p3 vs Games workshop paints

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strigoi

New member
Hi all,

First off all i just want to say hi to all as this is my first post ive always browsed the site but i never seemed to register here so i thought it was about time to :)

Anyways ive been painting for numerous amount of years and obly recently stumbled into p3 paints on the web and alot of people kept rating them really good paints.

Well i have done alot of research as painting is a very major part of my life and love to do it when i get chance the killer question im trying to ask is what is the better paint and why if you can describe it.

every review ive read says there better in some aspects but not really giving a reason, if any can convince me to join the band wagon on using the paints the time is now because i just cant support to buy both paint sets at the present?

Also the silly question can anyone please describe what a medium is never used it before and is it essential?

Thanks in advance guys/girls!
 
gohkm

gohkm

Active member
I don\'t think there\'s a \'better\' paint all around, there\'s just a better paint for what you want to do.

I love the P3 paints for their coverage and high pigmentation, but I found that layering and blending with them can be a real pain (or maybe I just haven\'t gotten enough practice with them).

The GW stuff I find really suited for nice, soft layerings, and I\'ve only ever used GW metallics. I\'ve converted a lot of my GW paints over to Vallejos now, and I think there\'s precious little difference between these brands.Your mileage may vary.

I\'d say identify which technique you want to practice, then go out and get a paint that is well suited for that. Or you could just stick to one brand and practice, practice, practice with it. Some of the great painters out there only ever use one brand.

As for medium, it\'s an additive to paint that gives you different effects. For instance, matt medium may be added to paint to, well, make it dry matt. Blending medium extends the drying time of paint so you have more time to work it around to a smooth blend. And so on.

Medium can be really handy. I don\'t use this stuff very often, but I\'m just trying to get my figs to a tabletop quality. Perhaps somebody more experienced in medium usage could answer this part of Strigoi\'s query?

I hope this helps you out, Strigoi. Keep painting, but don\'t get hung up on paint brands. It\'s the technique that\'s the really important bit.
 
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strigoi

New member
Thanks gohkm the paint advice has cleared up alot of questions/queries i had about it so i do appreciate that alot!

and as for p3 paints i think i might have to buy a set and try it out for myself instead of buying a load of them and hoping for the best.
I got to re-load on my paints and was just curious if i should go p3/gw at present :) but i think it might be gw atm due to the fact i know how well i cope with them, but buy primary colours from p3 for a testor.

Thanks again gohkm i appreciate the advice :D
 
Einion

Einion

New member
Originally posted by strigoi
...the killer question im trying to ask is what is the better paint and why if you can describe it.
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Opinions will vary. Also, it is possible that the majority of the paints in one range aren\'t as good as another but three or four would be better.
Originally posted by strigoi
every review ive read says there better in some aspects but not really giving a reason...
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Go to the sticky thread at the top of the forum and look for the words P3 in the threads I collected. That\'ll start you off; specifically searching for P3 will probably provide more threads to read through.
Originally posted by strigoi
...if any can convince me to join the band wagon on using the paints the time is now because i just cant support to buy both paint sets at the present?
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Buy a few P3s and see what you think. You don\'t have to use only one brand so there\'s no need to switch over - plenty of people use a bit of this, a bit of that.

Einion
 
Aliengod3

Aliengod3

Active member
People have probably said this already but P3 paints seem to have more pigments per pot which makes the painting a bit easier.

Aside from this I have not seen much difference. both paints work well and mix well together. Personally I use both because each line has exclusive and unique colors. I am a big fan of P3 coal black and trollblood base.
 
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crazyboyae1

New member
Heres the thing, p3 i have found are my favorite kind of paint. i have every kind from gw to golden fluid to Vallejo. but the thing with p3 is that as a complete set, you do not have to many colors, gw is great because it is simple and has pretty much 3 transitions of every basic color. p3 is (at least i think) and addition to other paints, i own about 8 p3 paints and i love them i use them in every project but i have my basic colors from other companies and i find that works every well. i dont think i will be easy painting with only p3
oh and also p3 metallics suck! and the pots are hard to open :D
other then that they are amazing paints
hope that helps
-Ansel
 
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jahminis

New member
i have never found the flip top lids hard to open..
P3 pig iron, and radiant platinum are two metallics that work great for me...
blighted gold and rhulic gold work fine too...

the only gw metal that i still use is boltgun metal, and tin bitz...

i will have to try out the vallejo metals when i get back to the states...
from the sound of it, they are a dream to use..

cheers
jah
 
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Gilvan Blight

New member
As noted: more pigment. I also find they dry slower then GW, especially on the pallet which makes them easier to work with to me. I also like the Base/Highlight colour system that saves some mixing time (thought there are other companies that do an even better job of this, Reaper Master Series and the Foundry Paints come in Triads).

