Hello everyone, I really like figures and I used to paint them in China with air brush. I live in LA now. Recently I plan to restart my hobby. But I find that the paints here are really expansive. I used to use paints from a brand named Mr. hobby, Mr color series. It is a Japanese brand. They are too expansive on amazon and ebay. Probably 3 times price compared to the price in China. So I want to ask what brand of paints you guys recommend? Which are cheap and good. Or is there some stores in the US which can provide me cheaper Japanese paints? Thanks a lot!!!

Welcome to the West......the brand you mentioned is expensive in the UK so obviously the same seems to be true in the USA. I wouldn't advise buying cheap paints. Jo Sonja, Vallejo, scale 75 are all popular but not cheap.

Keith

Got it. Each one of those three brands has better oil paints?

Are you looking for Oil Paints or Acrylics?

The brands I mentioned are all Acrylics.

Keith

All three can be Brushed or Air Brushed by the way.

Keith

Okay! Thanks!

Further to what Keith said, Mr Color and Tamiya etc are not ideal for brush painting as they go 'glutinous' quite quickly and start to skin over even with thinner and retarder added. For brush painting acrylics, I would suggest Vallejo or Scale 75 which are mixed with water (not Isopropyl based thinner) and you have better control for brush painting and washes etc. With regards to price and your desire to buy 'cheap'; well my own experience is buying cheap paints and / or brushes will only leave you frustrated and deliver poor results. After all, why pay $50 for a figure and then try and paint it with poor quality paint or brushes from 'Poundland' or the local dime store?

HTH
Gary

I apply Tamiya acrylics all the time by hand, with no problems, precisely when I thin them. It took me a long time to figure out to thin them. First, I realized that they're formulated for airbrushing, and meant to be thinned for use. Then it took me a while to realize to use Tamiya's own proprietary thinner. With water or isopropyl, I still got paint clumping on the brush, second layers pulling up the first. But once I thinned the paints just I do for airbrushing--thin with Tamiya's own thinner--I found I could lay down coats as thin as if applied with the airbrush.

I mix the paint and thinner in a well on my ceramic palette.

I'll add that I don't use Tamiya exclusively; it represents one part of my paint box. I also use Testor's and Model Master enamels, Andrea and Vallejo acrylics, craft store acrylics, and Schminke-Mussini oils.

Confiserie, to your observation about price, Andrea and Vallejo acrylics in the little eyedropper bottles are usually a pretty good bargain. For a couple of bucks, you get a bottle that will last a while before you use it up. You don't use that much of it, when painting, just a couple of drops at a time.

Prost!
Brad

Kudos Brad if you can hand paint with Tamiya however having tried it with their own brand thinner, 'Mr Lelling Color' and laquer thinners - it beat me. Fine for small parts but I certainly wouldn't try and hand paint a large surface area with the stuff; something like a cape or model tank etc.

Gary
p.s 'Confiserie'.....sweetshop?

If you watch guys like Jordu Schell in action, they just use cheap craft paints mixed with acrylic ink (like white ink) and sprayed through an airbrush. The trick is to mix it really well - i.e. with a battery powered whisk.

I think my words misguides you guys. I should say "cheaper". I want some native brands with reasonable price.
Mixing with water? I never did it. I only use Mr hobby paints to do airbrushing and Av paints to draw faces. I want something can replace them.

Just a song I like in a music game.. never mind

I think the paints I used is nitryl and enamels. For models only. BTW I do garage kits. Are you guys interested about this？

What brands you recommend for nitryl and enamel paints?

You might want to take a look at Garage Kits US Colors https://www.garagekitsuscolors.com// . I believe they are formulated by the same folks who made the Lifetone paints. They can be airbrushed or hand brushed and are acrylics.

HTH

Bob

I don't have any nitryl paints, as far as I know, but as far as enamels go, as I mentioned above, I have Testor's and Model Master enamels. I also have a couple of jars left of old Pactra water-based enamels.

Prost!
Brad

Have to considered the cost for a limited palette of paints rather than a full suite? Unless you buy very selected oils that can be major money, you should be able to get a mixing palette of most any brand for not too much in total..say 10-15 colours, a few metallics, an ink or two..all in not any more than going deep on a full range. Or just get a basic flash set, add other colours project by project. As a start, just buy one or two of whatever you have good access to, try it..then get from there..generally there is a price for quality though..

I have a little stash of anime kits, and one in progress. Some of the figure kits associated with Maschinen Krieger could be considered garage kits, too, I suppose, since they're produced and marketed in small batches by the artists who sculpt them.

Prost!
Brad

Cool stuff sir