Best Acrylic Paints For Miniatures

Best acrylic paints for miniatures


Into D&D, Warhammer and Wargames Models?

Check out my review of the top 5 best acrylic miniature paints available.

Acrylic paint is a great medium for painting for many reasons and due to this, miniature painting is generally done with acrylic paint as such.

One of the reasons being is that miniature painting involves getting very hands-on with the painting process and since acrylic paint is water-based it’s easy to clean up afterwards.

Additionally, acrylic paints are non-toxic so getting them on your skin is no problem at all, saving you from wearing protective gear while painting miniatures giving you that extra sense to get in between all the nooks and crannies.

This review guide will help you find the best acrylic paint for miniature painting and in the process prove why oil-based paints are not preferable for such tasks.

Hopefully, by the end of this review, I will get you up and running painting models like a pro in no time.


01) The Army Painter | Wargamers Complete Paint Set

The Army Painter. Wargamers Complete Paint Set main

124 Model Paints, 5 Bonus Miniatures Paint Brushes and a Free Painting Guide | Miniature Paint Set

Features:

  • The wargamers complete paint set features a whopping 124 selection of paints
  • 5 brushes provided
  • Easy to squeeze dropper paint bottles
  • The paint kit is great for both beginners and veterans alike
  • Great consistency

Description:

The Army Painter Wargamers Complete Paint Set is a gigantic set packing a whopping 124 selections of paint. The set also features 5 paintbrushes to get you started painting right out of the box.

The brushes of the set are quite versatile making these an optimal choice for veteran painters.

Pros
  • Versatile selection of acrylic paint for miniatures
  • High-quality opaque paints
  • Huge array of paint selection
Cons
  • The set may be too overwhelming especially with the price point
  • May have some quality-related issues

Review:

The Wargamers Complete Paint Set is a great kit for beginners and veterans alike. The set having so much to offer in one package may be a good or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. Although many would prefer getting paint markers with the set, that’s perhaps just a little compromise.

With all this set has to offer, it’s a feast for any hobby painter and for the price it is definitely worth the buy.


02) Vallejo 72172 – Acrylic Paint Set for Miniatures

72x Paints 3x Brushes – Carry Case

Features:

  • The Vallejo paint set for miniature painting contains a set of 72 paints.
  • Comes with 3 paint brushes to get you started right off the bat
  • Each bottle contains an eyedropper
  • Color chart is included
  • Very mixable colors

Description:

Vallejo is a returning fan favorite among miniature paint brands, and with their paint quality being similar to reaper miniature paints make them an excellent contender for great acrylic paints for miniature painting.

The set additionally comes with a paint brush to make sure you can get started on painting your miniatures straight off the bat.

Pros
  • Very reputable and trustworthy paint brand
  • Rich and opaque paints
  • High-quality artist-grade paints
Cons
  • You might not need all the 72 colors at this price point
  • The extra colors are just varnish finishes

Review:

Highly recommended by the masses and is rightfully so due to the quality of the products.

The set may be a little overwhelming with their selection of a vast variety of colors, however, they are appropriately priced and you would not need to purchase anything else for a long time. Definitely worth the buy.


03) Grinning Gargoyle Fantasy Paint Set

Grinning Gargoyle Fantasy Paint Set main

The Army Painter Paints for Roleplaying Tabletop Figure – 20x Acrylic Paints and a Paint Brush – Unique Warpaints for Miniature Model Hobby Painting (Starter)

Features:

  • Great starter miniature paint set that features both washes and metallic
  • Paint brushes included
  • 21 different paint selections
  • Great consistency for painting miniatures straight out of the bottle
  • Easy to squeeze dropper bottles

Description:

The Grinning Gargoyle paint starter kit features a set of 20x acrylic paints and is a great set for starters. It comes in super convenient squeezable eye dropper bottles.

Each bottle contains a portion of 18ml of great quality paints to get you started with your hobby right off the bat.

Pros
  • Boasts great consistency of model paint, model washes and metallic paint
  • One of the best paints to get you started
  • It is great as a warhammer miniature paint set or citadel paints
Cons
  • Some of the paint may be inconsistent which would make it difficult to get a uniform paint film
  • Several coatings can be required to get the desired paint opacity

Review:

The Grinning Gargoyle is a reputable art supplier for all geeks and as this set is a certified Amazon’s choice product meaning you will get your money’s worth upon receiving the product.

