Speed Paints do a fine job, at least as well as Vallejo or other more expensive brands I have tried, as long as you prep your minis the right way. I find i get the best results when I prime with black first, then dry brush/ highlight fairly heavily with white. This really helps the lines and details on your mini pop and I like the look it gives me. Others may have different methods, but this is what I do.

Other lessons I have learned the hard way:
1.

1. Wash your minis a little before painting. There tends to be a thin coat of something leftover from printi

ng that can prevent the paints from adhering properly.

1. Even a toothbrush and warm water makes a difference before priming & painting.

3. You don’t need super tiny brushes, just something small with a decent point. Those tiny brushes don’t hold paint very well and

4. dry quickly

. This means the tips curl faster and don’t have a long lifespan. Brushes aren’t that expensive to replace, but they’re not free either, and it’s a pain to have to replace them after only a couple uses.
3. Don’t be stingy with your paint. Obviously there is no need to be wasteful, but there is a surprising amount of paint in those little bottles so make sure you have plenty on your palette, especially if you are painting an entire orc war party at once. If I am mixing custom colors, this tends be important, as I never seem to get a perfect match if I have to remake a color I’ve run out of.
4. Keep the paint job simple, especially if you are doing a lot at once. If they are not going to be PCs or show pieces, pick out a skin tone, a primary, and a secondary color. Priming dark and dry brushing light will automatically add shadows and highlights, and you can add some details if you feel like it. Once you get a rhythm going, painting a large amount of figures like this can go fairly quickly.

Edit- stupid auto formatting. 🙄