Choosing the right paints, materials and products for painting miniatures and models can be very tricky. You want to ensure that you are picking good-quality paints so that your effort is worth it in the end, but at the same time you do not want to spend a fortune.
The best way that you can do this is by choosing a high-quality paint brand that lasts a long time. There is no point in spending a lot of money on an expensive paint when it will dry out quickly before you get a chance to finish all of the paint. Citadel is one of the best-known paint brands, so do they go bad? The answer is no. If you properly store and care for your citadel paints, they will not go bad.
Obviously, any form or brand of paint will go bad or dry out if you do not look after it properly. So, to ensure that you can make the most out of your paints it is important that you take care of them. A few things that you can do is to store them correctly, put the lids back on after use, and rewet them as needed.
Do Citadel Paints Dry Out?
Citadel is a very famous paint brand when it comes to painting miniatures and models. But sometimes just because something is very well-known it does not mean that it is the best for the job. Often companies survive off of reputation alone.
However, Citadel paints do indeed live up to their name. Hobbyists claim that they keep Citadel paints for years, some even keeping them for close to 20 years! As long as you ensure that you take proper care of them then enthusiasts reckon that they can last forever.
You will need to ensure that you close the lid correctly and tightly (as many have complained about the functionality of the lid). As long as you do this and store them correctly out of direct sunlight then your Citadel paints will not dry out.
In fact, if you do find that they are becoming a little bit too dry then you can simply moisten them with a small splash of water. This will then stop them from drying out further.
How Long Do Citadel Paints Last?
There is no lifespan on Citadel paints. They last as long as you make them last. In fact, many hobbyists in online forums claim to have kept, and keep using, the same Citadel paint that they purchased over 20 years ago.
This just attests to the fact that something lasts if you take good care of it. As long as you ensure that the paints are properly sealed then they will last. This is because the paint will only be good for use as long as there is moisture inside of the paint.
Once this completely dries out then you will be left with clumps of colored paint. At this point, it can be very difficult to revive the paint and you may have to purchase a new paint.
Instead of purchasing a premade set of Citadel paints, we recommend building your own paint set with this build your own assortment bundle. This allows you to choose only the colors you need or want at a great value.
How Do You Revive Citadel Paints?
If your paint has not dried out entirely to the point that it is completely unusable then you may be able to revive it. The idea is that the moisture has disappeared from the paint. So, you will need to reintroduce this moisture back into the paint to revive it.
There are two main options for this: water and medium. If your paint is still soft enough that you are able to poke your nail into it then it can be revived. If it is too solid for your nail to enter then, unfortunately, you will not be able to revive it.
In order to revive Citadel paints, you will need to add the smallest amount of water. You will then need to stir continuously for a few minutes and then shake. Keep repeating this process until you can see that all of the water has been entirely absorbed.
Then check the consistency of the paint. If it looks like normal then you are good to go. Otherwise, you will need to add a little bit more water (be careful not to add too much) and repeat the process for as long as needed.
Once you have successfully revived your paint it is important that you do not let it dry out again. So, check the seal on the lid and transfer it to a new container if the seal is broken or does not work. This will stop you from having to repeat this process in the future.
Some hobbyists claim that using medium is a superior method to water. Medium is very popular in the world of acrylic paint as it is essentially a thinner. It will thin the paint but retain the same color, unlike with water which can cause the paint to become patchy and streaky.
For example, if you have seen any acrylic pour videos then this is what they use to allow the paint to flow freely across the canvas. The medium will allow the paint to spread (by thinning it) without diluting any of the color.
It is always best to add a very small amount of water or medium at a time so that you do not essentially ‘drown’ the paint and ruin it further.
How Do You Keep Citadel Paint From Drying Out?
The best thing that you can do to stop Citadel paint from drying out is to ensure that the seal is tightly closed. This will stop any air from getting to the paint and removing the moisture. This will keep your paint good for use and stop it from becoming chunky.
Additional measures that you can take to stop your paint from drying out is to keep it cool. You can do this in a number of ways.
The first is to keep the paint out of direct sunlight. This will stop the paint from drying out inside of the tube. So, ensure that you do not keep it by any windows. It is best to keep it inside of a box or opaque container so as to stop any accidental sun damage.
You should always keep the paints in a cool environment. So, if you have a room that gets particularly warm then this is a bad place to keep your paints. Tucking them out of sight in a cool part of the house is the most ideal storage solution.
Final Thoughts
Citadel paints are a great brand for painting miniatures and models but you will have to make sure that you look after them. When cared for properly they can last forever, making them a great investment.
There are a few things that you will need to do to stop Citadel paints from going bad. You will need to store them in a cool, dark place, make sure that you put the lid on properly and tightly to keep the moisture in the paint and then rewet them using water or medium if they dry out.
Once you ensure that you take proper care of them then they will never go bad. You can always add to your collection of colors without having to rebuy any that you have not completely finished.