[Narik]

Hi, I'm not sure if this is the right forum to ask, but i have two questions about painting as a newbie... sorry to the admins if it's the wrong forum:

I've ordered some models and I'm just getting into Warhammer 40k. I understand the game but I've played a grand total of maybe 10 games using regular marines. I'm going to admit readily that the painting aspect of the game interested me more than the actual game.

After picking an army that I'm comfortable with, (Blood Angels) I've finally picked a paint scheme that I'm comfortable with. (Flesh Tearers). My miniatures arrive in about two weeks, but I've been reading a lot on the painting tutorials and forums and a lot of people seem to be using Vallejo game paints in lieu of the GW paints because they're cheaper and easier to work with than the GW equivalent, the only complaint was that they're hard to find.

Now i was out in a local hobby store and i found a store that carried Vallejo game paints, is it a good idea for me as a beginner to go with these paints? I talked to the store manager and he said he'd order what colors I'd need. Or is it something that more advanced painters use and I'm getting in over my head.

The second question i have is regards to airbrushing. My friend said it would be ok if i borrowed his airbrush as i purchased a fair number of vehicles. Is there a better or alternative paint people recommend to use with airbrushing? I hear some paints can actually clog the nozzle while you are using it, i want to make sure i don't purchase something that could damage his tool. (or at the very least save me 4 hours cleaning it.)

I figure the painting experts on this board could give me a bit better idea of what i should do. I'm an engineer so my experience with the artistic world is somewhat limited in scope.

Thanks in Advance.

-Narik

 

[Hron13]

Well about the vallejo paint. I use GW, but thats just because I already have it, Vallejo is just as good (if not better) and say it was a great choice k:.

for the airbrush, I just basecoat my vehicles then drybrush a highlight on and drybrush battle damage. airbrushes are good though and can do the same work faster, and better in many cases.

 

[Dave T Hobbit]

I hear some paints can actually clog the nozzle while you are using it, i want to make sure i don't purchase something that could damage his tool. (or at the very least save me 4 hours cleaning it.)

I am not aware of problems with any water based paints provided you thin them a little first.

 

[nocturnalK]

the best thing to do with any airbrust with acrylic paints is to make sure you have thinned them down enough.

A common phrase that you will see is that you should thin your paints down to the consistancy of milk to get an even coat with out cloging you airbrush.

You can mix the paints with water or acrlic paint thinner.

If you browwing you mates airbrush i would check the needle has been cleaned before you start just incase.

 

[fynn]

and if you got for the vallejo paints, may be worth asking the store owner to get the base coulor your useing for your armour from the vallejo air range, as there desinged for airbrush, and are pre mixed for use straight away, once youve basecoated with the airbrush, just highlight and shade with a standard brush

 

[NerdyOgre254]

Like everything, forum opinion should always be taken with a grain of salt.
Thankfully, paint pots are rather cheap, so it's rather easy to buy the vallejo version and the GW version at the same time (if you can get them both there - an independent stockist will probably stock both).

Have fun with the hobby!

 

[humakt]

This is the right forum for your question, so not a problem.

Using VJ's aircolour is a good idea as it saves trying to get the milk consitancy right.

Cleanign air brushes is not normally too difficult and you should clean it as soon as you have finished with it (run clean water through the brush.

 

[Veghist]

I use both GW and Vallejo, but the later outclasses GW any day. All Vallejo model colour cover better than the GW foundation range, even for pale colours, game colour is the same consistency and colour range as GW, but covers better and come in a dropper bottle, so no drying out or wasting paint