A ramble on "Foundry Paint System: quality and basic id

[Hammers]

As I am getting older I realize that I have less time...ah, who am I kidding I am getting lazier by the day and I there fore have less and less patience with picking out shadow and hilite colors when I paint (adding black and white seldom does it as you know). I have often thought that I should document what I do with some of the basic colors like kakhi, tan, red cloth etc. by writing down the mixes I use and then perhaps mix a few ready made pots of shadow/hilites. But, perhaps you recognize yourselves here, when I'm in the middle of a the creativity of painting I don't want to distract my self with paperwork. So obviously I currently have no chance to achieve that Teutonic efficiency so many of us seem to lack and envy.

I see that severl people on this Forum use the Foundry system, which, as I understand it, provides you with the shadow and hilite of a basic color in three handy pots. Could this be the answer to all my angst and letargy?

So here are two questions to those of you who use this system:

1) What is the quality like of Foundry? I have been loyaly using the Vallejo ranges (basic, Game Color, Air, and Super) for a long time becaus of the excellent pigment saturation and low gloss medium. These I combined with Iron Winds flesh tones and the occasional Tamaya, Ral Partha, Humbrol and GW for nuances in their ranges I happen to particularely like (like GW Red Gore and teh Ral Partha browns)

2) How is the completeness of the range? If you buy the full set, does it cover all the basics? I am not talking about panting a lot of Warhammer here where pretty much everything makes Ronald McDonald look drab. I mostly paint in a naturalistic style with greens, browns and tans and jollier colors somewhat muted.

[Malamute]

I will stick my neck out and say I think they are pretty reasonable sets of paint. I use them in conjunction with Vallejo and soem GW paint as well.

I am a lazy so and so and find the idea of mixing batches of paint tiresome, so these presented me with an ideal solution. There is now a complete range of colours and most are well represented.

My only grumble is within some of the colours there is very little contrast between the three pots ie the basecoat pot is not much darker than the highlight one.

I am happy with them.

[Poliorketes]

I like them. I'm an untalented painter and never thought of achieving anything, but the Foundry system helped me a lot. The Foundry range is definitely not the range you would use if prefering 'knallbunte' (megacoloured) Miniatures, but for 19th/20ies century wargaming it is great.

[Prof.Witchheimer]

I'm a Foundry paint system fan. I'd say, 75% of my painting jobs are done with Foundry colours. I also use GW, Coat'd'arms, Tamiya, Vallejo and some others but just for certain colours/situations. Sure, Foundry ones have some gaps, their red is not really good and often useless but the most of the bottles are must-to-have.

[Hammers]

I'm a Foundry paint system fan.

Yes, I noticed that from your paint rack in the picture on witchunter.net.

[dominic]

I recently shifted to Foundry paints.
I agree with some colours, the contrast is too small (eg Deep Blue B and C), and also it does not completely do away with the need to mix colours.

However, overall, the Foundry colours are brighter and warmer than their Vallejo counterparts.  So I will continue to use them next to my existing Vallejo, GW and Plaka paints!

[artshiraz]

Greetings
I like them too
I found out that they dry a lot more quicker than GW, i-kore or Coat d'Armes. About the only thing which makes me grumpy right now is that fact that -with the recent overall price raising- colors got a lot more expensive too. €15 for a 3bottles-pack(€5,- per bottle) is a bit steep .
As I wrote above, I do like them though. So perhaps I will look for other colors around. But, as with so many other companies in this Hobby, if you found something/someone you like you'll probably won't change and do pay the price.

Foundry ones have some gaps, their red is not really good

Prof, what would be a good red?? I have no Foundry red (but planned to get some prior to the raise)and i-kore Erg red is not so good either (IMHO).

[dominic]

I'm also not totally happy with GW and Vallejo Reds.  I find taht the GW reds don't cover so well (need a second coat), and the Vallejo reds form fine cracks after drying.  Anyone have these problems?

So far, IMHO, the Foundry bright red and scarlet seem best for my purposes.

[Hammers]

I'm also not totally happy with GW and Vallejo Reds.  I find taht the GW reds don't cover so well (need a second coat), and the Vallejo reds form fine cracks after drying.  Anyone have these problems?

So far, IMHO, the Foundry bright red and scarlet seem best for my purposes.

Well, it's good to hear Foundry red is good but I am quite happy with GW. It's got that deep luster I like for a basic red and IMO coverage is alright. That cracking phenomena only occurs at my table when I use too much flow release. Or dillutants. Or beyond "best before" pots.

[Hammers]

And how is the basic primary colour yellow? I have given up on all the major brand.

[dominic]

Yes, I have given up on all yellows!
I am now using "Schminke" artist's acrylics for yellow.  Works far better than any model or wargaming brand that I have tried.

[theoldschool]

I have been using the Foundry paints since they arrived and have now just about moved completely away from Vallejo apart from thei WW2 colours. Generally I find the Foundry paints to be excellent, although doing some figures for Bob Murch recently I discovered that they don't work well on a white undercoat. For me the must have colours are Rawhide, Buff Leather, Storm Blue, Night Sky and any of the greys.
I recently picked up the P3 paints and so far have been very impressed. The colours are more muted than the Foundry range and the coverage is better. The reds are wonderful.
Pat

[artshiraz]

Greetings

Yes, I have given up on all yellows!
I am now using "Schminke" artist's acrylics for yellow.  Works far better than any model or wargaming brand that I have tried.

You too ?! :: I heard the same thing from another just yesterday evening. Hmm. I do have some Schmincke and some Lukas colors around. Might be worth trying it out.

P3 paints .. The reds are wonderful.

That's right. We do even have a shop here selling them. Whould that be the Khador or Protectorate set?

[theoldschool]

Whould that be the Khador or Protectorate set?

I use the Khador base and highlight (just a little mixed into the base) and the Skorne reds. Sanguine also makes a really nice base coat. I buy them as singles from Wargames Workshop.
Pat

[WitchfinderGeneral]

The only reason why I haven't yet tried the Foundry paints is because I don't like to mail order every single paint I need.
But I have for most colours 4 or 5 Vallejo paints where I can easily pick the main/shadow/highlight colours I need, without mixing.