Citadel Air Paints vs Base Paints: When to Use Each Type
By Frontline Gaming | Published: 2026-10-14
Category: Comparisons
Citadel Air and Base paints are not interchangeable. Learn when to reach for each type, how they behave differently, and which projects suit each one best.
Quick answer
Use Citadel Air paints when you are spraying through an airbrush for smooth basecoats, gradients, or large surface coverage. Use Citadel Base paints when you need opaque brush-on coverage for details, trim, and armor sections. They are formulated for different tools, so the right choice depends on how you apply the paint, not which color you prefer.
Consistency and application: the core difference
Citadel Air paints are pre-thinned for airbrush use, meaning they flow through a fine nozzle without clogging. Citadel Base paints are thicker, designed to be loaded onto a brush and applied directly to plastic, resin, or metal miniatures. If you try to brush on Air paint straight from the pot, it will run into recesses and require multiple coats. If you try to spray Base paint without thinning, you risk clogging your airbrush and getting a splattered finish.
Coverage and opacity: what each type delivers
Base paints provide strong opacity in one or two coats, making them ideal for blocking in colors on a model. Air paints are more transparent by design, so they build up gradually. This makes Air paints excellent for layering and blending, but less efficient for covering a dark undercoat quickly. For example, Citadel Air Mournfang Brown is a 24ml acrylic formulated for basecoating and shading miniatures, but it will need several passes to match the opacity of a brush-on Base paint.
Practical workflow: when to switch between them
A common approach is to start with an Air paint through your airbrush to establish a smooth base layer, then switch to Base paints for details and touch-ups. For instance, you could spray Citadel Air Fenrisian Grey as a primer or basecoat, then use Citadel Base Balthasar Gold for metallic trim and armor sections. This hybrid method saves time on large areas while keeping brush control where it matters most.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Air paints: speed vs. control: Air paints cover large areas quickly and evenly, but you need an airbrush and ventilation. They are less effective for fine detail work. Choose Air for basecoats and gradients; keep a brush handy for details.
- Base paints: opacity vs. thinning: Base paints offer strong coverage straight from the pot, but they require thinning for airbrush use and can obscure fine details if applied too thickly. Use Base for brush-on precision; thin carefully if you spray them.
- Cost and volume: Air paints typically come in 24ml pots, while Base paints are often 12ml. The larger volume of Air paints can be more economical for large projects, but only if you have an airbrush. Match pot size to your primary application method to avoid waste.
Product facts
- Citadel: Air Mournfang Brown (24Ml): Citadel Air Mournfang Brown is a 24ml acrylic paint formulated for use with airbrushes, designed for basecoating and shading miniatures. Its pre-thinned consistency lets you spray smooth layers without mixing, but it is not intended for direct brush application.
- Citadel: Base Balthasar Gold 12Ml: Citadel Base Balthasar Gold is a 12ml pot formulated for basecoating details, trim, or armor sections on plastic, resin, and metal miniatures. Its thicker consistency gives opaque coverage with a brush, making it the better choice for precise metallic work.
Which should you choose?
Best for
- Hobbyists with an airbrush who want fast, smooth basecoats on vehicles or large monsters
- Painters who blend gradients and transitions on cloaks, skin, or organic surfaces
- Anyone working on multiple models who wants to speed up the basecoating stage
Not for
- Beginners without an airbrush or proper ventilation
- Detail work like eyes, freehand, or fine trim where brush control is essential
- Small touch-ups where mixing a tiny amount of paint is more practical