Haven\'t tried the metallics so cannot comment on those.

Another positive is the price, at least locally P3 paints are significantly cheaper then GW.

Lastly I really like the colour combos that come in the set paint sets.
 
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Jericho

Consummate Brushlicker
P3 gets you more paint for less money. And it\'s good quality paint, in a range of colors that beautifully supplements the Citadel/Vallejo Game Color ranges. If you have both you will be set!

Re: hard to open paint pots, some of the time you get the same problem that the old Citadel ones used to have. The tabs sometimes break off, so you need to use something to pry open the lid (or just have hands of steel wrapped in leather like I\'ve developed working my crappy job this summer).

Overall I am a HUGE fan of P3. If they had another 20 or so colors I\'d barely need to use anything else anymore. Currently I\'m using Citadel for the metallics, Foundations and Washes, and P3 for just about everything else. Obviously some times you have to use the Citadel paints to plug the gaps in the P3 range, but I\'m happy to do that.
 
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generulpoleaxe

New member
Originally posted by jahminis
i have never found the flip top lids hard to open..
P3 pig iron, and radiant platinum are two metallics that work great for me...
blighted gold and rhulic gold work fine too...

the only gw metal that i still use is boltgun metal, and tin bitz...

i will have to try out the vallejo metals when i get back to the states...
from the sound of it, they are a dream to use..

cheers
jah
Click to expand...
Make sure it\'s the model air pots Jah, the model colour and game colour metals aren\'t that great.
 
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strigoi

New member
Just to let you know and up date you guys ive just spent £60 worth on p3 bought 1 of each set of the warmachine p3 sets and once they arrive ill let you know how it went!
Plus a massive thank you guys for all your help i really appreciate it.
 
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tohellweride

New member
Im in a perfect position to comment here as I was using the entire GW range up until about a month ago when I made the switch to P3.
I was using the mega paint set (all GW colours) plus a few foundation paints. I have now bought the entire P3 range and sold the GW. The P3 come in better bottles as they seal properly and preserve you paint, there is also more volume when compared to GW. The P3 tastes better ( silly I know but hey, its a plus!) they taste like the old GW paints. The P3 colours are more muted than the vivid GW tones, this makes it easier to get realistic tones onto your models easily. They def have a better coverage, some of the P3 bone/brown/khaki colours are very easy to use, I hated using the GW versions. When thinning the P3 paint its easy to use lots of water without separation, the colour stays in the mix allowing you to get really nice glazes or use in a really fine layering highlight technique. Im honestly really pleased with the switch overall. Im still getting to grips with a lot of the colours as ive not had much chance to use some of them but the following are doing well thus far:
menoth white highlight-an amazing colour for creating a further highlight to light tones. Think GW bleached bone but much lighter.
Hammerfall Khaki- A khaki tone with great coverage, a superb mid tone.
Frostbite- A cool blue that can create nice natural highlights, not as intense as GW ice blue.
Sanguine base- Great for a purple or red shading tone.
I think the entire range seems more intuitive when it comes to finding the right mid/shade /highlight combinations than GW paint.

As for mediums, everyone does things differently, but I have tried using flow aid, retarder and matt medium. Im a fan of the matt medium when used with certain colours, it takes the satin finish right out of them. The flow aid is pretty nice when making up washes, but if you are using small controlled washes you dont really need it. The best medium is good old water imho, it does more to change the properties of your paint and has a bigger impact on the overall result than any medium by a long way.
 
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Spartican

New member
I love P3 and prefer them over GW. Another line I like that gives more bang for your buck is the reaper master series. Some paints are better than others, but overall I am pleased with reaper. I sometimes use a line made by the foundry miniature company. Good paints, but very expensive.
 
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Ghudra

New member
P3 is good stuff and you won\'t be dissapointed.

I wouldn\'t worry about \"supporting\" one paint line exclusively as you will be handicapping yourself. Best to pull a few paints you like from all sources vs going in on full sets.;)
 
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Trevor

Brushlicker and Freak!
Thats good advice. My paint selection is P3 and GW (particularly the foundations and washes) with some vallejo\'s for special things like mediums and glazes.
 
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strigoi

New member
Hello,

Okay just received my p3 paints through the post yesterday and i have to say there are some colours that aren\'t all that great...BUT and i stress this the colours i do like the diffrent shades of red and blue are astounding and i can happily say i will be working alot more with these paints as i found them easier to control and blend.

But like someone said i dont think you should use these paints on there own even tho there great but there excellent combonation with GW range of paints.

Thank you guys for all your advice on how they were, now my only dilema now is to find a storage case/box for my paints i have way to many to store in a simple cardboard shoe box.

If anyone know any good websites in the uk or willing to ship to the uk could you please reply either here or PM.

Thanks
Stigroi
 
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