Model Paint 42 vs FineScale Modeler
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Model Paint 42
A comprehensive database of over 9500 paints from 29 manufacturers for modelers and artists. Easily search, compare equivalent colors across brands, and manage your paint stock. Create custom lists and add notes for efficient organization.
- Extensive paint database (9500+ paints)
- 29 manufacturer support
- Cross-brand color equivalents
- Customizable paint lists
- Stock management
- Search by color, name, code, finish, type
- Notes and sorting options
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A database of over 9500 paints from 29 manufacturers designed for modellers and artists. Whether you paint or build model aircraft, ships, railway, cars, trucks, boats, figures, wargames (in fact anything!) this database is for you. Contains paints from: - Abteilung - AK Interactive - Akan - Alclad - Ammo by Mig - Andrea - Army Painter - Badger - Citadel - Floquil - Hataka - Humbrol - Italeri - LifeColor - Meng - Mig - Mission Models - Model Master - Monument - Mr Hobby - Privateer Press - Railmatch - Reaper - Revell - Scale75 - Tamiya - Testors - Vallejo - Winsor & Newton You can turn each manufacturer and range (e.g. Humbrol enamel) on or off at any time so that you see only the lists you want. You can save your own views so that you can set the lists you want to see and the order you want to see them quickly. You can see details of each paint plus equivalent colours from all the included ranges. Or you can select to see equivalents from only the ranges you have switched on, the same medium or the same finish. You can search across all the paints by colour, name, code, manufacturer, finish (e.g. gloss, matt), paint type (e.g. acrylic, enamel) and paints you have in stock. You can create your own lists from any paints in the database. You can lock the lists (to save accidental changes) and these lists can be set as stock lists (you have these paints). You can make notes against the list itself or the individual colours and you can sort the lists and colours any way you want. Paints you have added to any of your stock lists are indicated in the ranges, the equivalents and the search results so you can see what paints you have when you do a search. Saves a lot of wasted money buying the same colours twice and handy when you go shopping (you can have a shopping list too)! An invaluable reference database for any artist or modeller.
FineScale Modeler
Learn to build and finish detailed scale models of aircraft, armor, and ships. Access articles on assembly and painting, plus reviews of new kits and expert tips. Features a gallery showcasing reader creations.
- Model building tutorials
- Assembly and painting guides
- Kit reviews
- Product announcements
- Expert tips
- Reader model gallery
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FineScale Modeler teaches you to build models of aircraft, armor, ships and more. Clear articles show you how to assemble, paint, and finish the latest model kits. Every issue includes unbiased reviews of kits that were built and tested for accuracy, product announcements, tips from the experts, and a gallery of readers’ models. This is a free app download. Within the app users can purchase the current issue and back issues. When purchasing through iTunes your account will be charged at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription will auto-renew unless you turn this off 24 hours before the subscription runs out. You can turn off auto-renewal at any time from your iTunes account settings. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. Privacy Policy: https://firecrown.com/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use: https://firecrown.com/terms-of-use/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Model Paint 42 at 64% against FineScale Modeler's 2%. Model Paint 42 also leads on rating (3.6 vs 2.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 10). FineScale Modeler's advantage is price (Free vs $1.99). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
FineScale Modeler is free to download; Model Paint 42 costs $1.99 up front. FineScale Modeler sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Model Paint 42 asks for nothing beyond the download.
Model Paint 42 holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 2.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 32 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Model Paint 42's written reviews are positive against 2% of FineScale Modeler's.
