbrush. They have excellent coverage and are durable. The other option is Citadel by Games Workshopthat is apt for customizing your space marines and warriors. Then once you get the hang of painting models, you can move on to the manufacturers advanced set. Vallejo Game Color are acrylic paints specifically for painting fantasy figures using the brush-on technique. Vallejo thinners prevent your paint from losing its consistency if youre diluting it. The paints are specifically made keeping miniature painters needs in mind. The way these paints work is, you buy the "Basic Infantry Set" (which includes 8 basic colors) and then combine it with some other box of your choice, adding an extra 6 specific colors to the paint set. You can also use Tamiya paints for painting model airplanes. Brittney is a writer, curator and contemporary art gallerist. As mentioned before, the choice of paint will be slightly different depending on whether you are going to paint FANTASY miniatures or HISTORICAL miniatures. , but those are not as specific for historical miniatures, they are more suited for fantasy armies, and they don't have the same realistic historical colours as Vallejo Model Air paints. The colors can be mixed in the airbrush to achieve mid-tones. Choose your colour box from these options here. You can get the standard Vallejo Model Color box (in packs of 8, 16 or even 72 colors). After applying an enamel paint coat, it can take about 6 hours for it to be fairly dry, and if we want to apply another coat of paint on top we must wait at least 24 hours. The paint quality is pretty high and the colour range is impressive (you get tons of colours to choose from). If you want to try other brands you can try Citadel Air, but those are not as specific for historical miniatures, they are more suited for fantasy armies, and they don't have the same realistic historical colours as Vallejo Model Air paints. Tamiya AS series lacquers provides a gloss or semi-gloss finish, with a clean and professional look. Want to treat yourself? Tamiya claims that a 100ml container of their TS series lacquer can cover three 1/24 scale model cars. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. As a reminder, if you are planning to buy an airbrush for models or miniatures check out this post first: All we can say is Best gift ever for any model kit building fan! They are also user-friendly and last longer than most painting kits. what kind of paint do i use to paint a car? Each bottle contains 17ml of paint and comes with an eyedropper, which is very useful to load your airbrush paint cup. Having a hard time finding a specific paint brand? These are the three types of paints in my arsenal: Having a mix of these paints will help you experiment with your painting techniques. You can also try these cheeky alternatives if youre looking for a few more options: Pastels: A great alternative to tinting liquids. A Citadel Base paint 12ml bottle costs around $4.55 in, If we include the "The Army Painter" paints in the comparison, then the difference becomes even more noticeable. Tamiya has a range of acrylic and enamel paints such as their X-XF series which you can use with airbrush or with paint brush, as well as lacquer paints (Tamiya LP series). That's the airbrush version of the typical Citadel paints, which are also for fantasy miniatures and Warhammer. You are now ready to get your new miniature paint set. All colors and varnishes can be mixed together. You dont have to worry about them being too thick or thin to use. If you are ready to go all-in with these paints, Model Color has 72-color paint kits in a convenient carry case. Now, while Vallejo Model Air is the go-to choice for many modellers, it is not necessarily the only option. The downside of oil-based paints is that it takes a long time to dry. how long does acrylic paint last on a car? Game Air colors come in boxes as you can see below: Paint kit includes 51 colors, 8 primers and 5 auxiliaries. You have opaque, transparent glazes and even fluorescent paints in case you want to do some special effects.These paints have excellent coverage and fast drying time. You will also find the best model paint for Airplanes, as well as specific model paint kitsfor Tanks and Armoured Vehicles. Historical miniatures means realistic armies from World War II, Middle Ages, and the like. Another possible advantage of Citadel paints is that Games Workshop has divided Citadel paints in different types of paints such as: If you are going to buy Citadel paints, you should know that the best prices are not always available on the official Games Workshop store. The first thing you need to decide when choosing a paint kit for your model airplane (or helicopter, or any other aircraft), is whether you are going to paint with an airbrush or with a paintbrush. All