How to Choose an Italeri & Vallejo Paint Set for Your Scale Model
A paint set is a useful way to start a scale-model project without assembling every colour individually. The best choice depends on the subject you are building: its era, service, aircraft or vehicle type, and whether you are painting figures as well.
Shop Italeri & Vallejo paint sets
These sets are currently active products in our store. Choose the subject closest to your build, then check your kit instructions before painting.
1. Start with the subject, not the brand name
Paint sets are normally grouped around a subject. For example, an RAF set is a better starting point for a WWII RAF aircraft, while a modern USAF/USN set is more relevant to a modern American aircraft project. For figures, choose a set intended for the uniform or force you are painting.
2. Use the kit instructions as the final check
Instructions, decal options and references can vary between kits. Compare the colours in your instructions with the colours included in a set before ordering. A themed set can reduce guesswork, but it does not replace checking the specific scheme you want to reproduce.
3. Choose a set that matches your build stage
- First project: begin with a set matched to the subject instead of buying a broad range of individual colours.
- Specific scheme: check the kit’s colour callouts and add individual paints only where needed.
- Figures and dioramas: start with a relevant uniform or military theme, then expand with detail colours as your technique develops.
4. Plan the rest of the workflow
Paint is one part of the build. Before starting, make sure you have suitable brushes or airbrush equipment, primer where required, and materials for cleaning and thinning according to the paint manufacturer’s guidance.
Browse the linked sets above to find a starting point for RAF, D-Day, modern USAF/USN, WWII German and Allied figure projects.