Scale Model Paint Guide | Best Paints for Beginners

In this video, I'll give you my recommendations for the best paints to tackle whatever scale military model project you've got on the bench! Whether you're just getting into the hobby or you're a veteran builder looking for some new paints, this video will hopefully help set you off in the right direction!

Product Links Below!

*Note - be sure to check out your local hobby shop or visit a online scale model retailer where you can; it's important to support the hobby!

Basics

Luftwaffe Paints

US Aircraft Paints

German Armor Paints

Allied Armor Paints

Flesh Tones for Figures

German Figures

US/Commonwealth Figures

**As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you)!

Other videos to check out:

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:50 Important Notes!
01:56 Thinners, Primers & Varnishes
06:34 German/Luftwaffe Aircraft
13:01 USAAF / US Navy / USMC Aircraft
22:32 German Tanks & AFVs
26:12 Allied Tanks & AFVs
29:13 Skin Tones for Figures
32:23 German Figures
35:44 US/Commonwealth Figures
38:39 Closing Remarks

[adamjackson]

Hey man, thank you SO much for all your help. I just got started in the hobby and can't believe how much fun I'm having. I learned what tools to start off with from you, and am nearing completion of the easy eight Sherman thanks to your recommendation. Thank you!!!!

[chuckcapage]

I can't stop watching your videos, UNBELIEVABLE how helpful they are. Im 53 and just starting to get into the hobby

[madcat]

I cannot understand why you have so few subscribers. Your videos are the most helpful that I have seen so far. Thankyou so much.

[louislopez]

I’ve been looking for this information because I’m getting conflicting advice from certain popular YouTube how-to model builders. Some say base coat, paint, clear flat, decals and weathering, a buff coat and done. Others say clear gloss, then decals and weathering, then a flat clear coat to finish. I guess the best way is to try all the different techniques but with models costing $50, plus paint and accessories I would like to get it right early on. I found this video very helpful, in fact it’s the best one I’ve seen. I loved the idea of putting water through the airbrush to help clean it! Great tip!

[ravensfootball]

Just want to say thank you for all these videos. I’m finishing up my second attempted model and your videos help me add little details (it’s my first aircraft build). It’s coming out better then I expected thanks to all your tips. The airbrush is great and the respirator you recommended is fantastic. I definitely need to do better with my airbrush technique since my paint came out a bit splattered on some parts. I really appreciate the quality of your videos and how friendly they are to newcomers. Keep up the great work!

[uriance]

Things have come a long way since the days of Testors enamel and Tamiya's arrival in N. Am and it becoming a game changer (which kind of led to the model masters enamels) depending on the manufacturer, the newer acrylics have a much 'shallower' learning curve for new hobbyists. If your local store might not have the ones recommended (or you only need a bit and won't need a whole bottle), there are a few good apps which will recommend a reasonably close equivalent (I'm partial to BrushRage).

One thing to remember about colour matching is that it doesn't need to be perfect - paint weathers pretty much from the day the vehicle leaves the factory, and there was typically some variation between batches from different factories (even if it was the same supplier - but often there were multiple suppliers). This is even more evident with uniforms - anyone who has worn a uniform knows that it never again looks like it did when you were issued it new from clothing stores, especially after a couple of days in the field.

[Peepsuk]

I’ve just got back into this after a long hiatus. As a kid I think I just used to buy brown, grey, green, etc. I’d slap that stuff on with no thinner. Now as a middle aged bloke I was bought a few tamiya kits and have been really being a lot more accurate with painting and loving airbrushing. I’ve definitely needed a few cheap kits to practice on.

[tonygamson]

I realise this video has been around for awhile but I only stumbled over it today. Really helpful to me as someone getting back into the hobby after decades of distractions. Thank you so much for posting this and I am really looking forward to putting your advice into practice.

[bfberna]

Awesome channel. Getting back to my childhood hobby. Things have certainly changed and love your efforts to being out your love and appreciation of history and the hobby. I found your paint info video was very informative. I am new to your channel and hope to find one on air brush equipment as I ramp up. Thanks for all you do.

[thesmanbrowne]

Just got back into modelling after 38 years, your vids help me so much, thanks mate from 🇬🇧

[Nowayjose-zr]

I use mig mainly now, but I recommend Tamiya paint for new people. It's not fully water based, but significantly easier to use.

Thinning is easy, just top the bottle off and done.

[paulthomson]

useful information, especially with the RLM colours - thank you

[timmaher]

Jumping in after a long hiatus, these videos are awesome. Thanks for all the great tips and I'm definitely glad I found your channel!

[LemurKrazy]

The algorithm brought me here.
Great video - RLM colours for noobs. Thanks.

[DansModelBench]

A very thorough run through. Everyone will have their favourite choice of paint brand, but Ammo Mig is a fairly middle of the road acrylic range, so not a bad all rounder at all. Would be worth a follow up video explaining Tamiya paints vs Ammo Mig and Vallejo. Tamiya is a pretty common paint brand in most hobby and toy shops, so a new modeler might wonder if they can use them instead or mix them with Ammo etc.

[Smokeyr]

Having recently returned to the hobby, I’m using lacquers exclusively for airbrushing, and I’m loving them!

[davidshelby]

You have given a lotta people a lotta info. Even experienced modelers. Love organization. You did great.

[legionarpublius]

Thanks for your advice, especially for WWII colors. On one point I would recommend something different: Airbrush Thinner. I just use a cheap window cleaner. It is just as good (if not better) for thinning colors (usually Vallejo or Citadel), is easy to proportion, cleans your airbrush excellently and costs a fraction but contains much more and you can get it just around the corner in a store.

[stuartosborne]

Wow! Excellent video, just the sort of information I have been looking for. It’s always great to watch the highly skilled modellers on YouTube but it has always been a little daunting when you see the massed ranks of colours on their benches. This a great resource to enable you to build your collection depending on what type of model you intend to concentrate on.
It’s a pity, and slightly ironic the R.A.F. haven’t come to the party yet but I’m sure you’ll do them justice when they do. I would love to see you build a Mosquito, so many variants to choose from.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. 🇬🇧

[PTSDiy]

Thank you for this video. Very timely as I just started looking at paints for WW2 1/48 as I’m new to scale modeling.