I've got a hand-painted digital swatch with all new Game & Xpress Colors here to download: www.patreon.com/stahlytaleofpainters/shop Update 2024: I've heard from quite a few people now that they have issues with bubbling paint. I address this issue in my review of the new Model Color range, which has pretty much the same formula as the new Game Colors: th-cam.com/video/qkGtmSNR_Jk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7yNgG0hVT6XKkJdE&t=712 For this, I have to deduct a point and give the acrylics 8/10 instead of 9/10.
I would like to mention that Pedro Gonzalez and Jaume Ortiz have also worked on this project, in addition to the chemists from Vallejo; they have done a great job :)
Hey, you can check-out my channel, I used tale of painter's Iybraesil army to make proxy paper eldars, there's a video of them I made yesterday although I changed some units, like edited Farseer to nr more animu xd, I mean I have all Dire Avengers, Dark Reapers etc. too, I kinda stole it but I dont profit from it so I gave that painting job a "second life".. In 8th my friend deployed them as Custom Craftworld Iybraesil normally but now, had to be deployed as Ulthwe due to rule changes in 9th
I agree, would be amazing if every product review was similar and it would save everybody soo much time if reviews were soo well structured and to the point as these, alas it is not the case. Mostly because people just "consume" videos so creators will do the usual 20 minute rant about their life and then 1minute of actual helpful review. Can't even find good PC hardware reviews anymore without the usual clowning of shilling for one company and dumping on another... yes very helpful for a consumer. :(
Really appreciate the work you put into these reviews. You go very in depth, and cover everything myself as a hobby painter would care about. The fact that you don't talk up every new product as either life changing or a dumpster fire is big. Truly refreshing to listen to someone with knowledge review the product for what it is.
Note on chemistry: Polyurethane varnishes are water based, just like acrylic varnishes. Both consist of a water-suspended medium that polymerises into plastic, but the chemistry involved is different between the two. I've used the Vallejo Premium Colours varnishs (which are also polyurethane based) for a while and have never had problems with them reactivating other paints. In general, you need alcohols of some sort (usually isopropyl alcohol) in order to dissolve acrylic paints. Except, apparently, for the Army Painter Speedpaints, which can be reactivated by pure water.
Random question but you seem like you might know.. I have Vallejo Polyurethane varnish, can you thin it with water? Ive heard mixed things.. Is polyurethane the best varnish for minis?
@@swaaahtome "Best" depends on what you want. Enamel varnishes are stronger than polyurethane, but polyurethane is easier and simpler to use. If you want something that's just incredibly tough, then an enamel varnish (such as the clear paints from Revell Email Colours or Humbrol Enamel Colours) are the best way to go. They are insanely tough. But they must be thinned down with oil thinners or isopropyl alcohol, which makes them hard to work with. I have used them, though, at times - when I really needed maximum durability. Also, isopropyl alcohol dissolves acrylic paints, so if you're applying them onto a figure painted with acrylics, make sure that you're using oil-based thinners, or at least use an airbrush if you insist on using isopropyl alcohol as the thinner. Polyurethane varnish is considerably weaker than enamel varnish, but it is still stronger than acrylic varnishes. Most of them are probably already water-based, so there should be no problem with thinning them down further using water. Just make sure to apply several coats for optimal protection, especially if you thin them down.
yep i use their PU varnish all the time, Ive never had a problem. I consider it superior to the "normal" range for game minis yes and can be thinned with water, just dont go too far with the thinning (i use a 0.5mm airbrush)
Thank you for this review; it is tremendously helpful. It provides an in-depth assessment of nearly all significant aspects of the range, from paint characteristics to gaps in the range to even the changes in the bottles. The combination of testing, broad experience of other brands, and solid examples make this a great review rather than just a set of opinions
You definitely set the standard for how product review should be. Thank you for your impartial and in-depth reviews. I was wondering how this range compares with the Vallejo's Model Colour range?
The Model Color range is also very matt and has obviously a different selection of colours, I'd say that Model Color has a thicker consistency. Game Colors are a bit thinner and creamer while still retaining a very high level of pigmentation.
@@stahly_taleofpainters Hello Stahly and thanks a lot for the review! Regarding their consistency do you think they could be used just out-of-the bottle, like xpress, or do you recommend some dilution with water?
I really wish Vallejo would stop sleeping on the Metal Color range. They have the best acrylic metallics on the market but are apparently not interested in expanding it to include more colors. I know they primarily market it for use with real-world scale model vehicles, but they are just as viable for miniatures and still look and perform better than everything else. Taking that formula and bringing some of the silvers plus some new colors into the Game Color range was a missed opportunity in my opinion.
