The price of war gaming acrylic paint has increased from S$2.50 to S$6.00 per bottle over a span of ten years. The content per bottle had decreased from 17.5ml to 12ml. Still the hobby is still growing steadily. Hobbyist and war gamers like me cannot stop painting and we have to dig deep into our pockets even during  times of recession. What are we to do if we want to maintain our hobby? I have discovered some alternatives that can help but you need an open mind to accept certain facts.

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I used to believe that only expensive war gaming acrylic paints can do wonders to my work. So like the thousands if not millions of hobbyist, I dutifully started purchasing war gaming acrylic paint for my hobby. As times went by, I also started buying other brands of modeling acrylics paint as the first brand I bought from became  more expensive. Then I took a break from painting for a while when I enrolled into Design School. When I came back to the hobby two years later, I learned about the price hike.

Instead of pulling out my hair to address my frustration, I started experimenting with cheaper craft acrylics. Though I had reservations about the quality of the finish I was going to get, I continued using them. As my painting skills improved, I realised that craft acrylics if diluted and applied accordingly can also give a good finish. Later on, I also mixed different brands of acrylics together due to shortage of stocks for hobby acrylic paint in my country. That incident really changed my mindset about the cheaper general craft acrylics. Today I combine both my war gaming paints and craft acrylic paints as a part of my painting system. I only buy the more expensive hobby acrylic paints which comes in  vivid colours and will often get cheaper craft acrylic paint for my lightest and darkest colors.

This can be a taboo subject for gaming acrylic paints die-hard fans. I’m not forcing hobbyist to switch brands or anything like that. It’s all about having an alternative source when times are tough. Folk Art paints are the cheaper craft acrylic paint that can be found in most art stores. It gives a rougher finish but if applied in thin layers, you will be amazed at what it can achieve. I always believe in a win-win situation for everyone. To be in that equation is the only thing I ask for.

Here’s a video of the result of combining cheap craft acrylics with the more expensive gaming acrylics paint systems.

Let me know what you think.

For a guide to painting and modelling miniatures, please visit 2PaintMiniatures.com