Do you use different kind of paints?

[Fabien G]

When I was young (yes, again), I used Humbrol tins paints to paint my soldiers (I suppose because it was the refeence written at the back of the soldiers box, and obviously everything peeled off)

Now, I have seen all your paint preferences, all your conversion tables, and I wondered, do you stick to one brand (Vallejo, GamesWorkshop, Humbrol, etc...) or do you mix all kinds of paints?

Are the colours really the same?

And with craft paint, isn't it a problem? You have to make your own colour to stick as close to the correct colour as possible, and the only way... is to have a colour reference in the first place! So how do you do that?

[musketier]

There are some who like to stick to one brand of model paint but as for me I use the following companies:
Vallejo
Games workshop/Citadel
Howard Hues
GHQ brand
and craft paints like folk art etc.
Reaper
Pollys scale
all these are water based acrylics
I do also use some enamels like Humbrol and Colourcoat from White ensign but those are for the warships I paint.

What I find best is to use what would be the closest approximation in tint and shade to what I am trying to represent with my model. I also find that keeping a diary of what I used on what particular figure or vehicle helps me keep track of how I painted it so that when I come back to adding more I know what I used, it works pretty well for me and another reason I use multiple brands is that I found out years ago that companies do change their formula (which really bummed me out) which meant that it wasn't the same color as the old bottle I used even though the label states its the same color.

I hope this helps.

[Fenton]

I mix all sorts of Acylics together..either on the figure or on the palette...they are basically all the same so Vajello, GW, Reaper, Folk Art all get used and I just pick the colours I like the look of..

[Dad's Army]

You will see that every paint has got a point what you prefer!
The one who is favorite amongst most of the guys I know is Vajello, because you can use just little bits at a time, and it doesn't dry out quick.
Second because it has a full range of colors.
But even so others have there own favorite.
I personal started with Revell, but am already switching to Valejjo.
(and I an just a starter in this hobby)

So my advice: just try and don't buy all your paint from the same brand.
It's always a personal choice

[Susofrick]

GW and Humrol acrylics for me. Got a very huge bag of humbrols veryveryVERY cheap a while ago so I use these and for those coulors that wasn't in the bag (there were some, the condition to get the bag cheap was that I bought it without looking, but it was worth it ) I buy GW 'cause they've been available at my local shop for some time. Recently they started with Vallejo, but I haven't bought any yet.

[Fabien G]

I understand that thanks to tables of conversions, you can use Humbrol and GamesWorkshop colours at the same time for example, but what about craft paint? Don't you have problem to find the exact colour you need?

I guess that in order to make the right green you need, you must mix your own green with different craft paints. And to know what you do, you must have a Humbrol tin by your side to compare with the original colour.

Am I right?

[musketier]

Are you trying to match up with Craft paints with Humbrol? or are you trying to expand your paint range of colors? Trying to match up Acrylic paint colors with old enamel Humbrol will not look quite right, you can come close in color but acrylic won't stick to an enamel finish.
These three ranges are quite extensive in number of different colors they are all water based Acrylics and 59ml bottles for a lot less than model paint brands
Palmer
Ceramcoat
Delta Folkart
There is a post in here with a link to a color conversion chart I repost it here
http://colors.silicon-dragons.com/full_line.php

[Paul]

Marabu Acrylics.

[Konrad]

Marabu Acrylics.

[Fabien G]

Well, personnaly I would like use craft paint because from what i could read from some of you, it's inexpensive, it stays quite well on the soldiers without peeling off, and it does as good a job as other paints.

But I like as well to respect the instructions and indications for painting that are written on the back of my soldiers box.
Thus, my problem is, when it's written: "paint with Unicolor paint: the uniform ref#735, the boots ref # 120, the helmet ref #311", and so on...

Then how do I do if I want to use craft paint? There is no way I can know Unicolor paint ref # 170 is this % + that % of my craft paint range! So I'm quite sure the color I will use will not match the color it's supposed to be!
That's a problem.

so I guess I have to use 'real' paint for models.

[je_touche]

But I like as well to respect the instructions and indications for painting that are written on the back of my soldiers box.
Thus, my problem is, when it's written: "paint with Unicolor paint: the uniform ref#735, the boots ref # 120, the helmet ref #311", and so on...

Don't respect any instructions. Just use good pictorial sources and your imagination to mix colours as appropriate.

[Paul]

But I like as well to respect the instructions and indications for painting that are written on the back of my soldiers box.
Thus, my problem is, when it's written: "paint with Unicolor paint: the uniform ref#735, the boots ref # 120, the helmet ref #311", and so on...

Don't respect any instructions. Just use good pictorial sources and your imagination to mix colours as appropriate.

If you start reading do this do that etc you´ll loose your feeling and end up painting by numbers. general tips are ok, but don´t spend ages looking at colour charts, which largely don´t take into account of which colour base you´ve used,

[Maurice]

Vallejo mostly, sometimes Games Workshop or Humbrol.

[poky]

Humbrol and Revell emamel also oil paint sometimes just started with Vallejo so far I like them for figures not so most for vehicles

[Peter]

GW and Revell acrylics

earlier: Humbrol and Revell enamels (and I still got them)

[Keyvan]

Mixing acrylics with acrylics as expected is no problem.same goes for enamels i guess, dont have that much experience with them though.if you like to work with oil etc. to weather a figure id recommend acrylics because the effects you achieve with them are easier to control and they are easier to handel if you work with other things like oil...
i dont care which colours i use as long as the fit my idea of the colour i need.
this goes for the models i build.should be no problem though, cuz you just downscale everything in here.
greets
key

[Helveticum]

I Use a mix of manufacturer.
Not only acrylics, but i use Oil and enamel as well.
It all depens on what you are doing and on the specifics of the colors.
However I have to say that i mostly use VALLEJO....followed by:
enamel of HUMBROL, acrylics MODEL MASTER, enamel WHITE ENSIGN, Oil WINSOR & NEWTON....and yes, I still have some old CITADEL acrylics (Fantasy) and WASHES and GLAZES of them...

Alex

[Fabien G]

I don't think I'll use enamel (oil), I prefer to stick with water-based acrylic. But I have never painted soldiers neither with acrylic, nor Vallejo, or even GamesWorkshop paint yet , so well, I'll think I'll keep your advice to 'try and mix and see'.

That said, well, I like to follow the rules! It seems you know so much about painting soldiers (years of practice...) and about the real History as well! I'm not sure I'll spend some time looking for a book with a colour picture of a certain army , a certain kind of regiment, at a very specific place and time, to paint it as depicted in the book... I'm not sure... I buy a box, so I kindda like the idea that I can 'trust' them with their guidance.

[Paul]

GW and Revell acrylics

earlier: Humbrol and Revell enamels (and I still got them)

Me too. Some are nearly 25 years old and they are still useable !!!!!!

[Cor V.]

I must have a thousend paints. Mostly Humbrol and Revell. Some old Airfix, Xtra color, Mo-lak, PrecisionPaint, Polly's, Gunze, Pactra,
Tamiya, Daco, Testors, 2 Vallejo's and 1 Citadel.