I need new paints after 20 years, any suggestions?

Tamiya's paints airbrush wonderfully, but are a challenge to hand brush well. And their color selection is limited with very few colors matched to FS, BSC, RAL, RLM, ANA, or other standards. If you don't mind enamels I recommend Humbrol, or Model Master. Gunze Mr Color is another good paint line with a good selection, but is neither an acrylic or enamel compatible with the others, and presents similar hand brushing challenges to Tamiya.

The concept of using gloss paints for your models to cut out the gloss coat step is not a bad one. The Xtracolour brand is made in that manner for just that reason.

Do you think a "paint set" would be worth the price?

Some are. If they have the colors that you need and you compare the price to getting those colors individually. The brushes are usually "eh" though...

Those brushes are almost good enough for glue brushes!

Yeah they are usually better for that stuff: glue, and other assorted non painting uses...

Your best bet is to look at the kits you have and get what you need for them. When you buy another kit you may need other colors. You will build up your supply quicker then you think.

The problem with painting everything in gloss first, then using a flat overcoat after decaling is that many colors appropriate for military subjects are only available in flat.l  In that case, most of us apply a gloss coat, then decal, then dullcoat. If the color is available in gloss, fine I will use it.  If it is only available in flat, I use the above procedure.  If you want to use only gloss as your base coats, you'll need to become accomplished in color mixing (which is actually not a bad skill to acquire).

I ended up with about $40 in paints and about $12 on a couple ultra fine brushes.  It's a start. And no, there isn't much in Tamiya for military colors. I ended up with all Model Master enamels.

Don Stauffer

The problem with painting everything in gloss first, then using a flat overcoat after decaling is that many colors appropriate for military subjects are only available in flat.l  In that case, most of us apply a gloss coat, then decal, then dullcoat. If the color is available in gloss, fine I will use it.  If it is only available in flat, I use the above procedure.  If you want to use only gloss as your base coats, you'll need to become accomplished in color mixing (which is actually not a bad skill to acquire).

if you choose to go the gloss route, Xtracolour Paints has you covered. 95% of their line is gloss, including their military colors.

Tamiya acylics are nearly impossible for me to brush on without leaving brush marks. They do spray on really nice, but they leave a different sheen than brushed, which means that if you have to touch up your airbrush work, you'll have two different sheens in the paint, plus some brush marks. I'm just getting back into this, but I'm liking Vallejo acylics more all the time.