Createx Paints for Airbrushing and Miniature Painting
Recently, I put Createx paints to the test—specifically the Airbrush Colors Opaque line along with some of their auxiliaries, such as the 4011 Reducer and 4030 Balancing Clear (Medium).
The goal was simple: to paint a miniature using only six tubes from the kit, while exploring their qualities and limitations both with the airbrush and the brush.
First Impressions
The first thing I tested was atomization. Since this line is designed for airbrush use, I worked with my Iwata Eclipse with a 0.35 mm nozzle, straight from the bottle. The Opaque White really impressed me with its smooth transitions and remarkable coverage—something that makes pre-shading and texturing much easier.
I quickly noticed a defining characteristic: because these paints are opaque and highly pigmented, they require extra care when smoothing transitions. At the same time, this quality is excellent for covering light areas effortlessly, even with colors that are usually more challenging.
Pros and Cons
Opaque
Pros
- Excellent coverage—perhaps the best I’ve tested so far.
- Makes it easier to create textures.
- Very smooth atomization through the airbrush.
- Mixes well, with lightfast artistic-grade pigments (high resistance to fading).
Cons
- Harder to achieve smooth blends, precisely because of the strong coverage.
- Airbrushed glazes are less controllable and less transparent.
4011 Reducer
Pros
- A small amount already thins the paint significantly.
- Considerably improves atomization.
Cons
- In excess, it can destabilize the paint (ideal range is 10% to 40%).
- Works best with Createx paints rather than with other brands.
4030 Medium
Pros
- Increases paint durability and adhesion.
- Excellent for difficult surfaces or automotive applications.
Cons
- Thicker consistency—best when mixed with 4011.
- Glossy finish, which may not be desirable on every piece.
Createx Lines Tested
- Wicked Colors: Best suited for hard surfaces, slightly more transparent, with a wide range of colors and versatile performance across different pressures and nozzle sizes.
- Airbrush Colors (Opaque and Fluorescent): Recommended for more flexible surfaces; the Opaques provide full coverage, while the Fluorescents are excellent for special effects.
- Illustration Colors: Offer even finer atomization, ideal for smaller nozzles and lower pressures, with slower drying time and greater transparency.
Miniature Painting Experience
Staying true to my style, I created custom skin tone mixes using red, yellow, and white for the mid and lighter tones, and blue or black for darkening. I kept the amount of white low to preserve saturation. The coverage of the Opaques helped correct imperfections right from the first layer—something impressive when working with well-defined light and shadow.
One important detail: due to the high coverage, I had to manually create midtones to smooth transitions, since traditional glazing doesn’t remain as controllable. This extra work is offset by the ease of quickly covering mistakes.
I also tested them with a brush, and fortunately, they performed very well—easy to apply and maintaining good uniformity.
Final result
The challenge was accomplished: I painted the entire miniature using only the kit colors—and I didn’t even end up using the green, preferring to create greenish tones through mixing. This reinforces that, although the set is designed for multiple applications, if it were a kit made exclusively for miniatures I would swap that color for a skin tone or a more versatile brown.
Overall, Createx paints—especially the Opaque line—are highly recommended for miniature painting with an airbrush, and they also work well with a brush. They are durable, versatile, and deliver a professional-quality finish. The only caveat is that, due to their high coverage, they require extra care when smoothing transitions.
If you’re looking for strong pigmentation, smooth atomization, and direct compatibility with airbrushes (even with a 0.35 mm nozzle), they are definitely worth trying.