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Beginner what paints ?

Discussion in 'General Figure Talk' started by Toeknee, Nov 20, 2021.

  1. Toeknee New Member

    Hi guys hope this in the right place and I now this has been gone over numerous times so sorry about that.

    I have been doing my due diligence on paints and what I need to start off with I will be going with acrylics now the question which do I go for so would like if you don't mind a bit of input from you guys

    The first one I have been looking at are the AK 3rd gen and they have a set to start you off
    [IMG]

    2nd I have been looking at are the reaper kits the core and the layer the only problem I see with those I dont want the brushes or the minis that come with.

    3rd I have been looking at and really like the look of is the artists acrylic in a tube scale75 or the AK
    [IMG]

    the last one I looked at id the scale 75 set they do now it is a lot but it would be doing double duty on my dioramas
    [IMG]

    So any input would be greatly appreciated also brushes I do have W&N series 7 but dont really want to start off with them can any nody point me in the right direction for some decent flats and rounds I already have a lot of brushes but a few more directed at figures would be great.

    Thanks for readiing this
    Tony
  2. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England
    Tony

    BIG WELCOME to PF ( do introduce yourself in the Welcome Aboard part )

    Have a look in the Painting Techniques, there's Acrylics and Oils sections

    Suggest you look at Rosemary and Co for the brushes , really good quality and excellent service

    Nap
    Blind Pew likes this.
  3. Henk A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    What subjects are you planning on painting? Napolionics? WWII German? Allied? Fantasy?
    Match your colour choice to that. Start with a basic colour set (Red Yellow Blue etc), and a few colours specific to your subject.

    Lifecolour are good, as are Vallejo. Tamiya is very good, but an acquired taste for brush painting. Citadel ( warhammer) are very good, but a bit pricey. Personally I'm not keen on Army Painter paints.
  4. Tecumsea PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    England
    I am an oil painter but in the club l belong to the majority of the best acrylic painters would probably recommend scale 75 and kimera by pegaso.

    My advice would be to stick to one brand for basic sets and then add to it with some specialised colours, metallics, inks etc as you find a need. A lot will depend on the type of figure you intend painting, Napoleonic, 20th century, knights, fantasy etc, etc.

    Keith
    Blind Pew, Hawk_Uk and Nap like this.
  5. Blind Pew A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Dear Tony, firstly, a big welcome. Secondly, don't be afraid to ask something that's been asked before (and may well be again!) Times change, you get different answers and also somebody else might not have seen it before.

    Thirdly.....'What brushes do you use?' Perhaps the most frequent question a newcomer asks an old-timer. Always has been. There are a few manufacturers that immediately spring to mind. W & N, Rosemary & Co, Broken Toad (if you can find them), Da Vinci, Hawk Miniatures. Yes, I don't doubt I've left out a few, no offence! None are cheap, but looked after & cleaned they will last years.

    You tend to find that most figure painters have one or two brushes as 'workhorses' that they do most stuff with, and other specialist ones for the rest.

    One thing is for certain. Top brushes will not make you a top painter; but you'll never be a top painter without top brushes.

    As for paint, I was always a dyed-in-the-wool oils man, but even I have moved on to acrylics. I stick with oils for skin tones and horses though.

    I hope this helps, if not let me know! (y)
    Nap, Tecumsea and Henk like this.
  6. Luis R. Active Member

    Country:
    Spain
    From my experience, Scale75 Scale Color range paints are too translucent, I usually need to apply 5 or more base coats to get a uniform finish. I'd go for either Vallejo Model Color or Game Color or AK 3rd Gen. New Vallejo Game Color range will be available by mid december, if you can wait. People who have tested it say it's top quality.
    Nap likes this.
  7. milbenplage Active Member

    I can't really suggest anything. What are you going to paint? What have you painted before? What paints did you use? Did you feel comfortable with them? Do you have a hobby store nearby?

    Personally I use Vallejo and Citadel. I tried Scale 75 acrylics (the ones in the dropper bottles). I couldn't get used to the medium AK 3rd Gen is recommended often. I'll try Abteilung 502 acrylics soonish.

    Right now I'am staying with Vallejo Model Color mostly. Simply because I have easy access to them. I hate to buy paints online. :)
    Nap likes this.
  8. Larsen E. Whipsnade Moderator

    Country:
    United-States
    I primarily use Vallejo acrylics and find them to be consistent and of good quality. As for brushes two years ago I bit the bullet and bought a set of Winsor&Newton Series 7 brushes. They're very expensive. The set I bought (sizes 0, 1, 2, 3) was on sale for $80 but two years worth of use and they're still like new. They hold a point extremely well and can be used to paint the smallest detail as well as for broad area coverage. I store them upside down in a rack I cobbled together from scrap lying around my bench.
    Rick
    IMG_2684.jpg
    harrytheheid and Blind Pew like this.
  9. Blind Pew A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    I will say, Larsen has quite rightly highlighted the best way to store brushes - 'upside down.' It helps to stop microscopic bits of crap clog up the brush. As I say, these are microscopic but do build up with time. I also highly recommend cleaning brushes in a paint/varnish remover. I get mine from Wilko for about £5 a bottle. It last for years, and the gunk it clears out of apparently 'clean' brushes is unbelievable.
    Nap, Henk, harrytheheid and 1 other person like this.
  10. Bundook Active Member

    Country:
    Scotland
    I only have local access to Revell acrylics. :( Are they any good for serious painting or are they just for spraying Tamiya tanks?
  11. Henk A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    I have a few Revell acrylics, but have not used them much with brushes, but they can be painted with a brush, suitably thinned. But that goes for nearly every paint.
  12. Henk A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom

    Absolutely, storing brushes upside down is best, but personally I worry that I will touch the brush heads when I try to insert them in the holes in Larse's holder. And I dont trust the push in from the side holders. So horizontal it is, for my brushes.
    Blind Pew likes this.
  13. Larsen E. Whipsnade Moderator

    Country:
    United-States
    Cool, whatever works for you is best. Different strokes for different folks ;)
    Rick
    Nap and Henk like this.
  14. Wayneb A Fixture

    Country:
    United-States
    It's not that difficult of a process. Buy a miniature that you like enough to paint. And then visualize how you would paint it. Then get the cheapest paints and brushes you can find to do job and see how it goes. You don't have to get too technical when starting out or you'll just get discouraged. It took me awhile to realize what KISS meant.........................Keep it simple stupid.

    Wayne
    Darby and Henk like this.
  15. Henk A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom

    I agree, to a point. Don't get to technical, don't spend top money on full sets of Kimera or Mehnke paint, or Kolinski Sable brushes of over £10 a piece. But, I would not get the cheapest paint or brushes either, because with those, the experience and results will be disappointing. Get some cheaper W&N brushes, and a basic set of Vallejo paint, and you can't go wrong. And take a simple subject to start with. An older Tamiya or Dragon figure would be ideal.
    Blind Pew, Nap and Wayneb like this.
  16. Wayneb A Fixture

    Country:
    United-States
    Whatever does the job.....To each his own.

    Wayne
    Henk likes this.
  17. Henk A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Egg on face time.....


    I only just realised. The OP was over a year ago .... oops.
  18. Blind Pew A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Same here. That went quick, didn't it? - still a valid question though.
    Henk likes this.
  19. theBaron A Fixture

    Country:
    United-States
    Zombie thread.

    I do think that Tony has since posted things he's working on, though.

    Prost!
    Brad
  20. Wayneb A Fixture

    Country:
    United-States
    I don't care if it was 10 yrs. ago.........I would still say the same thing.
    Blind Pew likes this.

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