Acrylic paint recommendations: Vallejo, Ak, Mig, Hataka, or life color?

My main usage generally is Vallejo model air. The range is always growing, is chipset accurate and has a strong pigment. It sprays direct from the bottle with no issues and goes down well.

my metal paints usage is either/and Vallejo Metal Color, AK Xtreme Metal. There is an overlap between colours, but there is a shade difference between them and they both sit well side by side happily. Neither range of paints like being masked or handled and so I always put over them a coat of AK Gausy Agent Shine as a protection coat. It is of a milky colour and doesn't need shaking or anything and goes on totally crystal clear!

I Will dip into other brands for colours not done in Vallejo's range, or not to my satisfaction. Tamiya X-13 is a dead ringer for Japanese Aotake, their hand mixed anti corrosion clear coat, I have not found a mix in any other brand that come close to an accurate representation and this is a colour I always apply with a bristle brush as it clogs up my airbrush something chronic!

MRP paints for RAF insignia colours. For the blue, go with the BS 105 Oxford Blue as that is the correct blue for roundels and flashes. Their WWII Marking Blue is incorrect.

If you look at my most recent builds on here you will find Vallejo, AK Xtreme Metal and MRP paints used. The majority being vallejo.

I can't add much to what Jon and Snapdragon said but Vallejo is also my primary paint. And my main reason is the availability of so many colors.

Also, you happen to have 3 Vallejo recommendations in a row, and I think this is a coincidence. Though the 3 of us seem to be content Vallejo users, the brand has it's share of folks who don't like it.

I think my advice would be don't over-buy until you've had a chance to try it. I think one of the smaller paint kits you are looking at would be a good start.

If you do try the Vallejo, I'd suggest you also buy a bottle of Vallejo Airbrush Thinner and Vallejo Flow improver.

I have no experience with any of the other paints you asked about, hopefully some others will chime in.

Paints are one of the most "personal" things there is in this hobby. All the ones you've asked about are great paints. Each one of us uses certain paints and brands for a ton of different reasons, mostly personal preference. And each one of us can give you a different thing they like or dislike about certain brands. It all boils down to what you like and the way you prefer to paint. Some paints may be magic to others and give you complete fits. That is where everyone's different painting techniques comes into play. Get a kit and some different paints and go to work. You will soon learn which ones "you" prefer over others and you reasoning will be all yours. It doesn't really matter what someone else likes as long as what you use works well for you and gives you the results you want. And that all comes with trying different ones out. Good luck.

BK

Thanks. I got a couple of Vallejo sets (WW2 And Modern Navy/USMC aircraft) and two MiG brand Sets (1 RAF interiorand the RAF Late set) and see how they do. I also did get the appropriate brand thinner to go with them. 

im also going to try some of the AK paints as well