I'm about to embark on some figure building, and am unsure what is the best means for getting the uniforms of 101st Airborne and US Army regulars right. I have seen the two LifeColor US uniforms sets, and then there is this site which lists the correct Vallejo colors.
The costs when totaled up are about identical. What I'm trying to learn is if y'all have used one method or the other with satisfaction?
There is certainly something to be said for sets that "have it all," especially those with guides on how to use them (e.g., Vallejo's sets for German Field Gray uniforms).
That having been said, I generally find Vallejo paints to be better than LifeColor, which get lumpy over time.
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Vallejo vs. LifeColor for US uniforms?
bill_c
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Posted: Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 11:59 PM UTC
Thudius
Joined: October 22, 2012
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Posted: Monday, August 10, 2015 - 12:25 AM UTC
Go with the Vallejos as you seem to find they are better, and I agree with you on that. I wouldn't worry too much about exact shade for the uniforms as there really isn't one, even before you take into account fading and wear. Someone posted a great link on Armorama for US Army uniforms showing how they went from drab to OD to green and every shade in between, can't seem to find it now of course. And if you do multiple figures at the same time, try to vary the base coats a little so that no two uniforms look exactly the same.
Kimmo
Kimmo
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
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Posted: Monday, August 10, 2015 - 01:04 AM UTC
Either company has it's highs and lows. I have the Lifecolor set for US uniforms as well as equipment and I love them!
I also use Vallejo for some shading. It's a horse apiece as they used to say.
J
I also use Vallejo for some shading. It's a horse apiece as they used to say.
J
Belt_Fed
Joined: February 02, 2008
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Posted: Monday, August 10, 2015 - 01:42 AM UTC
I have never been able to get Lifecolor paints to perform well at all. Vallejos work reliably and are a go-to paint for brush painting. I vote Vallejo, but above all you should choose the paint you feel most comfortable with.
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
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Posted: Monday, August 10, 2015 - 05:25 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I have never been able to get Lifecolor paints to perform well at all. Vallejos work reliably and are a go-to paint for brush painting. I vote Vallejo, but above all you should choose the paint you feel most comfortable with.
Did you use the thinner that Lifecolor sells? I got some and it made a big difference.
J
BBD468
Joined: March 08, 2010
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Posted: Monday, August 10, 2015 - 06:51 AM UTC
I completely agree with Jon Murphy. Vallejo IMHO is much better for brush painting and is very forgiving, easily tinted for various shades and is my go-to brush paint as well. Lifecolor paints are indeed a strange creature. I cant quite get them to perform well with brush painting and they are a bit temperamental to air brush as well. Anyhoo, my 2 cents. 
edmund
Joined: November 10, 2014
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Posted: Monday, August 10, 2015 - 08:36 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextI have never been able to get Lifecolor paints to perform well at all. Vallejos work reliably and are a go-to paint for brush painting. I vote Vallejo, but above all you should choose the paint you feel most comfortable with.
Did you use the thinner that Lifecolor sells? I got some and it made a big difference.
J
The guy at the hobby shop told me "you got to use their thinner " and he was right , they also have a thickener , to make the paint more brush-able .
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
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Posted: Monday, August 10, 2015 - 07:02 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextQuoted TextI have never been able to get Lifecolor paints to perform well at all. Vallejos work reliably and are a go-to paint for brush painting. I vote Vallejo, but above all you should choose the paint you feel most comfortable with.
Did you use the thinner that Lifecolor sells? I got some and it made a big difference.
J
The guy at the hobby shop told me "you got to use their thinner " and he was right , they also have a thickener , to make the paint more brush-able .
Exactly!! They brush on fine for me now. The cool thing is they are so thin that the coats don't get overwhelming when you to to the shading phase. Some other paints get pretty thick on the figure after you add the different shades. Lifecolor stays nice and thin so you don't lose the details.
J
bill_c
Campaigns AdministratorJoined: January 09, 2008
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Posted: Thursday, August 13, 2015 - 08:29 PM UTC
I decided to "split the difference," and ordered the two LifeColor sets from LuckyModel (even with shipping it was cheaper than from Sprue Bros.) and got the Vallejo colors from Sprue Bros. for US Airborne and DAK figures. 
The LifeColor sets mean I don't have to keep a chart around to know which colors to use like with Vallejo (who did Wehrmacht and SS uniform sets, but no others to date).
The LifeColor sets mean I don't have to keep a chart around to know which colors to use like with Vallejo (who did Wehrmacht and SS uniform sets, but no others to date).
11Bravo_C2
Joined: May 12, 2015
KitMaker: 475 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, September 02, 2015 - 09:48 AM UTC
Bill you've already placed your order, but scalehobbyist has some pretty good prices on paints..
Just noticed you wrote "sets". Scalehobbyist doesn't show any LifeColor "sets" in the site.
Just noticed you wrote "sets". Scalehobbyist doesn't show any LifeColor "sets" in the site.
bill_c
Campaigns AdministratorJoined: January 09, 2008
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Posted: Wednesday, September 02, 2015 - 06:24 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Just noticed you wrote "sets". Scalehobbyist doesn't show any LifeColor "sets" in the site.
