i am use GW paints almost exclusively - and i am REALLY struggling painting white. In particular over large areas of cloth, banners and the like. I start with slightly watered down Astro grey and then gradually introduce more skull white, maybe 3 or 4 layers and then just use pure white as a final stage - but it still doesnt look 'right' - the white still looks tranluscant.
i dont have access to airbrushing and i have read with interest a very detailed reviw of the various Blacks. I looked for something similar for white but couldnt find anything.
Anyone suggest anything ? i am going to a large independant stockist at the end of the week with a wide selection of other paints and as it is a 75 mile round trip thought i would look into it before i go.
Do you start with white or black base coat?
Painting white is not easy, requires a lot of patience. Over white base coat I basically use only white in numerous thin, watered down layers and they usually turn out quite good. I use Vallejo paints, though.
And yeah, it may depend on the paints you use - some seem to have better coverage than others.
I was always happy with my Vallejo, P3 and Reaper paints. But some say those sets from Andrea are excellent...
more layers maybe ? Use the miracle Glaze Medium from vallejho? I currently add this stuff to almost everything and Capo-di-tuti-Capi now thinks that I upgreaded the skill Fooled him I did. Also consider starting from blueish grey? Or wainting for an answer from sb that can actually paint
thanks for the responses .... everything is done using Choas Black spray - i tried a couple of other and just didnt get on with them - they either didnt last as long or didnt have a great finish.
photos at the moment are almost impossible and i tend to avoid painting white as much as possible so i dont have any examples handy - i ended up using Yellow instead of white on a GW High Elf Dragon and Dragon princes i did recently to avoid as much white as possible - however i think i need to purchase some medium when i go christmas shopping and i may get a couple of the other whites and give it a try. I tend to do 3 or maybe 4 layers before i loose patience as i am generally painting 20-40 models at a time ...
Ramesses wrote:... I tend to do 3 or maybe 4 layers before i loose patience ...
Don't get greedy on that, try applying double as many, but carefully thinned layers.
Edit: that may not apply if you paint 40 miniatures at a time
In this case maybe the GW Foundation paint series would be something for you? I've never tried them myself, but the point is to minimize effort for batch painting.
HI ENDREMMMMMM!!! You're chained to CofC again now
For the painting white part, either you switch to paints with better coverage/more pigments like P3 or Reaper Paints, or you could try basecoating in another light colour with good coverage over black and work your way up to white from there.
When I only had access to GW paints, and I needed something white, I started with a mix of bleached bone + a tad of white and used that for my basecoat. Often using it as shading. Still you need to apply thin layers. Not too thin because you'll end up with a patchy effect, not too thick because you'll obscure details.
and as it is a 75 mile round trip thought i would look into it before i go.
You're chained to CofC again now 