I've got a couple of the Vallejo Metal Color range - Silver and Gun Metal. But they always separate just a few short seconds after I put them on my (dry) palette. Even after shaking the bottle for several minutes. What can be done to prevent this?
"Thanks for the great paint review! Your breakdown of the different types of paints was really helpful. Appreciate the time you put into it. Keep it up!"
I like the fact that you don't just give your opinion but also mention how the new paints behave and notes where you see potential uses even when you don't think you'l be using thm like that. It helps me decide whether that would fit in my painting style. Thank you for that!
Definitely. Restricting yourself to only one paint line or brand is silly (though I get if your local stores only carry a few or one brand) I mix and match ranges constantly, and have never really noticed any kind of glaring clash of matt vs gloss finish. YMMV, but even if it is bugging you, a quick coat of your favourite varnish will quickly give you a consistent finish.
I have viewed three of your video reviews today and am really impressed by the manner of your presentation and the thoroughness of your reviews. You cover all the points we painters need to know and your unbiased approach is really helpful .
I agree with your findings, I tested them at a con and found them amazing. I bought all the acrylics and the xpress range plus a couple others. The white ink for example is great through an airbrush for zenital.
Superbly thorough and honest review of this new range. You've highlighted things to consider that I wouldn't have normally looked out for such as the bottle design and matt being easier to rub off. Brilliant review thankyou.
I have primarily been rocking with the ProAcryl line since I first sampled them at Warfaire Weekend a few years ago. Like most advanced mini painters it is difficult for me to use just one brand, but I would define my big 3 as ProAcryl, Citadel, and AK. Like all new paint ranges, I look forward to trying Vallejo's new range for some of my favorite colors to see how I like the way they flow. Glad to see that Angel Giraldez is taking his paint range to an expanded level, this is always great for the hobby.
Man, you have done your homework ! I realy liked the complete and deep review, very professional. Just discovered your channel today, you get a new subscriber 🙂
Thanks so much for this very comprehensive review!! As always your paint reviews are the gold standard! Such a shame your channel still remains small, hope this will change soon!
@14:00 some lichen grows orange I have some beautiful pictures I took last year of this rusty yellow infested tree along the coast that this would be a perfect match for very cool
Thanks for the in depth review. I am happy to hear I can stick to my beloved AK-Interactive paints for now. Maybe I'll pick out a few of the colors you recommendet.
Amazing review, as always. I'm happy to hear the base colors were rated 9.0-9.5 -- that's really impressive. Their price and color range makes them unmatched. Once they start becoming readily available in the US, I look forward to picking them up.
Excellent review a great mix of personal opinion and empirical evidence clearly defined so that we can see that this is not the work of someone with a hidden Agenda. I have only just come across your videos and I am off to watch the rest - I enjoy your clear, simple and thorough presentation style.
One small thing that I really appreciate about this refresh is the new bottles being see through. I tend to decant paints when I don't like the bottles and I exclusively like ones that are completely see through. It makes it much easier to tell what color the paint is. The exception being contrast like paints, because they tend to look different in the bottles anyways.
I certainly like being able to see the paint colour clearly, but I have nagging doubts. I associate crystal clear plastic bottles with an increased propensity to crack, so when used in a product meant to be squeezed, it's asking for trouble IMHO. Not all clear plastics have this problem, but it does feel like a majority, so I hope they did their homework.
i appreciate the thought of arranging the colors in triads (roughly), army painter does it with their warpaints air range, and while i don't know how rigidly i would really adhere to the groupings, it does help give an indication of whether a hue is leaning more into the cold or warm spectrum for example, and it may give some indication to help painters with different types of colorblindness, although I can't speak with any authority on that, just occured to me... matt finish sounds good in my book as well, always nice to be able to depend on how your paints will behave when they dry, so i don't have to varnish out of necessity all the damn time
@@stahly_taleofpainters I've always used VMC as my 'daily driver' paint range, but ended up with Pro Acryl due to general pigment density and coverage, as for every great VMC color, you'd have two that were not that great. The new Game Color line is getting positive feedback though, and it seems the general criticisms of the Game Color line before have been taken care of (coverage and finish). I may start picking them up in chunks (not all 70+ at once like I did with Pro Acryl). I've been going back and forth between AK and ScaleColor, and I may end up with Game Color before touching the non-metallic Scale75 stuff.
Sadly, in my part of the U.S. Vallejo have pretty much disappeared from the stores, with store employees saying they just became too spotty in availability from distribution.
