9 Best Model Paints in 2026

A single 17 ml bottle of opaque black acrylic that lays down a smooth, brushstroke-free film on metal and plastic. That combination of adhesion and finish makes it a reliable choice for modelers who need a black base coat or shadow color. It suits anyone building a collection of individual high-performance shades rather than a pre-selected set, and the permanent pigments mean the black is lightfast for fine-art use.

The 17 ml bottle is a single-color purchase, so if you need a full palette for a large project you will either buy several of these or pick a set like the Vallejo Game Color Introduction Set. But for the modeler who wants a black that adheres to metal and plastic with a smooth finish, this bottle delivers a level of opacity that works well for brush application.

Developed with professional miniature artists, this set uses precision-ground pigments that cover smoothly in one to two coats, preserving fine detail on plastic, resin, or metal models. The paint arrives pre-thinned to an ideal viscosity for airbrushing, drying in about ten minutes, which keeps your workflow fast and frustration-free.

The trade-off is that you will need to buy an acrylic varnish separately if you want the paint to last on frequently handled miniatures or game pieces. Compared to the Vallejo Game Color Introduction Set, which includes 16 bottles at a similar volume, the X ARTY HUB set offers more colors and brushes out of the box. For someone stepping into model painting for the first time, this kit gives you a ready-to-use system that works by brush or airbrush, though you will need a separate varnish for extended preservation.

A starter set of 14 core colors means you get the essential palette for fantasy, sci-fi, and historical miniatures without sorting through dozens of redundant bottles. AK Interactive’s 3rd Generation formula is water-based and non-toxic, so it’s safe for tabletop use, and it’s engineered for improved adhesion and coverage when you use a brush or an airbrush. That makes this set a smart foundation for someone building their paint collection from scratch, especially if you work across plastic, resin, or metal figures and want one system that handles all of them.

Fourteen colors is a focused selection, not an all-in-one kit. If you need a broader palette right away, the Vallejo Game Color Introduction Set offers 16 bottles. However, AK’s 14 colors are chosen as core shades that work across wargaming, dioramas, and model trains, as stated in the product description. You will want to supplement with a few specialty colors or washes later, but for a no-fuss starting point that performs well straight out of the box, this delivers.

Sixteen 18 ml bottles with precision eyedropper caps give you a balanced palette of fantasy-ready colors, including four metallics, right out of the box. The high pigment concentration and self-leveling formula mean you can base coat, layer, and highlight miniatures with smooth, opaque coverage and a matte finish that resists handling. This set suits beginners who want a complete starter palette and experienced painters who need reliable go-to colors for tabletop armies or wargaming figures.

The Vallejo Game Color Introduction Set includes 16 bottles of 18 ml each, a size that suits detail work on individual miniatures rather than batch-painting entire armies. The high pigment concentration and self-leveling formula give smooth, opaque coverage with a matte finish, so brush strokes blend easily and colors stay vibrant. Eyedropper caps allow precise mixing, reducing waste and keeping your palette clean.

This set includes 23 colors in 20 ml bottles, a thinner, and three brushes, giving you a wide selection of basic and metallic shades along with the tools to apply them by brush or airbrush. The high-pigment formula covers in one or two thin coats, so beginners can avoid streaks and experienced painters can work efficiently. For someone starting out or looking for a single purchase that covers the essentials, this kit provides a practical all-in-one solution.

The set focuses on standard colors and metallics; it does not include specialty paints such as washes or effects. If you need a curated palette for a specific historical theme, other sets like the Army Painter Soviet Union set may offer pre-selected shades. However, for general modeling on plastic, resin, 3D prints, metal, wood, or scale vehicles, the included thinner allows you to adjust paints for airbrush use. The water-based, non-toxic formula also makes it safer for indoor use than solvent-based alternatives.

Ten of the twenty paints in this set are exclusive to the Historical range, so you can cover a Soviet force without hunting down individual bottles. The box includes four washes, a metallic, and a rust effect alongside the base acrylics, giving you shading and weathering ready to use. That makes it a practical grab for painting Red Army infantry, armor, or vehicles from 1941 to 1945, especially if you want historically grounded shades straight from the palette.

This set is all-in on Soviet WWII, so if your project also needs German or American colors, you will need another purchase. Against a general set like the Vallejo Game Color Introduction Set, which covers fantasy and wargame figures broadly, the Army Painter set trades versatility for depth.

Because the palette is built for WWII U.S. subjects, it covers that theater well but leaves other eras or armies to broader sets like the X ARTY HUB 20-Color Set, which offers more variety. The 20ml bottles give you enough paint for several models, and the focused color selection means you’re not stuck with bottles you won’t use. For anyone working on American armor, vehicles, or infantry figures, this set puts the right shades in hand with no wasted paint.

Twenty rich colors cover essential tones like base colors, skin tones, shadows, and metallics, so you can start painting miniatures, 3D prints, or model cars without hunting for extra pots. The set also includes three detail brushes and one acrylic thinner, so beginners can brush paint straight from the bottle while experienced hobbyists adjust consistency for layering or airbrushing. A printed instruction sheet and color wheel help new painters understand mixing and shading, making this a well-rounded starter package that suits anyone who wants a single box with everything needed to begin.

Twenty colors is generous for a starter set, but painters who need a very specific shade not included in the curated palette may find it limiting. For someone building a foundational paint collection or gifting a new hobbyist, that limitation is minor. For a painter chasing exact hues beyond the included 20, supplementing with individual bottles from other brands is the practical workaround.

A 14-color set built around an ultra-shiny, enamel-like gloss finish means this kit is designed for modelers who want their car bodies, aircraft panels, and mecha parts to look polished and reflective right out of the bottle. The water-based formula dries without the toxic fumes of traditional enamels. The self-leveling coat eliminates brush marks for a smooth, glass-like surface. It suits beginners and hobbyists who prioritize a high-gloss look and want a complete starter package with brushes, thinner, and a color guide included.

The 14-color selection is narrower than some other sets on the market, so you may need to mix or buy additional shades for complex schemes. The gloss finish requires clean, primed surfaces for best adhesion, as stated in the included guide. For anyone chasing that showroom shine, this set delivers exactly what it promises.