Which paint set/ paints to buy?

Like many thing, there is no straight answer to this, we all have our preferance. It will help if you have some indication of what you want. For example, do you want close enough, or accurate colours out of the tin/bottle in certain ranges, such as RLM, RAL, FS etc. Do you want Acrylic or enamel.

If you want accurate colours as they come, decide what you think you will be building most. I have the full range of Xtracolor enamels for German aircrfat and armour, but only a selection for US, UK and other nations as i need them.

Like many, i have several brands of paints. My main ones are Xtracolour enamels. But i also have a few Humbrol enamels, lots of tamiya acrylics and some vallejo. I also have Alclad for NMF and some effects and another small range for skin on figures. And i am sure i am not alone.

Armorex

Which set or paints should i buy in the start? I am confused because there are so many "German" " American" "WWI" etc sets available. I would like to use them in the airbrush as well. I know i can buy paints as i build kits, but that would be ordering 1 or 2 paints everytime i need to complete a new model. Please advise. Thanks!

I bought two sets to jump start my collection after getting back into scale models after 18 years.

I bought the full set of Tamiya Acrylics - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tamiya-Acrylic-Paint-Set-Lot-of-99-Different-MINI-10ml-Paint-Bottles-Brand-New-/122048155543?hash=item1c6aa30f97:g:9y4AAOSwB4NW0ePG

And i also bought the full set of Vallejo model air - https://www.amazon.com/Vallejo-Basic-Colors-Model-Paint/dp/B003ZFXT4G/

Both are great sets, you should read up on the differences, airbrush usage, thinner to use, etc since everyone has different opinions on that.

I a variety of Vallejo, Tamiya, Testors and Humbrol, really depends on what i'm doing, I will say i prefer the acrylic paints to enamels for clean-up and odor...

I opt'd for the full sets since I wasnt into the trip to the hobby store every 5 days, Im just not that organized i guess :)

What Bish says. There's really no correct answer here. Choose what you need to complete your kit. In time, you will end up collecting a vast variety of colors and brand of paints for future kits.

Welcome to the forum, Armorex. You've gotten some really good advice here. Now, just answer their questions and post a new question with that additional detail, and I think some people will be able to tell you what colors you need. Don't think about "sets" of paint, just think about individual colors. And once you get started, plan to post pictures. We can't get enough of those. :-) Best wishes.

Thank you everyone for your responses! You guys are really helpful. Ok then i will get paints as i build. I will definitely post pictures as i build. There is just one more tiny thing i want to ask. Can i get a good guide online on how to mix colors to get approximate shade? For example i have phthalo green and i want to make it into US army green. Which colors do i mix? Things like that

While some modelers do mix their own color, it is not a common practice, so there is not a lot of info on it on line.  Most modelers just search for the closest color they can find.  There have been quite a few threads in this forum on color conversion charts or charts of colors of major model paint brands.  Look through old threads in this forum and see if you can find some of these- they will help.

Many folks don't worry about a super exact match, because colors on real aircraft begin to change once planes have been outside in sunlight a couple of weeks, and the color appearance of an aircraft depends on color temperature of sunlight, which varies over the day.

Also, for WW1 aircraft, it is hard to find accurate color references from this long ago.  Do not trust replica photos, since the above problem limits authenticity, plus photography is notoriously inaccurate as to color accuracy.  So this gives you more freedom for that era.

I wouldn't go anal in trying to replicate an exact color. It's virtually impossible especially with WW1 aircraft. It's a science when it comes to military colors. So many variations on Olive Drabs for example. I like using www.paint4models.com as my reference guide. If it provides a FS number, go by that. FS meaning Federal Standard.

Ditto on what the otehrs have said about matching a colour exactly. Even thoguh i mainly use a colour specific range, its colours will be differant from anotehr makes range. many things effect colour, not just weathering and wear and tear but also who made the paint. Even at the time two tins of the same colour may not have been the same.

The suggestion for buying so many paints in one set is a little expensive for me. So I will buy paints as i build models as i am in no rush to complete them. I wouldnt mind giving 10-15 days to complete one simple model. I loved the www.paint4models.com website and i would be referring to it as i paint too. Thank you everyone!