of these characteristics make it a solid investment for every artist. Have you got any feedback or suggestion to help us improve? Citadel also makes the best washes and shades in my view. Choose the colors for your model airplane: AFV stands for "Armored Fighting Vehicle". If you want to try other brands you can try. Another plus is that there are lots of special boxes available for things like faces, wood and leather, rust and chipping effects, etc. Basically there are two main types of miniatures: FANTASYfigures and HISTORICAL miniatures. Before getting Vallejo Model Color paints, use the link below to choose your colour set and box size: Vallejo Model Color paints: Choose your colour box from these options. Citadel paints are divided into many types of paints (9 kinds of paint from primer to base paint), while with The Army Painter only 4 steps are used: primer, base colors, "QuickShade" varnish which was invented by The Army Painter, and finally a matte varnish spray. We recommend using 2 drops of Flow Improver for every 10 drops of paint in the airbrush paint cup.Airbrush Cleaner 71.099: Use this to clean the airbrush when changing from one color to another. In each pack you get 8 bottles of 17 ml. Game Air paints dry almost instantly, so you can proceed straight away into applying additional washes, pigments, dry brush techniques, etc. Write a comment and we will get back to you with personalized assistance for you. Theyve also got a marvelous metallic range that takes your model details to the next level. As an alternative, Citadel paints are also a classic for painting fantasy miniatures. It is the range of Citadel paints optimized to paint with an airbrush. It is recommended to occasionally clean the airbrush nozzle with a cloth damped with this Cleaner to avoid the build up of paint residues. Want to know which is the Best Airbrush for Modelling and the Best Compressor? It also depends on whether you are going to paint with an airbrush or with a paint brush. The disadvantage is that when shaking the miniatures to remove excess varnish, splashes may occur, so you need to do it in a place where you do not have to worry about splashes, like a workshop or an outdoor space. This is combined with an equally strong interest in contemporary art from the Asian diasporas, alongside the issues of identity, transmigration and global relations. Game Air can be used directly without a primer, although in cases where the surface is dark, it may be desirable to provide a first coat of light-colored primer to increase the brightness of colors. Tamiya paints: Another good brand of airbrush paint for model building. Plastic models are most often made with acrylics because of their short drying time. On one side there is Tamiya's synthetic lacquers in spray, called by the TS and AS letters (AS is the specific series of lacquers for aircraft models), and on the other side we've got Tamiya's synthetic lacquer in bottle format (to be applied with brush or airbrush) is called by the letters LP. They have an oil base and therefore require the use of solvents to dilute them. Transparent colors, when applied on top of opaque colors, can produce spectacular special effects for highlights, reflected lights, tinted glasses on cars and aircraft, etc. In these cases, it is recommended to apply a Glossy Black primer to create a realistic effect to aluminum parts. Nowadays, acrylic is the faster, more popular choice, but enamel is still a valuable alternative. This is really useful if you want to experiment with your painting technique. Oriented to historical models and figures (2nd World War, Middle Ages, etc.). Basic Infantry Set (use this pack combined with the others), Introduction kit, 8 colors + 2 brushes + 1 figure, Introduction 8 colors + 2 brushes + figure, Nonmetallic Metal - 8 Game Color, instructions and color chart. It is recommended to dilute them with 2 drops of thinner per 1 drop of paint. Wow a lot of new tech! Colors can be mixed in the airbrush paint cup to achieve mixtures and mid-tones. For metallic finishes and details, use Vallejo Metal Color or Alclad II lacquer. Heres an overview of what Ive learned so far: First of all, youve got to know which paints are suitable for painting miniatures. Game Air is Vallejo's range of airbrush model paints for miniatures. For example, if you use lacquer, enamel and acrylic on a model, you should apply the laquer first, then the enamel and finally the acrylic. If we look at price alone, they answer is no. Although this is a big improvement over acrylic lacquer, it is still not as durable as urethane paint. The softer appearance is also convenient for model airplanes and cars. This range of paints includes opaque colors (most of them) and also transparent and fluorescent colors. Thanks. Using Game Air colors with airbrush: