Paints from a Big Box Retailer |
For a long time, I was a poor gamer just trying to get by
with whatever I could find to play a few games.
This period of time has definitely influenced my gaming preferences and
still sticks with me. Sure my finances
are better, but some of the DIY and “Good-Enough” philosophy has stuck with
me. This time of financial tightness was
a bit of a blessing as it forced me to decided exactly how “into” wargaming I
really was. I guess the answer was that
I was pretty “into” it. Far out!
This is not a new topic on the blog, but it is one I like
to come back to from time-to-time. It is
best to remember your roots and understand some of the ethos that drives
you. I have talked about it in regards
to using Paper Templates, Making Your Own Models, and Using Toys for gaming. I also plan to someday visit everyone’s
favorite topic of doing gaming mats and terrain….. but it is not this day! I guess you could call that a tease.
I have always lived in a bit more rural areas, and to
source Hobby supplies and specialty items was mostly out of the question. The closest gaming store was frequently an
hour away. I remember the old GW Mail
Order Trolls fondly as that is how I sourced my early models. Thankfully, the Internet has brought all
these wonderful items so much closer and only a few keystrokes away. However, that hasn’t shaken my desire or
interest in re-purposing easily found items for Hobby related items.
With the relatively recent explosion in “Crafting”
hobbies, even big box retailers like Wal-Mart and Target are starting to carry
a larger selection of craft items. This
includes cheap brushes and acrylic paints.
I have been extensively experimenting with all of these in an attempt to
get easier access to supplies at discount prices.
I am particularly enamored with the paints. A decent sized bottle of acrylic craft paint
runs between .50 cents and a dollar US. The
size also allows you to paint a variety of models with one bottle. I have painted over 100 this year! Plus, there is a wide variety of colors to
choose from. Thanks to the low price,
easy accessibility, and large bottles I have no qualms mixing and blending it
together compared to normal miniature specific paints.
These cheap paints do have limitations. These paints are not suited for all
models. There are some they just work
better on than others. Here are some
recommendations I consider before using them to paint a model vs. traditional
miniature paints…..
1.
Does the model have strong, well-defined detail
work?
2.
Is the model supposed to be a bit gribbly or well-used
feeling?
3.
Doe sit have a light or dark finish?
4.
Is it a historical or fantasy model?
5.
Is it a hero/leader or rank and file?
Typically, these paints work better on models with
cleaner definition, have a dirtier final look, are fantasy models, want a
darker look, and are rank-and-file. If
the model does not fit that definition than I tend to stick with the real mini-paint.
For example, here are some examples and you can see these
questions in action:
Boats, terrain, and mat painted with Big Box Acrylics and House paint |
More Big Box Acrylics and Brushes |
Big Box Acrylics and Brushes again |
These cheap acrylics paints have other limitations
too. They are a bit thicker than
Miniature paints and sometimes a 3-to-1 or 2-to-1 mix with clean water helps to
thin them out. Lighter colors tend to
need less water to thin them. This
allows a smoother application and thinner layers of paint. I have even gone up to a 10-to-1 ratio for an
ink like effect. Again, this stuff is
dead cheap so it is much “safer” to experiment with.
Of course, besides miniatures, it is much cheaper and
easier to paint bulk terrain pieces and other items with these acrylic
paints. You can still achieve solid
painting effects without spending a ton of cash on high quality paints.
In addition to the cheap acrylic paints, the big box
retailers also have a wide variety of brushes now. Granted, none of them are that great in
quality but as the old saying goes, “Quantity has a Quality all its own.” You
can get packets of brushes of various sizes from 000 to tank-brush sized for
about a US dollar a brush. That is a
pretty good deal. I find that I can take
2-3 brushes and paint about 15-45 guys with them before they are “dead” or
hardly usable. They then rotate into the
Dry Brush or terrain painting brush category.
Of course, then I just open a new pack of brushes that cost me a $5 US and
I am ready to start again on the next project.
Finally, I have had success using plastic spray primer
straight from the store. It is a tad
grainier then official “miniature spray”.
However, it covers just as well, can paint as many minis, and is just
fine for a solid finished product. It
can take a bit of time to find a “good” plastic primer as any old auto primer
often won’t do the job. Auto primer’s
are often too grainy.
For terrain, there is often a spray finish that will give
you the effect a terrain piece needs such as stone, adobe, texture wall, etc. These can make finishing tedious terrain
pieces a snap! You give it a spray or
two and are on your way. Easy to paint,
quick, and cheaper than using even acrylic paints!
Everything I listed here is easily found at your local
Big Box retailer in most communities.
Not only do you save money, but you gain convenience, and ease. Feel free to go out and give them a
shot. I don’t think you will regret it
IF you use them for the appropriate style of project!
I also like to keep in mind the Arm's Length rule when painting. If it looks good at arm's length, it is probably ready for the tabletop! In that case, the supplies form a Big Box store do the job nicely!