Need Advise on Paints and Stains

My advice: If you are painting expensive rolling stock, seek out high quality pricy paints. For most everything else, the cheapest of paints are just fine.  Some specific advice:

1) For covering large surfaces like backgrounds, base coats on mountains and so on, check out latex paints from the "oops" counter at the big box home improvement stores. Exact color rarely matters, and can be easily adjusted.

2) For everyday painting of all kinds, go for the $2 craft acrylics from a craft store or WalMart. There are a zillion colors available. Start with pure white, black, green, yellow and everything with "umber" or "sienna" in its name. Don't be afraid to mix colors. 

3) The exception that proves the rule: Go to the expensive oil paint section and splurge on a tube of a color called "Payne's Gray". I learned this from following the work of Troels Kirk, who is a professional painter and a master modeler. This is an incredibly useful and subtle color that somehow brings scenes to life.

4) For stains and weathering, you can't beat ink/alcohol mixtures. Artists inks are available in many colors--kind of pricy, but they go a long way.

Hope this helps.

I agree with Pete. Good advice. I use acrylics exclusively, as the fumes from enamels is just bad. BTW, I have Payne's Gray in a craft acrylic so if you like that color, it's available. I would buy a whole selection of acrylics as they're inexpensive and you'll find yourself using virtually all of them at one time or another. As far as the staining of wood, 1 or 2 teaspoons of india ink in a pint of alcohol is definitely a good choice. It works on unfinished wood as well as a weathering agent on painted wood. Try different methods to see what you like on scrap. 

Jerrman

I agree with some of the suggestions already made,  including the returns/mistakes at HD, etc.

However, I wouldn't dismiss enamel paints. They can be used for a wide variety of things and make very quick work.

Wood made to look like concrete-w/enamel

Plastic roof made to look like metal roof-w/enamel

Windows done w/enamel

Wood and plastic done w/enamel

Anything ground cover related(rock, etc.) I use latex or acrylic paints.

I like these stains for wood.....dark walnut is a great replacement for "Railroad Tie Brown".

....and, compared to those little bottles of paint, quite economical.....

Peter

Even with Acrylic/water clean-up paints, if you are spraying, you need a respirator.  Same applies to rattle can sprays.  Local auto parts/paint store. Note the (2) organic cartridge filters, that can be replaced. A simple cloth dust filter will not work. 

Putnam Division posted:

I like these stains for wood.....dark walnut is a great replacement for "Railroad Tie Brown".

....and, compared to those little bottles of paint, quite economical.....

Peter

Add one more, Golden Oak 210B.   Note the steps, deck,  and hand rails.  Post and framing are Dark Walnut.   Stains need to be applied before application of adhesives.   Other stains on the shelf are:  Provincial 211, Driftwood 2126, Jacobean 2750.