LifeColor has two US uniform sets.
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
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Posted: Wednesday, September 02, 2015 - 07:06 PM UTC
Bill,
As you also mentioned the WSS sets I have found that the AK sets for that are outstanding!! They have several and also the best set for the Luftwaffe cammo that I have seen as far as colors go. Just sayin.
J
As you also mentioned the WSS sets I have found that the AK sets for that are outstanding!! They have several and also the best set for the Luftwaffe cammo that I have seen as far as colors go. Just sayin.
J
Biggles2
Joined: January 01, 2004
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Posted: Wednesday, September 02, 2015 - 08:21 PM UTC
Gee...I wonder what modelers did before there were paint companies telling them what colors to use. 
I'm "old school". Occasionally I use Vallejo for the convenience, but usually prefer to mix my own colors. 
I'm "old school". Occasionally I use Vallejo for the convenience, but usually prefer to mix my own colors. bill_c
Campaigns AdministratorJoined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
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Posted: Thursday, September 03, 2015 - 12:23 AM UTC
Quoted Text
As you also mentioned the WSS sets I have found that the AK sets for that are outstanding!! They have several and also the best set for the Luftwaffe cammo that I have seen as far as colors go. Just sayin.
Where do you buy your sets? Sprue Bros. doesn't carry most of the combo packs like the figure definition washes.
Shipping from Spain is prohibitive.
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
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Posted: Thursday, September 03, 2015 - 12:57 AM UTC
I lucked out on the AK sets. I found them at the figure show in Valley Forge. Never heard of them but gave it a try. I got the set for erbsenmuster and also winter WSS and the Luftwaffe set. Brillient!
And Biggles,I share your view but I am getting lazy.
J
And Biggles,I share your view but I am getting lazy.
J
bill_c
Campaigns AdministratorJoined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
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Posted: Thursday, September 03, 2015 - 01:51 AM UTC
I have the DAK set, but none of my regular sources carries the others.
Biggles, you can spend all the time you want mixing up paints, I've got 75 models in my stash and I won't live to build all of 'em. 
Biggles, you can spend all the time you want mixing up paints, I've got 75 models in my stash and I won't live to build all of 'em.
11Bravo_C2
Joined: May 12, 2015
KitMaker: 475 posts
Armorama: 394 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 03, 2015 - 04:39 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextAs you also mentioned the WSS sets I have found that the AK sets for that are outstanding!! They have several and also the best set for the Luftwaffe cammo that I have seen as far as colors go. Just sayin.
Where do you buy your sets? Sprue Bros. doesn't carry most of the combo packs like the figure definition washes.
Shipping from Spain is prohibitive.
OLI Models carries some of the AK Figure paint sets on their e Bay store.
http://goo.gl/1sH6sx
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 03, 2015 - 06:25 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextQuoted TextAs you also mentioned the WSS sets I have found that the AK sets for that are outstanding!! They have several and also the best set for the Luftwaffe cammo that I have seen as far as colors go. Just sayin.
Where do you buy your sets? Sprue Bros. doesn't carry most of the combo packs like the figure definition washes.
Shipping from Spain is prohibitive.
OLI Models carries some of the AK Figure paint sets on their e Bay store.
http://goo.gl/1sH6sx
Thanks for te linky brother!! Bill,those figure wash sets are not the bees knees as far as I'm concerned. I got a two bottle set cheap and tried it once--nope--not for me.
J
bill_c
Campaigns AdministratorJoined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, September 09, 2015 - 09:44 PM UTC
Jerry, I'm a bit confused about which AK sets you DO like. Maybe you can email me?
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 10, 2015 - 01:07 AM UTC
I like the three cammo color sets very very much. I did not care for or see the need for the "figure wash" set. Clearer now? Sorry for the internet "mud".
J
J
bill_c
Campaigns AdministratorJoined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
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Posted: Thursday, September 10, 2015 - 02:53 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I like the three cammo color sets very very much. I did not care for or see the need for the "figure wash" set. Clearer now? Sorry for the internet "mud".
J
The three figure/uniform camo sets, correct?
AK apparently also does planes, etc.
The washes seem like paying a lot of money for a pinwash I can make myself.
Vicious
Joined: September 04, 2015
KitMaker: 1,517 posts
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Posted: Thursday, September 10, 2015 - 04:39 AM UTC
Personaly i prefere Lifecolor for is Matt finish and cosistency of is pait,cover a lot better then Vallejo for me,i have the 2 US set and work really well,but i finish the figure with oils
11Bravo_C2
Joined: May 12, 2015
KitMaker: 475 posts
Armorama: 394 posts
Posted: Friday, September 11, 2015 - 12:13 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Gee...I wonder what modelers did before there were paint companies telling them what colors to use.
The answer lies between "the" and ", but".....
Ding, ding, ding, correct, CONVENIENCE!!!
I have two teenagers, both in sports and music, so i'm always on "the go". Anything that makes this hobby easier for me, is a blessing.
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