HOBBY: A Good Old Fashioned Paint Throwdown!
I recently got a gym membership in a sad attempt at burning off all the Funions I smash into my face on a weekly basis. Surrounded by furiously burning testosterone–and being vigorously encouraged (read: yelled at) by the gym people–it sparked a previously ignored love for boxing. After impulse buying a set of boxing gloves, returning said gloves–because who was I kidding– and instead watching Rocky I-IV, I settled on vicariously living my boxing fantasy through a good old fashioned internet debate.
I work at a board game store in Las Vegas, and after explaining the idea of hobby based painting to newbies the first question out of their gaping mouths is usually: “Yeah…but which one is the best?” Tricky question, right? It’s like the hobby equivalent of “Coke or Pepsi?” So I’m going to invoke the wrath of the internet and say that I have a definitive answer to both questions.
Coke is the best brand of soda–obviously–and Vallejo offers the best brand of paints. Let me explain why, using the ranges I’m familiar with:
Blood For the Blood God was Nice at Least….
I enjoy learning things and particularly exploring new ground within the hobby. I feel that GW’s current range of paints are crafted in such a way to stream line the painting experience. While this may be the proper experience for a person looking to either speed paint 1500 points worth of models, or paint a couple Reaper minis, but it doesn’t allow me the perceived freedom I get with other paints. Also I find GW’s current line–save for the amazing technical paints–oftentimes clump up and dry faster than other paints. That being said, GW does offer a broad spectrum of colors, even dipping into the very welcomed idea of pastels. Yet, at the their current price point, I’m offered the same range of colors by Vallejo but for cheaper. Also Vallejo’s dropper-style bottle, both extends the paints lifespan and allows me the freedom and accuracy I desire when mixing paints. So in my opinion GW offers a pricey paint selection geared towards both new-comers and painters looking to paint the “Citadel Way”.
A New Challenger Appears!
P3, the new kid on the block, holds a special place in my heart. It’s the paint that I cut my teeth on and it’s made by the company who makes my favorite miniature game. That being said, P3 has a extremely limited spectrum. What they do offer is vibrant and perfect for painting dynamic colors. Their “pill bottle” packaging, while not ideal for mixing, does offer more paint than GW’s pots. Sadly, P3’s paints are harsh, thick and require patience. The lifespan of their metallic colors is horrendous, and their standard hues’ lifespan is nothing to write home about. I find that I enjoy select “hyper” colors from P3, but don’t use the range for anything other than “pop”.
A Really Close Second…
Since I talked about freedom and “exploring new ground within the hobby”, naturally Reaper Paints probably came to mind. Reaper also has an extensive range and uses a dropper system similar to Vallejo. While Reaper Paints are good, I find their hues to be less vibrant than those of Vallejo. Also their consistency feels thicker than Vallejo’s, making it sometimes hard to create adequate washes out of Reaper Paints. Reaper’s stark lack of technical paints– such as Vallejo’s Liquid Putty– and absence of dry pigments, usually leads me to the frequent the Vallejo rack.
So there you have it, folks! I think that Vallejo makes the best paint range around. It gives me the freedom to explore the limits of hobby painting, an expansive range of dynamic colors, technical paints, and the perfect price point. But this isn’t a monologue, oh no! I want to hear from you!
Use the comments to boast about your favorite paints and prove me wrong! If you want to see more from me, check out my site here.
