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 – Wargames Delivered Mega Miniature Paint Sets

The Army Painter Wargames Delivered Mega Miniature Paint Sets main

Acrylic Model Paints for Plastic Models – Miniature Painting Kit- 55 Acrylic Paints for Models, 4 Hobby Paint Brushes, Miniature Primer, Mixing Balls, Mixing Bottles, Quickshade Washes

Features:

  • Complete model paint set
  • Features 55 tubes of war paints
  • 4 brushes included
  • 5 mixing bottles and 100 mixing balls
  • Appropriate for both amateur and veteran painters

Description:

The Army Painter Wargames Delivered Mega Miniature Paint Sets contains a wide range of model color paints. The set ensures you have everything to get you started straight into becoming a pro miniature painter.

The paint colors provided in this set have a tremendous array to ensure you can access any colors that you can think of. The set also contains all the paint supplies you would need to own as a beginner miniature painter.

Pros
  • No thinning required
  • Exceptional coverage
  • Easy to use
  • Versatile equipment provided in the set
Cons
  • The end results may not be so much of an opaque paint finish without several coats
  • It has a satin finish which some people might not prefer on their miniatures

Review:

Acrylic polymer is without a doubt a hundred times better than oil paints. The set is great for a beginner who is just getting into model painting and wants to get an experience that is a cut above regular acrylic paint.

The set with the selection of paint colors offered is optimal for any color for your models.

Overall, a great bang for the buck purchase for beginner miniature paints which will spearhead you right into your brand new and exciting hobby.


02) The ArmyPainter – Wargames Delivered Starter Miniature Paint Sets

The Army Painter - Wargames Delivered Starter Miniature Paint Sets main

Acrylic Model Paints for Plastic Models – Miniature Painting Kit – 18 Acrylic Paints for Models, 2 Hobby Paint Brushes, Miniature Primer, Quickshade Washes, Mixing Balls & Bottles

Features:

  • Complete model paint set
  • Extensive shaking is not required
  • Non-toxic
  • The set features 18 war paints, 2 brushes, 2 bottles & 20 mixing balls
  • Each bottle contains 18 ml of paint

Description:

The Army Painter Wargames Delivered Starter Miniature Paint Sets contains a decent selection of acrylic paint for miniatures. The set is a starter set instead of a mega selection hence the lesser options.

The set, however, is no less than a great start for painting miniatures due to having some of the best paint for miniature painting.

Pros
  • The set features a full primary color wheel
  • Excellent secondary colors to paint miniatures and add effects
  • High-quality artist-grade paints ensuring complete satisfaction
  • Exceptional starter kit to get any beginner started
Cons
  • Consistency may not be optimal
  • Brushes are perhaps not ideal for model painting

Review:

Finding the best paints for miniatures is a tough job to do due to the sheer saturation of miniature paints on the market. This set, however, contains some of the best miniature paint at this price range.

The starter set is definitely a steal within the best miniature paint department for the quality and options being offered.


03) 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 paints
  • Non-toxic
  • Eyedropper bottles
  • Color chart included
  • Dilutable and non-flammable paints

Description:

Vallejo is a borderline luxury acrylic paint brand that comes on a budget and is one of the best acrylic paint brands in the market. The set comes with 16 bottles of some of the best paint for painting miniatures.

The set features each bottle with 17ml of Vallejo model color paint to ensure a healthy serving to avoid running out of your miniature paints too often.

Their paint body is of great consistency and guarantees satisfaction over any average liquid paint whilst being on a fair budget.

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 paints are one of the best paints brands in the market and are easily a fan favorite within the miniature paints community. The brand has been mentioned several times in the reviews of other products as a great alternative to other expensive and budgeted options.

The set contains a great selection of Vallejo basic paint and sits well amongst other artist quality acrylic paints. These look great in both the final appearance and during the application.

The paints appear great on plastic surfaces and the budget is great considering all you get in the set and is definitely worth every penny.


04) Castle Art Supplies 48 x 22ml Acrylic Paint Set

Castle Art Supplies 48 x 22ml Acrylic Paint Set main

All-inclusive Set for Beginners, Adult Artists | Quality Intense Colors | Smooth to Use on Range of Surfaces | In Impressive Presentation Box

Features:

  • The set features 48 tubes of 22ml paints
  • Quick-drying
  • Exceptional paint quality
  • Comes with a unique fold-out tutorial which is great for beginner miniature painters
  • Comes in a very sturdy presentation box

Description:

Castle art supplies provide great quality artist paints on a budget and this set is great if you’re looking to apply acrylic paint to your figurines. The kit contains a vast selection of acrylic paint colors that are considered great for beginners and seasoned artists alike.

The consistency is optimal for painting miniatures and can be used in spray paint with the right equipment, using water as a paint thinner.

Pros
  • Rich and vibrant pigments
  • Quick-drying allows you to apply multiple coatings
  • Excellent pick for beginners
  • Huge range of colors with a lot of paint to go around in each tube
Cons
  • Textures vary often
  • Some colors are not very opaque

Review:

This Castle art painting set offers some of the best miniature paints in the collection while being very reputable and one of the best acrylic paint brands out in the market.

The budget that this set is being offered at in this range is surely a steal, especially while packing some of the best paint for miniature painting.


05) The Army Painter Dungeons and Dragons Official Paint Line Adventurer’s Paint Set

The Army Painter Dungeons and Dragons Official Paint Line Adventurer's Paint Set main

Features:

  • Paint set featuring 10 water-based non-toxic paints
  • Excellent coverage for painting models
  • Includes a high-quality synthetic taklon brush for clean brush strokes
  • Comes with a miniature to get you started painting miniatures from the get-go
  • Quick-drying makes your paint stick easier on surfaces

Description:

The Army Painter Dungeons and Dragons paint sets is a fan favorite among both painters and dungeons and dragons fans alike and this set contains an amazing selection of primary and metallic paint.

The set is considered to be some of the best paint being offered with reference to the consistent and positive reviews regarding the product. The only thing missing from the set would be a selection of paint markers.

Pros
  • Fan-favorite for best miniature paints
  • Great coverage
  • High-quality paint
Cons
  • Features only 10 basic colors
  • A lot of mixing is required to get more than just the primary colors

Review:

The set contains a selection of 10 primary colors and a brush which is basically just enough to get started, however, you will need to buy additional products such as acrylic paint markers and other brushes to get the full experience of miniature painting.

Overall, a great purchase for your D&D fantasy figurines and acrylic needs. Easily some of the best paint in the cheaper end of the budget.


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.