Such a useful review again. I have been painting miniatures on and off for 40 years and it is probably because I have long breaks why I have not really improved. But your review covered everything I think that a figure painter needs to be aware of with a paint range. I love Citadel as they were my first acrylic paint, but their pots are such a pain in the neck that I am looking to change to another range. I have used Vallejo Model Colour range for my WW2 military vehicles and figures. This video must have taken you hours with all the detail you provided. Thanks do much for taking the time and effort. 👏👏👍👍😉
Thanks again for reviewing a new paint line. Will try a couple of nice colours first before delving in ( never had many VGC colours because I like the VMC colours more - not talking about quality, just the colours - but one can never have enough paint ;-).
I wonder if the new Game Color range has colors that are an exact match with Xpress Color paints, to make cleaning up easier, layering a bit of opaque color over a blemish as opposed to "erasing" with white or light grey and the using Xpress Color over the cleaned area.
6 months ago this video was made. I still cant find anywhere online that sells the new paints, let alone the Games AIR paint they just came out with. Hard to find new
i find i pick my paints just because of the color and price. Since I am disabled I can not really afford GW paints. They have literally priced me out of buying them. So far Vallejo has done a great job with their paint ranges and I'm new to the line and have to admit I LOVE them ! I have used GW for over 20 years. Dropper bottles are awesome and since I am just a tabletop standard painter . I just want a paint that works and is affordable. Vallejo checks those boxes. I just used one of these new color range on my MCP Green Goblin and it worked out great.
I'm not sure if the original Vallejo Game Color line was supposed to be made in a kind of partnership with GW, but it does make a lot of sense because I can absolutely feel that. I mean, one of the paints is called Goblin Green, the famous Citadel bright green paint-your-base-rims flavor of choice! I really feel like incidents like this with paints, the Chapterhouse lawsuit with models, the very similair looking words like Starcraft and Warcraft, have all just inflicted some kind of psychic trauma on GW that reflexively makes them circle the wagons and make sure every single thing has copyrightable names and trademarks. I mean, I'm not defending it, but just kinda understanding it.
Yeah, the original Game Color range mirrored the Citadel paint range from the 2000s colour by colour (Heavys were supposed to copy Citadel's Foundation paints, though they were just reusing the Model Color formula for them).
But those paints weren't invented by GW. Those paints that both Vallejo and Army Painter match closely are based on the Cote D'Arms paint range, which for a time GW just slapped the Citadel branding onto. They changed paint ranges because they wanted to move everything in house, so they could have paints they do protect. GW didn't invent the word Goblin after all, nor did they have much to do with the creation of Goblin Green. This redo of the range just smacks of a cash grab. Game Color was already a solid paint range. I'm probably just going to stop using Vallejo.
Awesome review! I picked up a few colors to try them out and noticed that they get a film when sitting on my wet palette. I was using them at the same time as some Pro Acryl paints that did not have the same issue. Curious if anyone else had this issue.
Thank you very much for this review! I was wondering if the colour swatch of the acrylic over grey primer shown in the video available to see somewhere? I can't find it on Tale of Painters
Thank you for this superb review. I have heard about the new range since October, but I am still unable to find them here in the UK, which is upsetting. It looks to me the marketing campaign started too early
How do the washes blend? The red/blue/yellow ones look like nicely saturated primary colors, and if they're mixing ready, that might explain the weird pigmentation of the yellow, and the light hue of all of them.
Not yet, but since a lot of people are asking, I'll do when I find the time for it. Will probably be a Patreon thing though, as it's really a lot of work.
it would be nice to see a video review about your opinons over Pro Acryl, since you seem to talk about them alot aswell but i have yet to see a video yet from you.
Great review and thank you. Question: what are those square white sheets that you use to sample the paints? I always wanted to create a quick cheat sheet of my paints using something like that.
IIRC those are textured plasticard sheets given a spray prime. You can get them at model railway stores, those specific ones with the squares might be from Green Stuff World but I'm not 100% sure.
I wrote a post about my paint swatches here, go check it out: taleofpainters.com/2021/07/top-tip-make-your-own-paint-swatch-to-organise-your-paint-collection/ :)
This is a great review, thanks a lot. I've already treated myself to the new express colors last year (and I am very glad that I did) and have been thinking about having a look at the regular game color acrylics. I only had a small set of the old ones and am currently considering whether or not to go for the full 80 color range. After this review, I think that will likely happen (not that I need more paints, but who ever does?). But I'll definitely pass on the inks, metallics and effect paints (I have the model air metallics range and the old effect paints set, don't really see any reason to get more), with a "maybe" on the washes - I've never really used colored washes a lot and I figure that thinned express paints might just do pretty much the same job. One question though: How do the base acrylics behave on a wet palette with the new medium? I've been using ProAcryl for a while and while they're really great paints, they tend to separate on the palette fairly quickly and worse than any other paint I've ever seen (including the old ArmyPainter range, which is saying something ... ). As far as I've read this is due to ProAcryl's gel medium. Do the new game colors have a similar issue?
