It’s happening! Citadel “Contrast” Paints are here! Do not miss the big reveal of the new paints and the very easy process of using them!
Before we jump into the latest on project “contrast”, check out previous rumors that appear to still be in play for this new product!
Warhammer Community previewed a video at their Adepticon preview called “Fifty Shelves of Grey”. The video showcased nothing but grey models in the”largest collection in the world” and popped up a “grey no more” title at the end of the video.
Is this a situation familiar to you? We know that while grey plastic has its charms, the dreaded backlog can feel a bit intimidating at times. Well, worry not – soon, we’ll be adding something huge to our paint range that’s going to make painting your models even simpler. Stay tuned for more teases soon…
Rumors of More Citadel paints & Hobby Gear Emerge
Earlier rumors said that we could be seeing a whole new line of Citadel paints along with a Citadel airbrush hit the market sometime in May/June. The “Fifty Shades of Grey” video wasn’t a foreshadowing of GW’s grey plastic sprues switching to colored plastic. Just that their line of painting support would help people get their miniatures looking the way they want them.
Faeit 212 quoted the following from “an anonymous source”:
No colored plastic.
Instead a new massive paint release in May/June (the timeline was mentioned and not confirmed by the other sources). This will be a huge expansion on the current paint range.
This will include a airbrush paints with the return of old paints and a new “blending” type of paint that will be very slow drying.
Faeit also quoted Nick Powell as saying the following:
Overheard at adepticon that well known painters have been working with GW to help create the new paints and some of them will be new formula washes that act more like acrylic pin washes and leave no staining on flat surfaces.
Industry Insider Points Towards the Paint Racks
As for the latest update on these rumors, an industry insider mentioned:
Citadel hobby displays inside game stores will be getting an extension rack for the new product launch. Big things are coming, BIG!
You might not think that the Citadel paint racks have any extra space. In reality, the box marked in red from the pic above is all extra paints. That’s where all the runoff product goes. So if there’s an extension that is going to hook onto the rack, could it be to hold more paints? Could it be a flat shelf-type addon that holds boxes of airbrushes or painting starter sets? (Maybe something like 5 bases, 5 layers, 3 washes).
It probably goes without saying at this point that new retail systems are coming for Contrast for it’s rollout in June:
Contrast Revealed At Warhammer Fest 2019:
Contrast is designed to be super simple to use. If you’ve ever wanted to tackle a hundreds-strong horde of Orks, a Hive Fleet’s worth of Tyranids or a skeletal horde that’d impress Nagash himself, but never thought you could get them all painted, Contrast is for you. If you’ve got a tournament in two weeks and just need to add the latest unit to your army, Contrast is for you. If you’re just looking to save some time and get gaming, Contrast is for you.
Image from Warhammer 40k FB group via the Shizuoka Hobby in Japan.
No official word yet on size, or cost of each pot, however, this appears to be a hybrid size between the current 12ml pot and the 24ml “wash pot” Remember that currently, the 24ml pot full of wash (or texture paint) costs $7.80!
For you experienced painters, Contrast is a new weapon in your arsenal. It has distinctive properties and flow, both of which are unlike anything you’ve used before. On its own, it’s a great time saver – but combined with the rest of the Citadel paint range, it’s got incredible potential. Blending, glazes, and smooth gradients are easier to achieve than ever, and to help you experiment with this new paint, we’ll also be launching a new Contrast Medium which gives pros even more opportunities to play with this new paint’s unique properties. And with dozens of Contrast colours at launch, the sky’s the limit.
Contrast is more than just a new paint though – it’s a whole new way to approach painting. For those after a Battle Ready finish, the Contrast Method has been devised to make awesome results easily attainable for absolutely anyone.
You’ll be able to get your models ready for the tabletop in no time.
Looks like there ver 30 different contrast paints, along with a rainbow of opportunity to paint your models easier! Not pictured (though visible in the glass bottom left) are two new Citadel Color sprays that are designed to work with this new system as well.
Here are some Work In Progress shots of models painted at Warhammer Fest using Contrast sent to us from Sablednah
This shot shows the consistency of the paint. One thick coat indeed!
Looks like it is a brave new hobby world out there folks, as, from first looks, it just got easier to paint your minis! Contrast may change how everyone hobbies on Warhammer from beginner to veteran alike!
Want to know more?
Exclusive Warhammer Fest Coverage
Which Contrast paint do you want more? Will grey tide armies still be a thing in 6 months? Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group.
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