Overall, with not much to add to the conclusion of purchasing this product, all the features of this product pretty much speak for itself about why it is worth your money


04) Castle Art Supplies Metallic Acrylic Paints Set

Castle Art Supplies Metallic Acrylic Paints Set main

24 x 12ml Tubes for Adult Artists, Beginners and Crafters to Add Shimmering Quality on Variety of Surfaces | In Strong, Beautifully Presented Box

Features:

  • 24 tubes of rich pigmented acrylic-based paints
  • Several finish options
  • Comes with a unique foldable tutorial and a tester sheet
  • 12ml of paint in each tube
  • Giftable presentation box

Description:

The Castle Art Supplies provide all that you need in getting started with acrylics. The set features 24 tubes of 12ml paint that are all you need in terms of primary colors.

Additionally, they feature a unique fold-out tutorial for you to get acquainted with some of the paints meaning you don’t struggle with the paints especially if you’re a beginner making them a reliable and thoughtful set for someone who is just starting out with acrylic paints.

Pros
  • Beginner-friendly
  • Wide array of colors
  • Airtight tubes prevent paint from drying or getting destroyed
  • Great for plastic miniatures
Cons
  • Comparatively less amount of paint in each tube
  • May not be optimal for model painting

Review:

The set despite being not so popular is definitely worth a look at due to the features being offered.

The pricing and budgeting options are great for any beginner to pick up making it a great purchase and worth every penny.


05) Acylicos Vallejo – 72299 Acrylic Paints

Acylicos Vallejo 72299 Acrylic 16 Colors for Fantasy Figures

16 Colors for Fantasy Figures

Features:

  • The Vallejo paint set features 16 bottles of 17ml bottles of artist-grade paint
  • Non-toxic
  • Comes with eyedropper bottles
  • Color chart included
  • Dilutable and non-flammable paints

Description:

Vallejo is a great fan-favorite brand for art supplies especially among the D&D fan for their quality miniature painting acrylics. The set comes with 16 bottles of great quality paint.

Pros
  • High-quality paints
  • Very mixable colors
  • Water-based and easy to clean
Cons
  • Slightly expensive
  • No other painting equipment provided in the set

Review:

Vallejo is a great brand for painting miniatures and is a fan favorite. According to not just this review but many others, we can safely assume you are getting the best bang for your buck despite any reservations you may have regarding your purchase.

Vallejo art supplies also allow you to purchase technical paints so you can take your painting game to the next level.

Overall, the Vallejo set is a great purchase and is definitely a worthy contender for your painting arsenal.


General Information About Best Acrylic Paints For Miniatures

Acrylic paint is great for any surface, especially for figure painting and canvases. As opposed to enamel paint or oil paint acrylic paint, it saves you a lot of hassle in terms of cleaning and application.

However, if you are looking to airbrush your figurines you may also want to look into enamel paints and for that, the testors enamel paints are a good place to start. Enamel paints often come with all the equipment you may need to airbrush.


Conclusion / Roundup

Acrylic paints are the best and the safest option for miniatures painting for many reasons. The water-based and toxic-free nature of the paints ensures you are not left with any inconveniences or worries of skin disease allowing you to be carefree and enjoy your miniature painting experience thoroughly.

Hopefully, this guide has covered all that you need to know about acrylic painting and miniature painting while reviewing some of the best options and sets to get you started on your hobby, so get your starter set ordered now and get painting.


FAQs

What type of paint is best for miniatures?

Acrylic paint has better features than most of the paints available on the market such as enamel paint or oil paint and is, therefore, a wiser choice for spraying or painting directly onto your figurine without any of the drawbacks that those other mediums provide.

Best acrylic paint for miniatures

The Vallejo Basic Painting Kit is a great set when speaking of the best acrylic paint for miniatures due to their nature of being both professional and beginner-friendly. Anyone can pick up this kit and start their hobby, getting the most out of it while not breaking or even denting the bank.

Can I use acrylic paint to paint miniatures?

Acrylic paints are actually encouraged to be used on miniatures due to their water-based and easily applicable natures. There are countless sets dedicated as mentioned in the reviews above.

Can you paint D&D minis with acrylic paint?

It is totally acceptable to use only acrylic paint. All you have to do is mix and thin the paint with water to get the right consistency and you can get to painting your beautiful little figurines right away!


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Written By Adam Rushton

Adam has made a name for himself in the illustration industry and is a passionate blogger and writer on the subject of art, illustration and graphic design.

His artwork has been featured in countless publications and used for very well-known media projects. As a professional illustrator for over 20 years, Adams media outlets, a wealth of knowledge, and experience enable him to consult and advise artists and illustrators in this country (from York and Manchester to Southampton and London) and all over the world.


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