40K Online

Modeling => Painting => Topic started by: General Alarm on February 11, 2009, 12:13:06 PM

Title: New Recruit [cheaper alternatives to Citadel paints?]
Post by: General Alarm on February 11, 2009, 12:13:06 PM
Evening all from sunny Glasgow!

Just a quick question for my first ever post here. I am currently getting together an IG army for my first foray into the world of 40k (and GW!).

Seems to me the GW paints are a bit pricey, can you point me in the direction of alternatives that don't cost an arm and a leg?

Same thing for basecoat spray, seems well overpriced.
Title: Re: New Recruit
Post by: MoonMan on February 11, 2009, 12:41:15 PM
Armory primer (I think it's an American company, so I don't know if it's available in the UK) is usually about half the price of GW primer. I've also heard of people using automotive primer, though I have no idea about the cost of that. I'm sure someone here knows.

As for alternative paints, Reaper has a well-established line of paints that I believe are somewhat cheaper. Plus they come in really good squeeze bottles that are reusable.

Welcome to 40kOnline (and the hobby, and IG)!
Title: Re: New Recruit
Post by: Lt_PliskinAJ on February 11, 2009, 02:09:16 PM
Any spray primer will work. I have used all sorts of them and they all have about the same results. The onlything I would suggest is to use a black primer as it makes the models look darker. I have never had good luck with the light undercoats. I recently started using Vallejo paints and they seem to work really well and they seem to last longer then most because you don't have the problem of the paints drying out. But I now use both Vallejo and testors and it works well.
Title: Re: New Recruit
Post by: The_Outcast on February 12, 2009, 12:41:03 AM
Most of my paints are actually Americana.  Its water based you can get it at Micheals, Hobby Lobby, etc. Real cheap about a dollar or so, but some of the colours (yellow, red, and a couple of the really really dark colours) don't cover very well and it takes a couple of coats but, other than that they work great. And it pretty easy to match with GW stuff, not exactly the same but they are really close.

The_Outcast
Title: Re: New Recruit [cheaper alternatives to Citadel paints?]
Post by: Unholy Worm on February 12, 2009, 03:24:39 PM
I use Tamiya mostly (it's from Japan, but is sold in other countries too), it's an enamel paint and leavs almost no stains and it's cheaper that GW paint. Besides, if you use a solvent (or mix clear alcohol with 50% water), then you'll have enough to use it for half a year!
Title: Re: New Recruit [cheaper alternatives to Citadel paints?]
Post by: DJ-of-E on February 12, 2009, 04:56:49 PM
We need to sticky a thread about "alternative paints" or "alternative primers" and their benefits or what not because I'm seeing them once every month.
Title: Re: New Recruit [cheaper alternatives to Citadel paints?]
Post by: jawmonkey on February 12, 2009, 05:00:40 PM
I prefer Testors paints, but I like uniform solid colors (and hate washes and highlights) I also use some generic acrylics that I get in the craft department (of Wal-Mart, but you don't have those), I use them for the little highlighting, drybrushing stuff that I do use.
Title: Re: New Recruit [cheaper alternatives to Citadel paints?]
Post by: Jehan-Reznor on February 12, 2009, 05:45:48 PM
I use Tamiya mostly (it's from Japan, but is sold in other countries too), it's an enamel paint and leavs almost no stains and it's cheaper that GW paint. Besides, if you use a solvent (or mix clear alcohol with 50% water), then you'll have enough to use it for half a year!
Tamiya also has Acrylic paints the small thin pots are the enamel types while the bigger flatter pots are the acrylic paints.

I use it a lot (other paint is somewhat difficult in Japan)