Thanks for this extensive review. If you had them on hand I’d love to know how the new scrofulous brown compares to the old because it’s one of my favorites and can’t decide if I must buy some of the old while I still can. In terms of color, obviously the new one will be matte which is cool
I recently tried my hand at some Vallejo paints (model color specifcally) and my mind has blown by the quality of them. Their paints cover incredibly well and provide a beautifully smooth and matte finish. Also dropper bottles are amazing and I find myself wondering how I've gone for so many years without them. It's a shame that the updated game color range has some misses. Yellows are difficult colors to get right though. The gold is a crying shame. Nothing seems to come close to how nice Retributor Armour is. Those washes look interesting though. I'm lukewarm on the new formulation of Citadel shades, so anything that's more like their old recipe is a good thing in my book.
Ive really started getting into painting my own miniatures but i use air as my base then start paint. I bought their bright orange and reds as they seem to resemble old gw paints brightness
They are just textured sheets of plasticard, I actually made a blog post about how I do my paint swatches: taleofpainters.com/2021/07/top-tip-make-your-own-paint-swatch-to-organise-your-paint-collection/
I've got a hand-painted digital swatch with all new Game & Xpress Colors here to download: www.patreon.com/stahlytaleofpainters/shop
Update 2024: I've heard from quite a few people now that they have issues with bubbling paint. I address this issue in my review of the new Model Color range, which has pretty much the same formula as the new Game Colors: th-cam.com/video/qkGtmSNR_Jk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7yNgG0hVT6XKkJdE&t=712 For this, I have to deduct a point and give the acrylics 8/10 instead of 9/10.
I would like to mention that Pedro Gonzalez and Jaume Ortiz have also worked on this project, in addition to the chemists from Vallejo; they have done a great job :)
Can you tell me where I can buy the xpress colors line? I live in the US and haven’t found anywhere to buy them.
@@dc345601 Not out till March in the us, I believe.
@@dc345601Michigan toy soldier has them up for pre order and expects them in February I believe
@@steveisaak4320 awesome, thank you!
Hey, you can check-out my channel, I used tale of painter's Iybraesil army to make proxy paper eldars, there's a video of them I made yesterday although I changed some units, like edited Farseer to nr more animu xd, I mean I have all Dire Avengers, Dark Reapers etc. too, I kinda stole it but I dont profit from it so I gave that painting job a "second life".. In 8th my friend deployed them as Custom Craftworld Iybraesil normally but now, had to be deployed as Ulthwe due to rule changes in 9th
Absolutely love how in-depth your reviews are without being sensationalized or biased about every new range being life changing.
I agree, would be amazing if every product review was similar and it would save everybody soo much time if reviews were soo well structured and to the point as these, alas it is not the case. Mostly because people just "consume" videos so creators will do the usual 20 minute rant about their life and then 1minute of actual helpful review. Can't even find good PC hardware reviews anymore without the usual clowning of shilling for one company and dumping on another... yes very helpful for a consumer. :(
Really appreciate the work you put into these reviews. You go very in depth, and cover everything myself as a hobby painter would care about.
The fact that you don't talk up every new product as either life changing or a dumpster fire is big. Truly refreshing to listen to someone with knowledge review the product for what it is.
Note on chemistry: Polyurethane varnishes are water based, just like acrylic varnishes. Both consist of a water-suspended medium that polymerises into plastic, but the chemistry involved is different between the two.
I've used the Vallejo Premium Colours varnishs (which are also polyurethane based) for a while and have never had problems with them reactivating other paints.
In general, you need alcohols of some sort (usually isopropyl alcohol) in order to dissolve acrylic paints. Except, apparently, for the Army Painter Speedpaints, which can be reactivated by pure water.
Random question but you seem like you might know.. I have Vallejo Polyurethane varnish, can you thin it with water? Ive heard mixed things.. Is polyurethane the best varnish for minis?
@@swaaahtome "Best" depends on what you want. Enamel varnishes are stronger than polyurethane, but polyurethane is easier and simpler to use.
