I have started getting back into the hobby after a few years away, had kids so all my other hobbies and them took all my time. Needless to say I am starting to restock supplies. I mainly do armor, figures and aircraft and had always used Tamiya paints in the past but now I'm finding a lot of other options for airbrush paints, weathering, diorama materials etc. that offer a larger variety of colors. I am not a person to over concern myself with being period/time correct, so markings and paint shades are not priority but quality is.

AK, Ammo, Vallejo, Tamiya are all products I'm interested in, I do have Vallejo for my figures but have not tried their air line, I have become quite intrigued with all the products from AK and Ammo, they both offer paints along with washes, filters, pigments, all kinds of goodies- oh hell

What products have you used that have worked well or not and any tips you can offer that you have learned along the way, use of particular thinners, flow improvers etc?

I love the Mission Models paints very easy to use nearly no dry tip very forgiving and tough finish no guess when you thin them like skim milk or stuff like that just count the drop and I like the system with the thinner and poly additive,for washes and stuff like that AK or Ammo ,I use also Lifecolors paint but more for brush painting

I like AK Real Colors. Very fine finish and can be mixed, with any other paint. They dry to a rock-hard finish. Testors/MM acrylics and enamels spray beautifully, as well; as does Tamiya. One thing I take into consideration is how close a match you can achieve, when using a hairy stick.

Vallejo has a great range of colors,I do use them,but there is a learning curve,they work best with their thinner and flow improver.
As mentioned Tamiya and Modelmaster enamels are fantasitic.
I found the AK and Mig also are effective,but practice makes perfect.
I do look forward to trying out Mission once I get back to the bench

I have completely switched to mission model line of paint,have raised the bar in my eyes they are that good!!!!

i Quote 100%...until i try them i was i Enamel fundamentalist especially with the AB,only some Lifecolors with the hairystick

This is a good point. For some reason everyone praises Mission Models using their proprietary thinner and comparing it with Vallejo/AK/Ammo using water, alcohol or whatever they have at hand. And I don't think it is fair...

I am a regular user of Vallejo without issues.

I do have a 16 color set of Vallejo air that I have not tried out yet, was kind of leery because I've heard positives and minuses but guess I'll buy some of their thinner and flow improver and see how it works out for me.

After watching a video review and reading a few others AK Real Colors seems like an incredible line of paint that I'll have to give a try soon.
I did just order up the AK Modern Aircraft set and their thinner for an F-4 I'm getting ready to build. Can't wait to try these out.

Mission models seems to be a brand that has just escaped me, not seen much about them.

I look forward to the day that I can find 1 line of paint that I love and can stick with.

Currently I'm using Revell enamel paints and revell color mix to thin the paint. Have some bottles of Tamiya paints which are very old laying around. Some of them were still good. Revell has nice enamel paints, but you have to do a lot of mixing with the colors in my experience. That is why I'm now looking for other manufacturers and options that have a wider range of paints, so I don't have to mix as much as before. Why do I not want to mix those colors? Because they have a limited date of storage. After some time they become useless and you can't use them in your airbrush anymore.

YOU control what day that can be!