Game Air colors have the fluidity required to work with airbrushes up to 0.2 mm nozzle size without diluting them. Its just smooth and silky. The Army Painter is well known for allowing you to paint huge armies in record time. plus a set of brushes for model painting. If you are ok with acrylics but you don't want to use Vallejo, then have a look at Tamiya acrylics, but take into account that with Tamiya acrylic paints you will need to use a specific solvent (whereas Vallejo's acrylics can be diluted with water). Once the paint has dried, it is resistant, durable and waterproof. If you are looking to be fully equipped for fantasy miniature painting, Game Color also offers its own 72-color paint kits in a convenient carry case. The best thing about The Army Painter is that they are cheaper paints, especially if you buy the 50 paints mega set, where each 18ml bottle works out to around $1.80 which is a pretty good price. Acrylic model paints for airbrushing Miniatures and Wargames, [ Vallejo Model Air - click to Choose Your Colors ]. The AS series is also a Tamiya synthetic lacquer that comes in 100 ml spray cans, but this one differs from the TS series in that the AS series is specifically intended for painting aircraft models. In the review section, we will cover more options for you including Liquitex but if youre looking for a good paint set, Id highly recommend a Vallejo to start with. Acrylic car paint can be used in a variety of ways, including acrylic enamel, acrylic lacquer, and acrylic urethane. Well, Game Air are designed to paint Fantasy miniatures (Warhammer 40.000, Age of Sigmar, Infinity, etc), while Model Air paints are designed for historical figures set in the 2nd World War, Middle Ages, Roman Empire, etc. You can find the whole community raving about it. Tamiya TS series comes in 100ml spray cans and is especially appropriate for large surface coverage. everything you need to know about Tamiya model paints (and which solvent they work with). If you are ready to buy these model paints, your next step is tochoose your colour box option for these paints. These paints are specific for fantasy miniatures such as Warhammer, Infinity, Gunpla, etc. Base. Another plus point for this paint is its glossy appearance. The AS series in particular is specifically designed to paint aircraft models. These paints are specially suited for historical miniatures. For metallic finishes, use Vallejo Metal Color. Here is the entire range of Metal Color paints for model kits with airbrush: Additional primers and varnishes for use in conjunction with Metal Color paints: Glossy Black Primer 77.660:Water-based primer to use with Metal Color, fast drying, glossy finish. If you are interested in Tamiya paints, read everything you need to know about Tamiya model paints (and which solvent they work with). They have well-established paint sets and hobby gear. So you should aim to get acrylic paint sets that are known for its durability and resistance to damage. everything you need to know about Tamiya X-XF model paints (and which solvent they work with). Dropper bottles, fantastic sets called triads that give you ready-made shades and highlight colors. These paints have a great colour range to choose from. Additionally, you also have the choice to go for some special boxes for rust and chipping effects: To paint camouflage, Vallejo AFV camouflage colors. Browse their various sets and pick the best for your specific project. as a final layer you can apply the weathering paint set which includes special washes to create weathering effects. The finish can be matte and opaque, transparent or metallic. The Army Painter is well known for allowing you to paint huge armies in record time. The big picture with paints to use for your miniatures and models is that you have a variety of high-quality options. As mentioned earlier, Vallejo Model Color are acrylic paints for hobby model kits (plastic models, resin, steel and white metal models). They are formulated for Brush use, rather than airbrush. If you want to go all-in with these paints, get the huge 72 paints kit in a carry case. Click here to find the right colour box for your specific miniatures. RAF Colors Day Fighters 1941-1945 & P.R.U. Modern acrylic paints have great coverage and performance. Dont stick to a single brush as it will slow you down. Mixing it with water makes it easy to thin and is easy to work with. The paint kit has everything you need for your first projects. If you are going to paint model cars with airbrush (or trucks) then you probably want to try acrylic paints specifically formulated for airbrush use. But sure they do offer some decent paint quality, plus they offer official Warhammer colours. Thus, I recommend that you try them out if you want something that; If youre into fantasy games and army