Ask a Painter (Episode 3): Reaper vs. Vallejo! (Part 2 of 2)

[TheTaucomander]

hi i have just got back into painting, after not picking up a brush for 10 years. iv only ever used games workshop paints and found that my old ones are dead bought some the new ones and find some dont cover wel ect. also i dont like price we all on budget nowerdays. i tend to sway towards drybrushing. say base coat snot green then dry brush on mix snot and scorpian green then finish with light drybrush of scorpion would the vallejo paint be right for this style

ty for ur time

[Mirrikat45]

Hey, thanks for this video. I was looking into getting some Reaper Paints as I really liked their models, but it does seem that they are more useful for wet blending, which I wish I had the skill to do, but I'm more like you said, 1.2.3 kind of guy. I've heard pretty much nothing but good on Vallejo, so I'm going to give them a shot. Thanks!

[SixPathPein]

I just bought myself 2 Vallejo "GAME COLOR" Bottles... was wondering if this are any good for miniatures? I'm new to the whole painting on miniatures and also if any recommendation on an alternative to thinning other than buying an a bottle of "Paint Thinner" please... PLEASE Let me know... Thank you For all your helpful videos!

[AGProductionsInc]

@SixPathPein I've heard mixed opinions about the Game Color line of paints. Some love it, others hate it. I've never personally used it, so I can't chime in with a personal opinion. As far as thinning paint goes, most of the master painters tend to use only water. If you find that doesn't work well for you, search for a product called either Flow-Aid or Flow Release (Depending on the manufacturer). It's designed to break surface tension and help the paint flow more smoothly.

[SixPathPein]

@AGProductionsInc Thank you soo much :)

[spwicks1980]

Great video! Very informative and a well informed discussion. Cheers! :)

[xpvpccl]

I found the Windsors brushes at my local michaels and waited till they had a coupon for 40 percent off in my email comes about once a week. They are an amazing brush.

[bluemoonminis]

reaper minis is my fav HOWEVER Vallejo Model color is the best paint without question. However the funny thing is i never had reaper stuff crack on me, the dry lake bed thing you speak of . i just started using them so maby they changed the formula again

[WLordnDRanch12]

Would you consider Vallejo to be a good beginner line of paints?

Im practising my painting skills so I like to sometimes try various new techniques.

I just ordered a whole bunch of Vallejo Game Colour paints to replace my GW paints (which are drying up and annoying the hell out of me)

Thanks your videos are very helpful, keep up the good work.

[Knotje]

Heh, nice review. I'm still a novice figure painter ; I only paint Transformer toys and so far Vallejo Game Color fits my needs perfectly ; Transformers are not organic shapes so I don't do blending.

[CichlidAsh]

Great review you really explained the pros and cons very well. I am about to order my first Vallejo paints as I seem to have a fair few strange issue with the GW paints I have. I dont know what I am doing wrong with the GW paints but they seem to get really thick or dried out even when just leaving them in their own jars. Hopefully I will get a better result with Vallejo

[noobanik]

I recently switched to Reaper MSP from Vallejo. Got tired of the seemingly endless shaking of the VGC & VMC bottles. I paint by layering several very thin coats of paint and I haven't experienced the tackiness or dry lake-bed finish you mentioned. I even use a gunk mix consisting of 40% flow-aid to thin my paints.

[TheSeasonman1]

Thanks you have produced a great video again informative, and helpful . i have a question doe you find Vallejo paint dries very quickly on the mini. ? and how do you stop this happening when wet blending please . And i have just recieved some Rosemary and Co brushes . they are very good and very cost efective and of very high quality . thanks again for all your advise and videos .

[Orlandun202]

I loved this review, really helped me make a decision on which brand to go with as I was considering these two. My one question though and i don't know if you mentioned it but what is the difference between Vallejo game and model lines of paint and which one would you recommend? or would a combination of both be better.?

[AGProductionsInc]

@Orlandun202 The GC and MC lines have a slightly different formulation. One is acryllic based, while the other is vinyl based (the Model Color), making it more apt to chipping if not protected by a varnish. My personal preference is the model color range as the pigments are smaller as well, which gives them the ability to cover the model better. I do know quite a few painters that prefer the GC range, but tend to do so just because the names are similar to the GW paint range.

[canis77]

Very clear and useful information, I'll stick with my Vallejo.

[ozzycriss]

Thanx for sharing your views

[ruttman15]

Could you please talk more in depth about vallejo paint? Kind of the ins and outs, and the difference between model color and game color (make-up wise and price wise)

[fragmaster345]

i'm sorry that i write this again but, i just bought reaper master series paint for 80 bucks + shipping, and then this guy say they suck. i love this guy and i feel seriously ripped off now. i can't make a refund and it takes about 3 weeks to get it here... can someone tell me if i really should just ship em back? even if it means alot of work and time wasted, because i just bought 2 boxes of ork boyz and i want them painted with better paint than the foundation paint by citadel.

[SwimmingInMtDew]

@fragmaster345 so many paints so many to like and hate, for me I use Foundry but I have to order over seas to UK. So i use vallejo

[wtffy]

souds a little out of sync but a still a great vid! also can anyone recomend as place to get reaper/vallejo paints in west edmonton? any help will be aprreciated

[Herfer]

vid wont load...

[iLivez]

the audio is off! But great video!

[icebearlover14]

very well put out opinion thank you this cleared up alot i am a step 1 2 3 4 5 guy and then washes with some higlights and drybrush like jawaballs

[Thepainteroftzeentch]

What is a push pull style?

[CorvusMiniatures]

I'm with you on this one, Christopher, I'm also a fan of Vallejo Model Color. Great consistency, nice earth-tones. The only downside to them is their metallics, which suck in my opinion. Therefore I prefer GW for metallics.

