fieldarchy Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 Ok, so I've been painting for three years as many of you know. Hmmm . . . maybe closer to four now . . . anyway, I don't have a ton of experience with other paints. I started with GW and didn't like them because they were too gloppy. Switched over to RPP and loved them then MSP came out and LOVE LOVE them. Vallejo I don't like the consistency but they have some great colors that Reaper hasn't replicated at least not that I've tested. Well, recently I was asked by TheMiniaturesPage.com to do two more workbenches and to include a review of Renaissance Ink paints. I had never heard of this paint company before and was wondering if anyone else had. I've now basecoated the skin and armor of the Chainmail Miniatures Ogre in grey and black. Wow! These paints are really thick. It's almost like working with Liquitex out of the tube . . . just really thick and hard to thin down. I'm not sure I'm liking them. My goal is paint this mini with just those paints for the most part though . . . even though my new set of paints beckons to me! Was wondering if anyone had any advice on working with them. If y'all need photos just let me know. The pots are really big and would probably convey consistency over image really well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ixminis Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 Yup, they've been around for quite a while. Nope, never tried 'em out. I vaguely remember someone telling me they were similar to Howard Hues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldarchy Posted August 31, 2007 Author Share Posted August 31, 2007 howard hues? never heard of them. they are pretty cruddy paints thus far . . . I'm not liking them but Bill wanted me to try them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Kutz Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 I have a half dozen or so different colors from them - and haven't had any problems with them. You might want to double check with RI to see if maybe you got a bad batch (or it might have cooked during the summer heat during shipment). One thing to remember is that they don't use additives by default. You will generally want to use 4-5 times as much gunk as normal in order to get them to behave like RMS or Vallejo paints. I normally use an acryl thinner, with a bit of flow improver and a fair ammount of water. The acryl thinner seems to be the most important part. The thick consistancy isn't really a negative (unless they cooked) - it is a feature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldarchy Posted September 1, 2007 Author Share Posted September 1, 2007 Are they supposed to be really thick though? I mean it's going on really gloppy and I can't seem to thin it down to the right consistency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Kutz Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 Really thick - almost like a tube oil paint. Normal water won't do it in my expierance. You need to use something like an acryl thinner or possibly something along the lines of alcohol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaintByNumbers Posted September 10, 2007 Share Posted September 10, 2007 Jay Wirth was a pro painter before most of ya'll were born... If you have never heard of Renaissance Ink, you don't know about a big segment of the hobby. AFAIK he didn't design his paints for the multi-translucent layer, display-figure style. They were designed for wargamers to paint armies with. They should give good coverage and go on smoothly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerridwyn1st Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 (edited) Plaid has an acrylic thinner that works nicely. Hey, if it will thin down craft paint to where it can be used with an airbrush, it's pretty good stuff. Meg, you're used to thinning just with water, but you may need to use an additive in this case. By the way, I've heard of both Renaissance Ink and Howard Hues paints, just haven't used them. I really like the synthetic cat's tounge brushes they sell. Edited September 11, 2007 by Cerridwyn1st Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldarchy Posted September 11, 2007 Author Share Posted September 11, 2007 well on the gold metallics that seems to thin down ok with water. I really don't like mixing other chemicals with paint. Just not fun. Anyway, they turned out ok. I'm a fan of the metallics but that's about it. The gold is really bright and nicely colored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Kutz Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 I never cared too much for their metallics but their inks are awesome (not sure if you got any of those). Before Reaper put out their liners, they filled that role for me (still do to a large extent). Their other paints are pretty nice though once you get them thinned down. One of the nicest things about them though is you should never have to by another bottle once you buy one. Even with the inks - they are so thick I normally use them at 2 or 3 to 1 diluted (gunk to ink). The actual paints are worked down even further than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paintminion Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 As already said, Howard Hues and Rennaissance have been around for awhile, did you check out their websites? I've used both and in the past they did support the Paint & Take. Ren Inks are good for army painting, and I really love their flocking gels. Howard Hues is also good army paint, but doesn't respond well to the advanced techniques the way most of us are used to. Try some wet blending with them, or just layering instead of feathering. Mix well, you can try additives to use them for advanced techniques, but I'd stick with the simpler methods where these paints are strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRigger Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 (edited) I find that you need to mix the Howard Hues paints with windsheild washer fluid - and then they are OK.. but I'm not a huge fan of them. I find the coverage is a bit lacking too, they are OK for highlighting once you lay down a strong basecoat. I am really fond of the colors, however - and the labeling is nice for army painters - you paint your prussians, prussian blue. You paint your germans, german green? Have a tank? Tank green. The colors are pretty accurate as well. I really like the renaissance inks inks, and their flocking gells are really nice too. I've not used the paints at all. Their brown ink and white inks are my all time favorites. Bloody brilliant. Jay is also a supporter of painting events at the HMGS east conventions as well, as is Howard Hues (and Reaper!) Edited September 11, 2007 by SaintRigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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