collectibles then you need to double up your supplies. Vallejo Game Air = Same thing, also for airbrush, but oriented to fantasy figures. If you are looking for a spray paint for painting model airplanes, then have a look at Tamiya AS series. Professional miniature painters are using these paints to achieve professional level results (the kind of painted models you see on magazines and in game books). These are 8 color paint kits to paint models and miniatures (for brush-on application). Things like World War II, medieval armies, dioramas, etc. The Army Painter "special" step: immersing the miniature (yes, immerse it completely except the base) in a special varnish called ". These kits include a huge range of colors to paint fantasy figures, elves, dragons, space marines or whatever your army is about, plus a set of brushes for model painting. Vallejo Game Air is a range of airbrush paints specifically designed for Fantasy Miniatures. Choose your color combination and box size here. Tamiya recommends this type of paint to paint model airplanes of 1/32 or 1/48 scale. These are sets of airbrush paints specifically designed for painting tanks. This can be good or bad, it depends on one's taste. We will try to give you plenty of options for your model painting project. Moreover, it slightly delays the drying time of the paint inside the airbrush, so it is advisable to add a few drops of diluent (about 1 drop of diluent per 3 drops of color). With this paint transparencies and washed effects can be done with layers of very thinned down paint. You can also use it on the model as paint-remover to remove previous paint coats or to correct color errors. Now in this case, they are paints specifically formulated for paintbrush application. The most important types of hobby paints for scale model kit building are the following: Synthetic lacquer is a type of paint based on a fairly strong solvent with high adherence power, which is often used to provide the base coats when painting models. In a nutshell, finding the best paint for miniatures and modelsisnt that hard. Here you can see the specific colorsincluded in each box. So you can do no wrong if you follow her award-winning techniques. In addition, the Game Color range of paints is designed to adhere to plastics and metals, as many of these fantasy miniatures are made of lead or, more recently, white metal. Last update on 2022-07-30 at 01:08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. They have to be diluted with Tamiya X-20A acrylic thinner. It is very easy to apply acrylic urethane, which makes it a great choice for do-it-yourself car painting. RAF Colors Desert Scheme & M.T.O. These are primarily used for advanced finish purposes, so we will not go into much detail here with respect to this kind of paint. This way you can easily find the product that is ideal for your needs. Most of your models will be painted with acrylic paint. Each box has a selection of specific colors to paint vehicles, figures, etc. You can use one coat or several varnish coats, leaving 30 minutes of drying time between each coat. Acrylic model paints for painting airplane models with a brush. Further down in this post we explain everything you need to know about Tamiya X-XF model paints (and which solvent they work with). For that reason, Game Color palettes include brighter and more vivid colors, often used in fantasy figures, while Model Color paints are usually more sober and realistic colors, earth tones, khaki greens, actual military uniform tones, etc. Both of these paints are specific for metallic effects to simulate alluminium, chrome, silver, steel, burnt metal and the like on your airplane models. Vallejo Model Color is a range of acrylic paints specially designed for hobby model kits, including plastic models, resin models, steel and white metal. Say you want to paint a US army or squadron, then you would get the Basic Infantry Set plus a US Infantry box, and so on. Click here to see all the camouflage boxes available. They are water-based (rather than oil-based), so they can be thinned down with distilled water or alcohol, besides the specific thinners of each brand. As its name suggests, the base color that is painted on the primed miniature. These are good for small model painting projects, although the 16-packs further down are probably more versatile and better value. This information can come in handy when youre creating textures and mixing colors. The paint is durable and high quality. You choose between the standard design or a badass military colors package. Also, remember to use proper ventilation while using these. Pretty cool. Instructions of use for Vallejo Model Air paints and color chart. Tamiya is undoubtfully one of the most reputable brands in the world of model building. Buying. So youve got to take things