Great video.

[falknerblitz]

Great review. At first I was thinking that these were pretty harsh statements but after the whole video I have to say I probably agree with most of it. The reaper paints do have too much flow improver and do leave a sticky feel to them. About the winsor newton brushes - do you know any cheap retailers because the ones around here each brush is $15+

[AGProductionsInc]

There's a great retailer in North Carolina that ships internationally as well called Cheap Joe's Art Stuff. Most of the W&N brushes there are about $8 - $10 (the sizes you'll need anyway).

Check out my video called, "A Great Company" for the link to their website.

[clubace090]

I like how you review the paints, taking into account painting styles and you clearly know what your talking about through research and experence

[tatulover01]

sadly i cant get reaper paints here in scotland glasgow :( so i use GWpaints, but i find that some of the paints depending on colour or weather they are foundation or just the normal ones, they are thin or thick..! its odd..i sometimes paint my models a basecoat of chaos black if i dont have the sprays and the paint form the point is more sticky wen it dries than the spray cans!! I am a big W&N fan toowen it come to watercolor and their brushes are good quality too !!

[fear432]

What is the miniature you show as your display picture on Youtube and Miniwargaming?

[AGProductionsInc]

It's a Reaper Miniatures figure known as Bertrand, the Traveling Monk.

[fear432]

Thanks a million, it's a beautiful miniature!

[Scherdnr]

much clearer/honest explanation here. First vid seems harsh at first or cut & dry. What do you think about people saying W&N brushes quality having declined compared to the other kolinski sable available in the last few years? (8404s, Rosemary & Co, DaVinci brushes?)

[AGProductionsInc]

I actually have noticed a slight decline in the W&N brushes over the past few years (they tend to fray a bit more swiftly than before). Sadly, I think they might be machining them now instead of hand making them, but such is the price of popularity sometimes.

[Thepainteroftzeentch]

what is a push pull style?

[xArmedGamer]

Well Chris, you have converted me to use W&N Series 7 Brushes, but I only have a 000 so far. Also switched to Vallejo MC, and never looked back, they are the best line of paints i've ever used. So Chris, I thank you so much for all your effort you've put in your videos. I greatly appreciate it.

-Joe

[sentinel69the]

I really respect your opinion there christopher. I have the series 7 brushs and a paint tier eighty because you introduced them to me. And i definitly agree with your opinion on the paint. Sadly i use GW paints in the most part as they are the most redily available in Australia where i live. Keep up the good work.

[AGProductionsInc]

If you're anywhere near Melbourne, check out BattlebunkerDOTcom. Or go check out a youtuber called RubbishInRubbishOut. He's got a shop down in Australia and he can set you up with at least Reaper paints, which are a slight step up the ladder.

[sentinel69the]

Sadly i don't live near Melbourne; but do you know of a store that would ship the valejjo paints? Thanks in advance.

[phatmonk6195]

the only plaints from GW i use are the foundations...those are great, you can cover a black primer with just one layer

[phatmonk6195]

i just got my first reaper paints and they are a great step up from my testors model master

[richardcasellas]

Me too and it was great advice. I got a 2, 0 and a 000

Nice vid Chris, we do listen!

[BrotherOfBattle]

great video as always thanks and yes I was one of those winsor and newton people !!!

[19Torasil80]

Great vid!

[Natakue]

I will have to say great review. I was a littel worried but you cleared it up at the end. Its all about the style of painter. AS you discribed your a layer painter and your correct reaper is not good for that. For some one with my style reaper is perfect. I like the fact that they are not thick and have the flow aid in there. I have tryed vallejo and they have a great color range but they are way to thick IMO. But great review...

[highpriestrsw2]

I own a wide selection of paints. I'm less of a fan of Citadel than I was starting out. I still love their washes though. The new washes are pretty good. I like MSP for lining metallics and dark lining. I'm not a really big fan of Vallejo Game Colors but I love the VMC and Panzer Ace line of paints. During humid times I use Reaper MSP brush on primers and I'm a big fan of their other additives.

[ArtofModeling]

Very good information

[aaroncolhouer]

Whats push pull painting?

[SwimmingInMtDew]

pushing the paint around and pulling it. Not painting the correct way

[ElStagundo]

But it looks fantastic, Screw the Correct way! Be Origonal!

[jimeronimo]

Handled the topic very well Chris. I really appreciated the explanations and background info. Your knowledge base is strong bro

[theflyingpinoy]

just wondering what is the push pull style? I paint like you but in a very dry way. Loading the brush but making sure it spreads over the whole model in an even coating.

[dfleiva]

Hey just started back up modelling after taking a few years hiatus and bought some colors of the Vallejo Game colors. Any quick thoughts on the difference between the game color and model colors lines?

Also have a W&N S7 0 brush I am hotly anticipating using ^^ Some of the models I bought used, prepainted from ebay are soaking in brake fluid to strip (coming along real nice.)

[kirkieball]

second this i have game colours and is models better ?

WAAAGH CHECK MA VIDS :P

[AGProductionsInc]

Game colors are not quite as nice as the model colors. They are better than the GW paints, but the GC were designed basically for people that wanted to use "vallejo" paints but still wanted the names of the GW paints on the bottles to make it easier for them to color match the guides that were out there. Overall though, between the 2, Model colors are the superior product.

[Agamemnon2]

I'd argue that the Game Colour range is actually worse than GW's in terms of consistency. Some bottles I've bought have been completely unusable, most famously Dark Green (almost all the pigment was turned into a sticky mess in the bottom of the bottle and simply won't mix back into the paint no matter what)