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Acrylic Paint Set

Discussion in 'Tools of the Trade/Accessories' started by Berserker, Feb 19, 2018.

  1. Berserker Member

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Hi all

    If possible could someone tell me if this set would be okay to use as paints for figures and busts. After looking at some of the painting posts on here, I think I'd be better off using acrylics to paint with?

    Any help would be beneficial. Cheers

    91+hrzA1dUL._SL1500_.jpg
  2. DaddyO A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Never used that particular brand.

    In general artists quality paints are worth looking at, but bear in mind that they are aimed at someone painting a picture rather than a bust who may want the impasto effect that you can get with acrylics so I'd suggest that they may be a bit thick. Best way to tell is to try them out (which isn't much help if you are thinking of buying and want a definitive yes or no answer)

    Why not get hold of a few acrylics designed for figure painting instead? Game colour, scale 75 or Vallejo are all decent quality and will make your life easier I suspect if you are just starting with acrylics. There's no need to go mad and buy loads. I normally use a fairly limited pallet and on the last figure only used 12 different colours (on a Napoleonic 54 mm) and to tell the truth I could have used 3 or 4 less without any real difficulties, but I was feeling lazy and didn't want to mix them.

    IMO paints are like brushes buy the best you can afford and a few will be better (and easier) than loads of lower quality ones :)

    Cheers
    Paul

    ps - I swapped from oils and enamels when I started painting again. I think there is a place for all types of paint - some effects are easier with acrylics, but oils (and others) can be used to great effect.
  3. Babelfish A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    As Paul says, these are for picture painting rather than figure painting. You want the brands that come in "eye dropper" type bottles that Paul suggests.

    Impossible to say whether you would be "better off" using acrylics. There is no right way or wrong way, only whatever way works for you.

    Some guys use only acrylics, others use only oils, others use enamels and still others use various combinations of them all. There's also Tempera paints and printers' inks .... the options are many!

    Using a particular medium won't make you a master painter overnight though. In the end it's all about technique and practice, and finding out what suits you best. Trial and error in other words.

    Oh, and welcome aboard pF! (y)

    - Steve
    Oda, valiant and Berserker like this.
  4. theBaron A Fixture

    Country:
    United-States
    Welcome to the Planet, Berserker!

    I'll second Paul's and Steve's comments. I have some tubes of artist's acrylics, and they do require proper thinning for use with figures. They are thick enough to use to replicate the surface of moving water, if you don't thin them.

    I'm also leery of buying such large sets with shades that are so close to one another. I prefer to have a few basic colors and mix shades from those. Though, I have bought specific colors for model building-IJN or RAF colors for airplanes, for example. But I have one jar of olive drab, and just tint it when I want to shade it.

    For acrylics, I've got some Andrea; some Vallejo; a lot of Tamiya, which I use primarily on scale models and apply with an airbrush; the odd Model Master and old Pactras or two; artist's acrylics in tubes; and craft-store acrylics. But I use oils and enamels, too, depending on the project and what I want to do.

    I'd save on buying the large set and put the money saved towards good sable brushes, a #1 and a #2 round. Properly cared for, they will give you good service for a long time.

    Hope that helps, and I look forward to seeing your work! Taking a cue from your forum handle, I'll guess that your favorite area is fantasy, probably wargaming scales?

    Prost!
    Brad
    Oda and Geoff Charman like this.
  5. Berserker Member

    Country:
    United-Kingdom

    Thanks for all the advise gentlemen. (y)

    Brad (your bold above). Not at the moment, it's mostly 120mm/1/16 scale military figures, not one era just whatever figure takes my fancy. I have 5 completed figures but I need to take some better pics before I post them on here.