If you want something that's just incredibly tough, then an enamel varnish (such as the clear paints from Revell Email Colours or Humbrol Enamel Colours) are the best way to go. They are insanely tough. But they must be thinned down with oil thinners or isopropyl alcohol, which makes them hard to work with. I have used them, though, at times - when I really needed maximum durability.
Also, isopropyl alcohol dissolves acrylic paints, so if you're applying them onto a figure painted with acrylics, make sure that you're using oil-based thinners, or at least use an airbrush if you insist on using isopropyl alcohol as the thinner.
Polyurethane varnish is considerably weaker than enamel varnish, but it is still stronger than acrylic varnishes. Most of them are probably already water-based, so there should be no problem with thinning them down further using water. Just make sure to apply several coats for optimal protection, especially if you thin them down.
yep i use their PU varnish all the time, Ive never had a problem. I consider it superior to the "normal" range for game minis yes and can be thinned with water, just dont go too far with the thinning (i use a 0.5mm airbrush)
I also use PU varnishes thanks for the info
Can confirm, I use the premium color varnishes as well and never had any issues with them at all.
Thank you for this review; it is tremendously helpful. It provides an in-depth assessment of nearly all significant aspects of the range, from paint characteristics to gaps in the range to even the changes in the bottles. The combination of testing, broad experience of other brands, and solid examples make this a great review rather than just a set of opinions
The King of the Product Reviews in our hobby world. ++A video as always Stahly!
You definitely set the standard for how product review should be. Thank you for your impartial and in-depth reviews. I was wondering how this range compares with the Vallejo's Model Colour range?
The Model Color range is also very matt and has obviously a different selection of colours, I'd say that Model Color has a thicker consistency. Game Colors are a bit thinner and creamer while still retaining a very high level of pigmentation.
@@stahly_taleofpainters Hello Stahly and thanks a lot for the review! Regarding their consistency do you think they could be used just out-of-the bottle, like xpress, or do you recommend some dilution with water?
I really wish Vallejo would stop sleeping on the Metal Color range. They have the best acrylic metallics on the market but are apparently not interested in expanding it to include more colors. I know they primarily market it for use with real-world scale model vehicles, but they are just as viable for miniatures and still look and perform better than everything else. Taking that formula and bringing some of the silvers plus some new colors into the Game Color range was a missed opportunity in my opinion.
If you use the metal panel and, fighter jet and engine metalic airbrush sets you'd have a good variety of metal colors.
I've got a couple of the Vallejo Metal Color range - Silver and Gun Metal. But they always separate just a few short seconds after I put them on my (dry) palette. Even after shaking the bottle for several minutes. What can be done to prevent this?
@@NiceHulk Nothing much, just give them a bit of a mix with the tip of your brush before applying them, they mix back together really easily
No joke, they need a better gold and a bronze to make it the ultimate
I like the Silver game color. It's very nice but the polished gold is so thin, slow drying, and takes forever to get a nice coat.
Great review, like AK 3rd Gen and Pro Acryl is good enough for me.
Awesome super indepth review. Thanks for doing all that work. Really interested in seeing how the metal medium will turn out with different colors
An impressive and detailed review without any time wasting filler. Thank you!
Thank you for this awesome Video. Helped a lot
Wow this was in depth. Not was I was searching for, but what I absolutely needed to watch.
Easily the best paint reviewer on youtube. Keep it up
This was an amazing review of the new line! Thanks for all the time and effort to put this together.
"Thanks for the great paint review! Your breakdown of the different types of paints was really helpful. Appreciate the time you put into it. Keep it up!"
I like the fact that you don't just give your opinion but also mention how the new paints behave and notes where you see potential uses even when you don't think you'l be using thm like that. It helps me decide whether that would fit in my painting style. Thank you for that!
Great review. Regarding the missing colours, I see this as an extension of model colour rather than a standalone range
Definitely. Restricting yourself to only one paint line or brand is silly (though I get if your local stores only carry a few or one brand) I mix and match ranges constantly, and have never really noticed any kind of glaring clash of matt vs gloss finish. YMMV, but even if it is bugging you, a quick coat of your favourite varnish will quickly give you a consistent finish.
I have viewed three of your video reviews today and am really impressed by the manner of your presentation and the thoroughness of your reviews. You cover all the points we painters need to know and your unbiased approach is really helpful .
I agree with your findings, I tested them at a con and found them amazing. I bought all the acrylics and the xpress range plus a couple others. The white ink for example is great through an airbrush for zenital.
This was a really great review. I didn't realise it was a re-formulation, just assumed they were updating the branding of the range
The "Heavy" colors were pretty good range as a solid base color, also dry rust and blood were excellent for the price.
Did they drop the Heavy range?!