slow and steady when youre layering your models with enamel paints. Then move on to other application methods to add a professional touch to your work. How to use Game Air airbrush paints: Shake well before using, and then place the paint directly into the airbrush paint cup straight out of the bottle or slightly diluted with Vallejo 71261 airbrush thinner. Initially, I suggest that you stick with liquid paints when youre learning the art of painting scales, models, and miniatures. Choose your color combination and box size here. They offer great surface coverage, high pigment density, they are durable and they have an amazing colour range. But this is so because you have compared individual Citadel bottles against full paint sets of Vallejo and The Army Painter!" One point in favour of Citadel paints is that colors come already prepared for you so you don't need to mix if you don't want to. Finally, there is The Army Painter. Click here to see all the base color paint sets and choose the one for your tank. Special effects - 8 Game Effects colors, step by step, by ngel Girldez. Again, use a surface primer as a base coat and then apply the colour on top. You may find they are more expensive, though. The high-quality paints, their viscosity, consistency, and delivery. Each of the kits includes a huge range of colors to paint vehicles, figures, etc. It is important to consider the type of look you are trying to achieve and what is best for your car when you decide on the look. Easy. Here you can download the step by step guide to use The Army Painter paints and the Quickshade varnish. Many fans of miniature painting consider that part of the fun when painting miniatures is mixing colors, controlling paint and water proportions, etc. The set includes eleven paints, two beginner brushes, and three miniatures. The Best Acrylic model paints to use with an airbrush, [ Vallejo Model Air paints - click to Choose Your Colors ]. The 4 steps are as follows: [ Mega-paint set of 50 The Army Painter warpaints here you can get it ]. If you want to know which colours to choose, here you can choose your colour box option for these paints. Enamels have been for a long time the most used type of paint in scale model kit building, until the acrylic paints began to gain traction. There is a wide range of colors with a glossy finish (the ones designated by the letter X), matte tones (designated by the letters XF) and translucent (some references such as the X-26 are translucent). Vallejo AFV paints (AFV stands for Armoured Fighting Vehicles) are specific for tank models. They leave a pretty good surface texture when covering large surfaces and also for going over details. They come in 17ml bottles with an eyedropper.Again, with Vallejo Model Color you can also get the impressive72 paints kit in a carry case. Thinners for acrylic paints are much less corrosive and toxic than enamel solvents. These have to be dulited with its corresponding Tamiya X-20 thinner and they are definitely high quality model paints. Dropper bottles, the best metallic paints, wide variety of colors and ranges. First of all, the choice of paint here will depend on the type of miniatures that you are going to paint. Acrylic model paints for airbrushing model Tanks and AFVs, [ AFV painting system for Tanks - click to Choose Your Colors ]. Some of the most reputable brands of airbrush model paintsare Vallejo, Tamiya, Revell, Testors and Createx, among others. Or, if you were to use only enamel and acrylic, the order would be first the enamel, and then the acrylic. The Army Painter is a painting system for miniature armies designed with the aim of making the painting process as quick as possible. Its disadvantage is that, because of its strong solvent base, it cannot be lightly applied on any surface. At the end of the post we will also talk about the most important hobby paint types including acrylic, enamel, lacquers and oils. It doesnt mean that you can smear the bottle all over your body if its labeled non-toxic. We also have a specific section for model paint kits for miniatures and wargames. can you paint model cars with spray paint? Vallejo Model Color = paints for models and miniatures, for brush-on application, designed for historical models and miniatures (2nd World War, Middle Ages, etc. In my opinion, Reaper Miniatures 08906 Learn to Paint Bones Kit is the best option. Vallejo Model Color are high quality acrylic, water-based, fast-drying paints for paintbrush use. The TS series comes in 100 ml spray cans and is especially appropriate for covering large surfaces. The difference is that Vallejo Model Color paints are designed for paintbrush use, whereas the Air War Series are designed primarily for airbrush, BUT they can also be used with paintbrush (as specified by the manufacturer), so there you go.