Wave 1 of the revamped P3 hobby paints range has only just hit the shelves, and already the funding campaign for wave 2 is live on Gamefound. Alongside 64 new colours and 12 spray primers and varnishes, it’s the five premium “Pure” metallics that are really turning heads. Using an industry-first process, they promise a level of brilliance previously only seen with solvent-based metallic paints. But are they really worth £10 a bottle? I’ve put them to the test – here are my first impressions.

P3 Pure Gold metallic paint on a dramatic black marble backgrond
These items were kindly provided by Steamforged Games. Thoughts and opinions are our own.

Wave 2 of the revamped P3 paint range is now being crowdfunded on Gamefound. It includes 64 new colours, 1 thinning medium, 12 spray primers and varnishes, and 5 premium metallic paints.

Stahly’s first impressions of P3 wave 2

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The real stars of the show are undoubtedly the five premium “Pure” metallics. They promise a brilliance usually only found in solvent-based metallic paints – but in a non-toxic, water-based acrylic formula. This is made possible by a newly developed manufacturing process, in which aluminium pigments are dyed, crushed, and embedded in a special polymer, preventing them from losing their shine as they dry.

Three open P3 Pure metallics prototype pots, from left to right: Pure Gold, Pure Copper, Pure Silver
Prototype Pure metallic pots, from left to right: Pure Gold, Pure Copper, Pure Silver (source: Steamforged Games)

Testing the premium “Pure” metallics

I had the chance to try out three of these new prototypes: P3 Pure Gold, P3 Pure Copper, and P3 Bronze. And yes – they’re seriously impressive. They apply just as easily as regular metallic paints, need very little shaking, and hold up well on a wet palette without separating. Coverage is outstanding: a single coat of Pure Gold almost completely covered a black undercoat. A thin second coat was only needed for an even finish. And the shine – it’s incredible. The pigments reflect light so intensely, it’s almost dazzling. At the same time, the particles are extremely fine, creating a smooth and homogenous finish. Even the best and brightest metallics look dull and flat in comparison. Mixing with a bright silver like Vallejo Model Air Silver also works beautifully. Other metallics quickly become quite silvery and pastel when mixed with a bright silver, but thanks to the fully dyed aluminium particles, the P3 Pure metallics retain their base colour better.

Comparison shot of two test models painted with P3's regular metallics and Pure Metallics
The superior reflectiveness is really hard to capture on camera, but you can see it especially well on the chest of the test model on the right

Who the Pure metallics are for – and who they’re not

Having said that, the Pure metallics are definitely a product aimed for absolute paint nerds. The 5-pack costs £45, with a projected retail price of £55 – and that’s for five standard-sized 18ml dropper bottles only. I’d say they’re mainly of interest to competition-level painters and scale modelling enthusiasts who want to achieve the most realistic finish possible with true metallic paints. And don’t plan to varnish their models, as this will remove most of the shine. I guess 95% of hobbyists will be perfectly happy sticking with existing metallic ranges. The regular P3 metallics are already quite good, and the difference compared to other top-tier paints like Vallejo Model Air and Metal Color, Two Thin Coats, or Warpaints Fanatic isn’t enormous. Still, it’s fantastic to see Steamforged Games bringing an innovative product like this to market.

What else is coming

I haven’t had the chance to test the varnishes, spray primers or “shadow” sprays yet. But P3 Coal Black – which is pretty much identical to Incubi Darkness – in a rattle can? Yes please! Fingers crossed Steamforged Games can match the colours of the sprays as closely as possible to their acrylic counterparts.

All of the 64 new P3 colours of wave 2 in their pots
Prototypes for the 64 new colours (source: Steamforged Games)

Then there are 64 new colours, released across eight themed sets of eight paints each. Wave 1 included “only” 110 colours, which is relatively modest compared to other ranges, but Wave 2 looks set to fill in a number of gaps. I’ve already tried some of the new yellow and red tones, including one yellow with particularly strong coverage. Gunner Red is a well-covering mid-red, slightly more muted than GW’s Mephiston Red, but thanks to its high opacity, it’s a viable alternative. There are also some exciting new skin tones. For example, P3 Dreadguard Flesh is a pale neutral bone colour with excellent coverage – think P3 Jack Bone, but lighter. Or P3 Ulkor Flesh, a desaturated lilac-grey brown, perfect for dark bruised skin.

I’m genuinely looking forward to the new colours. Of course, this is highly subjective, but for me, P3 – alongside Citadel Colour and Two Thin Coats – offers one of the most aesthetically pleasing palettes out there. P3 just seems to have a knack for picking tones that really speak to me.

You can see for yourselves in my hand-painted swatch. As soon as I get my hands on Wave 2, I’ll update the chart for free:

Patreon banner for Stahly's hand-painted P3 hobby paints colour swatch

This hand-painted swatch is available in my Patreon shop for a small donation (or by becoming an Autarch tier member). I also have swatches for Pro Acryl, AK 3rd Gen, Vallejo Game & Model Color, Citadel Colour, and more – all cross-compatible with each other so you can compare colours across different brands. Check out my shop for details.

Everything you need to know about the relaunch of the P3 paints – plus in-depth testing – can be found in my video review:

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I hope you found this review helpful, feel free to leave a reaction or comment below, or post your questions here or discuss on our Discord channel.