    As for the Berserker handle, I don't think there's any real meaning behind it, although it might stem from me liking Scandinavian women ;) Ooooo shield maidens!!
    phil_h and theBaron like this.
  6. theBaron A Fixture

    Country:
    United-States
    See, and I always think of "Clerks" when I hear "Berserker" :LOL:
    phil_h and hypertex like this.
  7. Eugene D. New Member

    Country:
    United-States
    Any paints work, really. I seen professionals use oils, primacryls, etc. You can even use the cheap brands you find at hobby shops. It's really a personal preference. I use Vallejo because of the dropper bottles. But I'm beginning to hate how they separate so easily on a wet palette. I'll be trying Warcolours next.
  8. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England
    Hi

    Welcome to PF like the others say really it's what works for you and what you are happy painting with but as Paul says like brushes get the best you can (afford) .

    As these are in tubes I would probably like I do with Jo Sonja mix into dropper bottles

    Where did you get those from can't quite make out the name
  9. Berserker Member

    Country:
    United-Kingdom


    Hi Nap

    I didn't buy this set in the end, the make is Castle, they were on Amazon. In the end I went for a smaller cheap set to have a go at painting with Acrylics in this form. All my figures so far have been painted with Tamiya Acrylics straight out the jar. I only realised recently after reading on PF that Tamiya Acrylics are supposed to be thinned down.

    I'll admit that so far it's been a bit of a struggle not to revert back to Tamiya, but I'll persevere a bit longer, as after seeing figures and bust on PF the finish that can be obtained is fantastic.
    napoleonpeart likes this.
  10. Graham A Fixture

    Country:
    England
    Oddly enough, I also saw these on Amazon and bought a set a few days ago. Most, if not all, of my modelling colours are greys, greens and browns of WWI and WWII colours so a set of general colours like this appealed to me.

    I have tried a few out and can say that they work really well. I used a tiny drop, added a spot of retarder and thinned with water and they cover well. Might need a glazing medium to get them really thin. Colours are strong and dry with a satin finish. So far, more than happy with them but time will tell.
    Berserker and napoleonpeart like this.
  11. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England
    Hi Guys

    I have this set on my bench now ....impressed , mixing well together and with other brands ( Reaper, Vallejo, Andrea, Army Painter ) there is a lot of paint all giving a good vibrant colour , using a glazing medium as well as retarder .

    Sipping was very fast indeed

    Happy with results I am getting

    Nap
    Oda, Berserker and Graham like this.
  12. bagelman1952 Well-Known Member

    Country:
    England
    Nap. Can you confirm what the finish is when dried. Graham says satin. A lot of my paints have not survived storage to well and I'm going to have to consider some replacements.
  13. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England

    Hi there

    I am just finishing a bust with these , they are a slight satin finish as Graham says , but Matt varnish works fine .

    My view is these are worth getting great value and a lot of paint in the box , good range of colours as well .

    Be careful when piercing the seal ..it oozes out a bit

    These are not Jo Sonja level which is what I also use but I like the results I am getting

    Nap
    bagelman1952, Graham and Oda like this.
  14. Graham A Fixture

    Country:
    England
    I find the best way to pierce the seal is with the tip of a scalpel blade. This gives a small hole so easier to get the tiny quantities that you need. I also use a retarder and for glazing, the Games Workshop medium. I always dull coat over the cloth anyway no matter what I use with Testers Dullcoat.
  15. bagelman1952 Well-Known Member

    Country:
    England
    My set of Castle paint arrived today. A couple of quick applications and I have to say I'm quite impressed. Not Jo Sonja quality by any means but very usable and excellent value for money.
    napoleonpeart and Graham like this.
  16. franck edet A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    give them a try for sure ! i'm still using some dollar store acrylics because i'm used to work with them. for the rest i'm painting with the whole scale75 range after trying all other brands ... just because it suits my total lazy cozy painting style :)
    it's all a matter of what works with you, with your style of painting. there'S no rule : it's a hobby so if you feel better with oils for some parts and ok with acrylics for some others : nobody can't blame you !
    most important : have fun !
    Chrisr, Graham and napoleonpeart like this.

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