# Best Model Paint Sets: Acrylic and Enamel Starter Kits Worth Buying Source: https://modelbuildlab.com/best/best-model-paint-sets Updated: 2026-10-20 Publisher: Model Build Lab. Our score is an editorial rating out of 10 (fit 35%, features 25%, build 20%, value 20%), not a customer rating. Method: https://modelbuildlab.com/how-we-research#our-score Buying model paints one bottle at a time gets expensive and slow, which is why a well-chosen paint set is one of the smartest early purchases in the hobby. The trick is that not all sets are assembled with equal thought. The best ones cover genuinely useful colors - primers, base tones, and shades matched to real military, aircraft, or automotive subjects - while weaker sets pad the box with colors you will never open. Chemistry matters too: water-based acrylics are forgiving and low-odor, lacquers spray beautifully but demand ventilation, and enamels brush smoothly with long working times. This guide compares the leading sets across brands and paint types, and points out which boxes match specific genres and skill levels. ## Picks ### 1. Vallejo Basic Colors USA Acrylic Paint Set, Model Color, 16 Bottles x 18 ml Our score: 8.6/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10) Vallejo Basic Colors USA acrylic set, Model Color, 16 Bottles x 18 ml, a brush painting palette for models. Pros: - 16 Model Color bottles cover a wide brush painting palette - Opaque formula gives good coverage over primer - Dropper bottles make consistent color mixing easy Cons: - Needs thinning before use in an airbrush - Basic palette lacks many military-specific tones Details: https://modelbuildlab.com/product/B009162PWU ### 2. Vallejo Basic Colors: Acrylic 16 Airbrush Paint Set for Model & Hobby 71178 Our score: 8.4/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) Vallejo Basic Colors acrylic 16 airbrush paint set 71178, ready-to-spray colors for model and hobby airbrushing. Pros: - 16 pre-thinned colors skip the guesswork of mixing ratios - Model Air line is designed specifically for airbrushes - Good starter palette for vehicles, aircraft and figures Cons: - Pre-thinned paint is too runny for brush work - Tips can clog if paint dries in the dropper nozzle Details: https://modelbuildlab.com/product/B00MZ9VERW ### 3. Vallejo Model Color Effects Metallic Colors Set, 8 Bottles x 18 ml Our score: 8.4/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) Vallejo Model Color Effects Metallic Colors Set, 8 Bottles x 18 ml, a brush-friendly metallic range for models. Pros: - 8 metallic shades cover steel, brass, copper and more - 18 ml dropper bottles keep paint fresh and waste low - Model Color formula is well suited to brush painting Cons: - Metallics only, so you still need a base color set - Metallic flakes need regular shaking to stay mixed Details: https://modelbuildlab.com/product/B005D82OLM ### 4. The Army Painter, Speedpaint Most Wanted Set 2.0, 24 x 18 ml Our score: 8.1/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10) 24 x 18 ml Speedpaint 2.0 set from The Army Painter: 21 colors, 2 metallics and 1 Speedpaint Medium, plus a basecoating brush. One-coat paints that shade and highlight as they dry over a light primer. Pros: - 21 colors, 2 metallics and a medium for thinning and mixing, with a basecoating brush included - One generous coat over a light primer flows into recesses for shadows and thins on raised edges - Every bottle includes two stainless steel mixing balls to help mix the paint when shaken Cons: - Needs a light-colored primer underneath, so it is not a drop-in for dark or unprimed models - Marketed for miniatures and figures: the listing does not address large flat panels or airbrushing Details: https://modelbuildlab.com/product/B0C2Z4FNT9 ### 5. The Army Painter, GameMaster Adventure Starter Set, 15 x 18 ml Our score: 7.7/10 (Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10) Starter set from The Army Painter with 15 x 18 ml Warpaints Fanatic acrylics: 10 colors, 2 effect paints, 2 metallics and 1 wash, plus a starter brush, painting guide and 5 snap-fit miniatures. A boxed way to begin brush painting. Pros: - 15 bottles cover 10 colors, 2 effect paints, 2 metallics and 1 wash in one box - Includes a starter brush and a painting guide aimed at first-time painters - Paints are Warpaints Fanatic acrylics, described as high coverage with intense pigmentation Cons: - Themed for tabletop RPGs: the 5 fantasy miniatures and quest map add little for scale kit builders - Costs more than a basic 10-bottle starter, and no military or vehicle shades are mentioned Details: https://modelbuildlab.com/product/B0DDH24SRM ### 6. Monument Hobbies PRO Acryl 22ml Acrylic Paint Set - Miniature Paint for Wargames - Non Toxic Acrylic Paint Compatible with Both Brush and Airbrush Painting Techniques - Expansion Set 3 Our score: 7.4/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10) Monument Hobbies Pro Acryl 22ml acrylic paint set, Expansion Set 3, non-toxic miniature paint that the listing says works for both brush and airbrush. Pros: - Listing states it works for brush and airbrush painting, one paint for both techniques. - No-clog cap with a glass agitator in each bottle, per the listing. - Made in the USA and described as non-toxic, conforming to ASTM D-4236. Cons: - It is an expansion set, so the listing frames it as an add-on to a base set rather than a full starter range. - Aimed at wargame miniatures; the colors may suit models less than armor or aircraft shades. Details: https://modelbuildlab.com/product/B0BNDZL1Y1 ### 7. Citadel Choose-Your-Own Paint Set (Air Paints & Technical) Our score: 7.0/10 (Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 6/10) Citadel Choose-Your-Own Paint Set of Air and Technical paints, a flexible bundle for Games Workshop painters. Pros: - Choice of paints lets you tailor the set to your army - Air paints are pre-thinned for airbrush users - Technical paints add effects like rust and blood Cons: - Contents depend on your choices, so value varies - Citadel paints cost more per volume than rivals Details: https://modelbuildlab.com/product/B07T94SYCY As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.