@@Anjohl yes, no more heavy range
Changed to AK 3rd generation, and haven't looked back.
I like them a lot, though I haven’t tried Vallejo before the new formulas and I was impressed 😅
Superbly thorough and honest review of this new range. You've highlighted things to consider that I wouldn't have normally looked out for such as the bottle design and matt being easier to rub off. Brilliant review thankyou.
I just discovered you and you are incredible! Incredible reviews and they help me as I’m just starting
I have primarily been rocking with the ProAcryl line since I first sampled them at Warfaire Weekend a few years ago. Like most advanced mini painters it is difficult for me to use just one brand, but I would define my big 3 as ProAcryl, Citadel, and AK. Like all new paint ranges, I look forward to trying Vallejo's new range for some of my favorite colors to see how I like the way they flow. Glad to see that Angel Giraldez is taking his paint range to an expanded level, this is always great for the hobby.
Nice review as usual, thanks! The fact that the acrylics are so good is definately good news!
Big fan. I really like all the new paints I have used so far.
What a great, informative video that is to the point but easy to follow!
Great review. Hope ypu can keep your honesty in your growth to a big youtuber.
Quality video. Ty
These paint reviews are always great!
Thanks mate :)
Thanks for the review.
Man, you have done your homework ! I realy liked the complete and deep review, very professional. Just discovered your channel today, you get a new subscriber 🙂
Thanks so much for this very comprehensive review!! As always your paint reviews are the gold standard! Such a shame your channel still remains small, hope this will change soon!
Great work! Thank you for the in depth review.
One of the reasons I've switched over to VGC some time ago was that the range was consistent and didn't change all the time. Well...bummer.
Amazing video breakdown! Fantastic work
Knocked another great review out of the park Stahly. Thank you for putting so much effort into these videos.
I rarely comment on videos but this was an outstanding review. Very well structured and spoken, keen to see what you review in the future.
Nice review. Thanks for that!
Great stuff! I'd love to see reviews of other layering paints such as Kimera or Pro Acryl in the future.
Really enjoy your reviews, I look forward to them. Keep up the great work Herr Stahly.
Dankeschön! :)
Thanks for the comparison.
I loved ghost grey aswell
@14:00 some lichen grows orange I have some beautiful pictures I took last year of this rusty yellow infested tree along the coast that this would be a perfect match for very cool
I am a Reaper Paint user, but you have a really good review without useless fluff. You got my subscription.
Amazing review. Thank you.
Thanks for the in depth review. I am happy to hear I can stick to my beloved AK-Interactive paints for now. Maybe I'll pick out a few of the colors you recommendet.
What a fantastic review
thank you! was what i needed, was looking for buying in to vallejo from citadel.
Amazing review, as always. I'm happy to hear the base colors were rated 9.0-9.5 -- that's really impressive. Their price and color range makes them unmatched. Once they start becoming readily available in the US, I look forward to picking them up.
I like how your lighting reflection makes it look like you have pink eye make-up.
Suits your personality perfectly!
I take it as a compliment I guess? :D
Great review. Definetly will be trying some of these :).
Excellent review a great mix of personal opinion and empirical evidence clearly defined so that we can see that this is not the work of someone with a hidden Agenda. I have only just come across your videos and I am off to watch the rest - I enjoy your clear, simple and thorough presentation style.
One small thing that I really appreciate about this refresh is the new bottles being see through. I tend to decant paints when I don't like the bottles and I exclusively like ones that are completely see through. It makes it much easier to tell what color the paint is. The exception being contrast like paints, because they tend to look different in the bottles anyways.
I certainly like being able to see the paint colour clearly, but I have nagging doubts. I associate crystal clear plastic bottles with an increased propensity to crack, so when used in a product meant to be squeezed, it's asking for trouble IMHO. Not all clear plastics have this problem, but it does feel like a majority, so I hope they did their homework.
@@robsilvester6213 fair point. I can happily report that non cracked and non have been showing signs of wear.
I just picked these up a few weeks ago and I love the coverage. Haven’t tried the yellow or orange sad to hear they don’t cover as good.
If you want coverage from orange and yellows then you need to use Contrast paints, some of those are amazing for coverage.
i appreciate the thought of arranging the colors in triads (roughly), army painter does it with their warpaints air range, and while i don't know how rigidly i would really adhere to the groupings, it does help give an indication of whether a hue is leaning more into the cold or warm spectrum for example, and it may give some indication to help painters with different types of colorblindness, although I can't speak with any authority on that, just occured to me... matt finish sounds good in my book as well, always nice to be able to depend on how your paints will behave when they dry, so i don't have to varnish out of necessity all the damn time
Thansk for the review!
love your reviews
Your review work is spectacular Stahly. Now to decide if I wanna spend the extra scratch on the new VGC when I already have all of Pro Acryl. haha
Choices^^ As the ProAcryl range is not that large, maybe try a few to close some gaps and see if you like them?
