P3 Paints...

[Orctrader]

Sorting through my old paints today, after dumping the Citadel in those weird dalek-like pots - dried to a concrete hardness - I checked all of my P3, still perfect of course and thought I'd check the current price.  Discovering that since I bought these years ago the line went OOP, then was relaunched last year in a Kickstarter.   

I use a Paint Station as I don't have a permanent hobby area, and cycled all of my P3s' onto that moving some of my newer paints into holding.

[Atheling]

I've had my P3's for years (maybe 15?) and they're all tip top. I cannot say that about my Foundry nor the Citadel paints.

[Elbows]

I only ever had one or two P3 paints, but I really liked them.

I'm mostly an AK guy now, but the only paints I don't bother with are Citadel (double the price for less...and still terrible fucking pots).

I've not had any brand really disappoint me (had two bad Pro Acryls which...was weird).  I have some Vallejos that become thick over time, but I just thin them.  Even when I realize they're getting thick, I then remember they're 10-15 years old...so I forgive them.

[HerbertTarkel]

I’m firmly in the AK gen3 camp, as well. They airbrush right out of the bottle, which is incredible. Even Vallejo Air needs additive, and dries too fast in the airbrush.

I do like the GW Contrast paints, they are such a big leap forward to speed paint. I have been using them for my commission and they are a life and time saver.

Other paints I use are Createx Wicked Colours line, they are intended for airbrush art, and are awesome. I paint goalie masks with them, mostly.

P3 paints I do remember being a big deal, but then just faded. And I started with the GW hex pots of death a long time ago! Also had some of the earlier tapered pots.

[Rick]

Not sure about recent ones but I'm still using Citadel paints that I bought more than 30 years ago. Some of them even have those old silver foil labels on the pots - before they went to paper ones and before they started using those hexagonal pots - of which I also have a fair few active paints as well. If yours are drying up so fast then how on earth are you storing yours and what am I doing wrong?

[HerbertTarkel]

Not sure about recent ones but I'm still using Citadel paints that I bought more than 30 years ago. Some of them even have those old silver foil labels on the pots - before they went to paper ones and before they started using those hexagonal pots - of which I also have a fair few active paints as well. If yours are drying up so fast then how on earth are you storing yours and what am I doing wrong?

The pre-hex paints actually were quite good, never had problems with them drying up. The hex pots because I was new then to painting, tended to gum up around the seal, and that let air in, if I remember. I used to paint straight from the pot back then. Now I use a wet palette, and I’m sure all my old hex pot paints would still be alive

As I started with Orks, I liked the Evil Sunz logo on the pots, too!

[sultanbev]

I use P3 coal black for doing tyres and tarmac, there is no other colour quite like it, other than the old Humbrol 112, which Airfix have just told me they have no intention of reviving.

I am getting low on my stock of P3 coal black, is there any news on that kickstarter actually having paints for sale?

[HerbertTarkel]

I use P3 coal black for doing tyres and tarmac, there is no other colour quite like it, other than the old Humbrol 112, which Airfix have just told me they have no intention of reviving.

I am getting low on my stock of P3 coal black, is there any news on that kickstarter actually having paints for sale?

Is that not the worst when you have a colour and it’s hard to find? I have a few that I would probably stock up for life on if I had to. Vallejo primers are one, they go on so well with an airbrush (although dry a bit fast, and will clog even a broad needle!); I use them for everything. I would never go back to rattle cans now!

Happy hunting on the P3 coal black.

[Orctrader]

Coal Black...is there any news on that kickstarter actually having paints for sale?

LINK

In the UK - I note it is pre-order though...Expected in April   

[Elbows]

Not sure about recent ones but I'm still using Citadel paints that I bought more than 30 years ago. Some of them even have those old silver foil labels on the pots - before they went to paper ones and before they started using those hexagonal pots - of which I also have a fair few active paints as well. If yours are drying up so fast then how on earth are you storing yours and what am I doing wrong?

Citadel paint pots have become progressively worse over the years (while also being less content, generally 12mL vs. 17/18mL of older pots).  The 90's pots were fine, and it's been downhill since then...and there is a strong argument that it's intentional, forcing people to buy more paint because the design of the bottles is so poor.  They generally don't seal well, and are prone to tipping over (people even design 3D printed 'holders' for GW paint pots, etc.).

Their prices are also pretty crap, at $4.55/12mL, or $7.80/18mL for stuff like contrasts.  The quality of their paint is fine, but unless you're dead-set on needing a specific Citadel colour, there is no real reason to buy them.

[Rick]

I usually buy a mixture of axrylics from various manufacturers these days but there are a few Citadel paints that I will always replenish - some of their yellows and reds, for example, are better than any others I've found - I can put the paint on over a dark colour and it remains bright and vibrant - others I've tried wash out and I have to paint white before painting over with a colour. The other brands I've tried seem to do ok with 'military' type colours going over darker colours but when it comes to primary colours they can often be far inferior to Citadel.

My advice is don't just buy one brand or manufacturer - shop around; some brands are great for some uses, some for others - get the variety of paints that suits your style, currently I have Citadel, Coat d'Arms, Army Painter, Vallejo, Humbrol acrylic and Revell Aqua paints on my painting table! 

It's also worth adding what people have hinted at but not explicitly stated - different brands of paints have significantly different drying times. Citadel paints have one of the fastest drying times of any paint that I use, whereas Humbrol and Vallejo are quite slow (Coat d'Arms is somewhere roughly between), so I rarely (if ever) use Citadel paints for batch painting loads of minis at a time - normally I'll use Vallejo for that, but if I'm detailing one or two individual figures - almost always Citadel; dipping a brush, a few strokes on a mini then cleaning and on to the next colour. Again - it comes down to what you're looking for in a particular paint, how you intend to use it and what results you want; experiment with different brands and use that experience to buy the paints you want.

[Atheling]

I usually buy a mixture of acrylics from various manufacturers

Yep, me too. Old Foundry, Citadel (silver metal only), Two Thin Coats, Andrea, Vallejo Model/Game Colour, P3, Reaper and a few others even more esoteric! 

[sultanbev]

LINK

In the UK - I note it is pre-order though...Expected in April   

Thanks, I'll keep an eye on that.

[Daeothar]

Are we certain that the manufacturer and formulation are still the same on the new P3 line though?

Because to my regret I found that a change in paint formula during the rejuvination of the Vallejo Game Color line that, even though the name and number were exactly the same, my favourite skintone paint (VGC Filthy Brown) was changed dramatically to a much more saturated and yellow colour! You can find my adventures with this issue over here…

[Aethelflaeda was framed]

Are we certain that the manufacturer and formulation are still the same on the new P3 line though?

Because to my regret I found that a change in paint formula during the rejuvination of the Vallejo Game Color line that, even though the name and number were exactly the same, my favourite skintone paint (VGC Filthy Brown) was changed dramatically to a much more saturated and yellow colour! You can find my adventures with this issue over here…

A drop of purple or two into the mix should fix that.