Model Paint 42 ships an update every 3 months, FineScale Modeler every 6 months. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.
| Parameter | Model Paint 42 | FineScale Modeler |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.6 (15 ratings) — better | 2.4 (32 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 63.8% of reviews — better | 2.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 15 | 32 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 89 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Points Align | Flying Media Group, LLC |
Customer experience
Model Paint 42
FineScale Modeler
Bugs and requests
Model Paint 42
Reported bugs
12 issues- Comparisons between paints are not totally accurate
- Mistakes in the paint list with colors
- New ranges can’t go into my lists
- Can’t Add Notes to Colors in List
- No clear way to close the keyboard
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Keyboard covers 'Add to List' button
- Cannot move between screens
- Colors added to lists are not linked
- Search function is junk
- Search function is not intuitive
- Data does not synchronize between devices
- App is clunky in navigation
Requested features
72 requests- Update with recent paints
- Improve accuracy of paint comparisons
- Add ability to make corrections or add missing colors
- Restore general search function
- Search based on FS number
Show 67 moreShow fewer
- Add Humbrol acrylics
- Include AK Real Colours Air paints
- Add missing paint ranges (e.g., Humbrol, AK Real Colours)
- Allow users to add missing colors or make corrections
- Add new ranges to user lists
- Include Hannants paints (Xtracolour, Xtracrylic)
- Allow adding notes to colors in lists
- Clear way to close keyboard when adding notes
- Update for more recent paints
- Add Polly Scale, Vallejo 'Nocturna', Citadel Contrast Paints, old Citadel Inks
- Add Winsor Newton oils
- Add Gunze Mr Aqueous Color
- Include newer colors from different brands
- Dedicated iPad display
- Add MiG colors
- Update paint ranges
- Complete Vallejo lines
- Add Privateer Press, Reaper, Andrea, Scale75, Wargames Foundry, Coat d’arms, Colour party paints
- Add artist paint ranges (e.g., Windsor & Newton, Daler Rowney)
- Track old Humbrol codes
- Add Hataka paints
- Add Ammo and Mr Hobbies
- Add weathering paints
- Add Vallejo Game Air, Army Painter Zombicide colors
- Search by RLM numbers
- Add P3, Foundation, Reaper, Citadel paints
- Add newer Citadel paints
- Add Foundry and P3 paints
- Update with new Humbrol & Tamiya paints
- Improve collection tool usability
- Allow moving between screens
- Link colors added to lists
- Improve similar color reference
- Add AK Interactive paints
- Show equivalences with paint mixtures
- Add Vallejo pigments
- Add Andrea acrylics
- Add Vallejo Game Color
- Add spray paints (e.g., Tamiya TS- series)
- Add Testor paints
- Improve interface
- Improve search function
- Add scale color tools
- Allow data synchronization between devices
- Allow users to add custom swatches
- Show 'highlight of', 'shade of', 'complimentary colour to' relationships
- Allow sharing inventories between users
- Add ability to add notes to colors
- Add ability to select multiple paints and add to list
- Add shopping list feature
- Allow comparison of colors side-by-side
- Add RGB listing for colors
- Allow transfer of database to other devices
- Add barcode scanning for search
- Allow users to create their own entries
- Add ability to organize user lists by name, number, etc.
- Add drag and drop for adding paints to lists
- Add default list option
- Add ability to see several colors at the same time for comparison
- Add Xtracolour and Xtracrylic paints
- Add ability to share lists
- Use camera to match colors
- Add shopping list feature
- Enhance with more brands
- Add modeling tools (e.g., pliers, tweezers, brushes)
- Improve equivalences
- Add Vallejo paint charts
FineScale Modeler
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Model Paint 42
No in-app purchases
FineScale Modeler
- FineScale Modeler$3.991 Month
- FineScale Modeler$39.951 Year
- July 2013$5.99
- March 2014$5.99
- April 2016$6.99
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- May 2016$6.99
- Build Better Models$7.99
- Build Better Models 2$7.99
- The Ultimate Guide to Finishing$9.99
- Experts Guide to Superdetailing$9.99
Questions
Is Model Paint 42 free?
Is FineScale Modeler free?
Which has better reviews, Model Paint 42 or FineScale Modeler?
Do Model Paint 42 or FineScale Modeler have ads?
Which is updated more often, Model Paint 42 or FineScale Modeler?
Other comparisons