@@stahly_taleofpainters I've always used VMC as my 'daily driver' paint range, but ended up with Pro Acryl due to general pigment density and coverage, as for every great VMC color, you'd have two that were not that great.
The new Game Color line is getting positive feedback though, and it seems the general criticisms of the Game Color line before have been taken care of (coverage and finish). I may start picking them up in chunks (not all 70+ at once like I did with Pro Acryl).
I've been going back and forth between AK and ScaleColor, and I may end up with Game Color before touching the non-metallic Scale75 stuff.
Sadly, in my part of the U.S. Vallejo have pretty much disappeared from the stores, with store employees saying they just became too spotty in availability from distribution.
I really liked the Heavy paints in the old range.
Such a useful review again. I have been painting miniatures on and off for 40 years and it is probably because I have long breaks why I have not really improved. But your review covered everything I think that a figure painter needs to be aware of with a paint range. I love Citadel as they were my first acrylic paint, but their pots are such a pain in the neck that I am looking to change to another range. I have used Vallejo Model Colour range for my WW2 military vehicles and figures. This video must have taken you hours with all the detail you provided. Thanks do much for taking the time and effort. 👏👏👍👍😉
really nice and detailed.
Extremely well done review! Easily the most well thought out way I’ve seen done in the platform 👍👍
Great review thanks!
Great vids, stay at it man. It will happen I’m thinking. Quality is there man.
Thanks again for reviewing a new paint line. Will try a couple of nice colours first before delving in ( never had many VGC colours because I like the VMC colours more - not talking about quality, just the colours - but one can never have enough paint ;-).
oh man, I really love Ghost Grey and Livery Green 😭 But this review has been super helpful!
I'm curious to try D&D Prismatic Paint: Livery Green.
I wonder if the new Game Color range has colors that are an exact match with Xpress Color paints, to make cleaning up easier, layering a bit of opaque color over a blemish as opposed to "erasing" with white or light grey and the using Xpress Color over the cleaned area.
I think that‘s not possible because Xpress Color is transparent, so results will vary depending the primer/basecoat colour.
6 months ago this video was made. I still cant find anywhere online that sells the new paints, let alone the Games AIR paint they just came out with. Hard to find new
I like the way you present the reality!
Thank you!!!
Just here to support the algorithm
i find i pick my paints just because of the color and price. Since I am disabled I can not really afford GW paints. They have literally priced me out of buying them. So far Vallejo has done a great job with their paint ranges and I'm new to the line and have to admit I LOVE them ! I have used GW for over 20 years. Dropper bottles are awesome and since I am just a tabletop standard painter . I just want a paint that works and is affordable. Vallejo checks those boxes. I just used one of these new color range on my MCP Green Goblin and it worked out great.
These are so amazing, but I can't find them anywhere online :(
I've seen them popping up in quite a few German and European stores, but I guess availability in the US & rest of the world is delayed.
I'm looking forward to trying the new paints.
I'm not sure if the original Vallejo Game Color line was supposed to be made in a kind of partnership with GW, but it does make a lot of sense because I can absolutely feel that. I mean, one of the paints is called Goblin Green, the famous Citadel bright green paint-your-base-rims flavor of choice! I really feel like incidents like this with paints, the Chapterhouse lawsuit with models, the very similair looking words like Starcraft and Warcraft, have all just inflicted some kind of psychic trauma on GW that reflexively makes them circle the wagons and make sure every single thing has copyrightable names and trademarks. I mean, I'm not defending it, but just kinda understanding it.
Yeah, the original Game Color range mirrored the Citadel paint range from the 2000s colour by colour (Heavys were supposed to copy Citadel's Foundation paints, though they were just reusing the Model Color formula for them).
But those paints weren't invented by GW. Those paints that both Vallejo and Army Painter match closely are based on the Cote D'Arms paint range, which for a time GW just slapped the Citadel branding onto. They changed paint ranges because they wanted to move everything in house, so they could have paints they do protect. GW didn't invent the word Goblin after all, nor did they have much to do with the creation of Goblin Green.
This redo of the range just smacks of a cash grab. Game Color was already a solid paint range. I'm probably just going to stop using Vallejo.
Awesome review!
