How do you keep newish GW paints open?

[herzlos]

I've bought the white-topped GW paints for years, and they've always had a little plastic tab that holds the lid up in such a way that the inside of the lid holds enough paint to use, and that the brush can be dipped hands-free. But the more recent stuff (I've not tried the new range, but I'm talking about the stuff from the last year or so) doesn't have this tab, and therefore doesn't stay open and I'm having to either put the model down or dip blind.

Before I try and fabricate something to hold them open using cocktail sticks where the tab used to be, does anyone have any good suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

[westwaller]

@herzlos,

Why not use a palette (perhaps a white bathroom tile or plate) or wet palette and put a bit of colour from the pot on to this using the other end of your brush rather than straight painting from the pot. The added bonus of this is that you will be able to add a drop of water to thin down certain colours for easier and smoother application.

Or cut the 'hinge' tab off the back of the lid of the pot? The lid should still go on fine afterwards (I think)

[Stuart]

I agree with westwallers hinge tip, the hinge comes in two parts, I snip one part and it then stays back and goes back on easily as well. It is annoying though how it worked fine before and now the "if it ain't broke, let's fix it"! brigade tampered with it

[grant]

I had a chat with my local shop owner about this. The "last edition" of the GW paints had no tab, after an edition that did - he found it equally annoying.

The "New edition" of the paints that were just released have the tabs again - obviously this was a big issue and not unique.

In the meantime, I too suggest not painting from the pot and using a palette of some sort. I have never looked back!

[Ubique matt]

Hi herzlos,

I use one of those wooden stirrers available from all good coffee shops (and bad ones) and edge it between the pot and the lid. It's the perfect width to keep the lid open and doesn't matter if it gets covered in paint.

Regards,
Matt

[Comte Michel]

The "New edition" of the paints that were just released have the tabs again - obviously this was a big issue and not unique.

Woohoo! That's good news. I didn't buy any of the new pots yet. Personally I use a wet palette for fine work, but just the pot for larger areas, and the lid closing is really irritating.

One big advantage I find with a wet palette is that I can add a small amount of flow improver, which makes the paint go on a lot better.

[herzlos]

Thanks guys

I'll try the pallete thing, though it always seemed overkill if I only want a tiny bit of a colour.

It's good to hear that the new paints have tabs again, it was enough to make me considering getting paints from someone else

[King Tiger]

Not all the new pots have tabs on.

The best way I found to keep them open...well was not to buy them , still got me MP's and desperate to use Foundry

[herzlos]

Not all of them have tabs? That's peculiar. Is it random or are there just some sets (like washes) without them?

[King Tiger]

Allot of people have noticed no tab, and people who brought the paint set here have had complaints about it (including how poorly gw have packed there paint sets) and about 50% of the paint pits have no tab and are previous paint pots, we believe fw has basically just used an old stockpile of tabless pots.