I picked up a few colors to try them out and noticed that they get a film when sitting on my wet palette. I was using them at the same time as some Pro Acryl paints that did not have the same issue.
Curious if anyone else had this issue.
Yeah, they separate a bit when they stay on a wet palette for a while, but a quick stir should help.
Thank you very much for this review! I was wondering if the colour swatch of the acrylic over grey primer shown in the video available to see somewhere? I can't find it on Tale of Painters
Thank you for this superb review. I have heard about the new range since October, but I am still unable to find them here in the UK, which is upsetting. It looks to me the marketing campaign started too early
Element Games has them from what I've seen: elementgames.co.uk/paints-hobby-and-scenery/paints-washes-etc/vallejo-paints/new-game-color?d=10237
How do the washes blend? The red/blue/yellow ones look like nicely saturated primary colors, and if they're mixing ready, that might explain the weird pigmentation of the yellow, and the light hue of all of them.
I didn’t find the photo of painted grids with for these paints. Have you done it or were there just too many paints in this range?
Not yet, but since a lot of people are asking, I'll do when I find the time for it. Will probably be a Patreon thing though, as it's really a lot of work.
@@stahly_taleofpainters Thanks, much appreciated!
it would be nice to see a video review about your opinons over Pro Acryl, since you seem to talk about them alot aswell but i have yet to see a video yet from you.
Yeah, definitely on my To Do list!
@@stahly_taleofpainters especially with all the new colours
Great review and thank you.
Question: what are those square white sheets that you use to sample the paints? I always wanted to create a quick cheat sheet of my paints using something like that.
IIRC those are textured plasticard sheets given a spray prime. You can get them at model railway stores, those specific ones with the squares might be from Green Stuff World but I'm not 100% sure.
This is really great, easy sub, thanks!
You make great reviews!
What is that grid that you used for the wash swatches? 10:33
I wrote a post about my paint swatches here, go check it out: taleofpainters.com/2021/07/top-tip-make-your-own-paint-swatch-to-organise-your-paint-collection/ :)
This is a great review, thanks a lot. I've already treated myself to the new express colors last year (and I am very glad that I did) and have been thinking about having a look at the regular game color acrylics. I only had a small set of the old ones and am currently considering whether or not to go for the full 80 color range. After this review, I think that will likely happen (not that I need more paints, but who ever does?). But I'll definitely pass on the inks, metallics and effect paints (I have the model air metallics range and the old effect paints set, don't really see any reason to get more), with a "maybe" on the washes - I've never really used colored washes a lot and I figure that thinned express paints might just do pretty much the same job.
One question though: How do the base acrylics behave on a wet palette with the new medium? I've been using ProAcryl for a while and while they're really great paints, they tend to separate on the palette fairly quickly and worse than any other paint I've ever seen (including the old ArmyPainter range, which is saying something ... ). As far as I've read this is due to ProAcryl's gel medium. Do the new game colors have a similar issue?
Thanks for this extensive review. If you had them on hand I’d love to know how the new scrofulous brown compares to the old because it’s one of my favorites and can’t decide if I must buy some of the old while I still can. In terms of color, obviously the new one will be matte which is cool
Love your work
I recently tried my hand at some Vallejo paints (model color specifcally) and my mind has blown by the quality of them. Their paints cover incredibly well and provide a beautifully smooth and matte finish. Also dropper bottles are amazing and I find myself wondering how I've gone for so many years without them.
It's a shame that the updated game color range has some misses. Yellows are difficult colors to get right though. The gold is a crying shame. Nothing seems to come close to how nice Retributor Armour is. Those washes look interesting though. I'm lukewarm on the new formulation of Citadel shades, so anything that's more like their old recipe is a good thing in my book.
great review!
Ive really started getting into painting my own miniatures but i use air as my base then start paint. I bought their bright orange and reds as they seem to resemble old gw paints brightness
Are the block pieces he uses for testing paints on 3D printed or purchased?
They are just textured sheets of plasticard, I actually made a blog post about how I do my paint swatches: taleofpainters.com/2021/07/top-tip-make-your-own-paint-swatch-to-organise-your-paint-collection/
Great video
Hello Stahly. Any thoughts on Vallejo Game Color versus AK Interactive 3rd Generation?
I slightly prefer the new Vallejo Game Color (just the regular acrylic colours as I pointed out in my new video), but they're both pretty good.
Is there gonna be a set of the new game color range for sale anytime soon?
Haven't heard yet. Best to keep a look on Vallejo's social media.
So is there a set coming out for these cant seem to find any on the tinterweb
Haven't heard yet, but to ask this Vallejo directly!