The AK Interactive 3G Starter Set, catalog number AK11775, is worth buying if you are new to AK's 3rd Generation acrylic line and want a curated set of core colors chosen by a working painter rather than a random grab bag. It is a plain color box with no metallics, washes, or effect paints, built to get a scale modeler working with the range immediately rather than to cover every technique.
What is in the box
14 colors at 17ml each, selected by painter Jose Davinci as a practical entry point into the range and pitched around the color wheel so a modeler has primary, secondary, and tertiary mixing colors from the first order:
| Color | Type | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| White | base | Highlight mixing and basecoating |
| Black | base | Shadow mixing and priming touch ups |
| Amethyst Blue | base | Deep purple blue |
| Imperial Blue | base | Rich mid blue |
| Deep Blue | base | Dark navy toned blue |
| Archaic Turquoise | base | Muted blue green |
| Deep Green | base | Dark foliage and uniform green |
| Frog Green | base | Bright saturated green |
| Deep Yellow | base | Warm saturated yellow |
| Deep Orange | base | Warm mixing orange |
| Scarlet Red | base | Bright saturated red |
| Carmine | base | Deep cool red |
| Wine Red | base | Dark muted red, shadow mixing |
| Magenta | base | Cool pink red, tertiary mixing |
That is genuine color wheel coverage across cool blues and greens through warm yellows, oranges, and reds, plus a black and white to control value. This set functions as a real starting palette: enough range to mix most colors a scale modeler needs without owning the full 3rd Generation catalog.
Coverage gaps
This is a plain color starter set with no metallics, no washes, and no weathering or effect paints included, which is a deliberate choice to keep the box focused and affordable rather than a shortfall. AK Interactive sells its Metallics, Intense Colors, Neon, and Transparent lines as separate dedicated sets, worth knowing about as your next purchase once you have worked through this core palette and want to expand into specialty finishes.
There is also no dedicated skin tone or flesh color in this box, since the 3G line's starter set is built around vehicles, terrain, and general scale modeling subjects rather than figures with exposed skin.
Who it suits, who should skip it
This set suits anyone starting fresh with AK Interactive's 3rd Generation acrylics, whether coming from scale modeling with a different brand or picking up acrylics for the first time. The curated selection saves the research work of picking 14 individual bottles from a large catalog. It also suits painters who already use Vallejo and want to try AK's 3G line directly against it, since the two brands overlap heavily in general purpose color coverage.
Skip it if you specifically need metallics or effect paints right away, since none are included here, or if you already own a broad AK Interactive collection, where this set will mostly duplicate bottles you have. For a deeper look at how the 3G line compares to Vallejo more broadly, see our AK Interactive versus Vallejo comparison and our full review of whether AK Interactive paints are worth the hype.
Find the set here: AK Interactive 3G Starter Set on Amazon(affiliate link).
FAQ
How many colors come in the AK Interactive 3G Starter Set?
14 colors at 17ml each, selected by painter Jose Davinci as a curated entry point into the 3rd Generation acrylic range.
Does the starter set include any metallics or washes?
No. It is a plain color set covering base tones only. Metallics, washes, and other effect paints are sold separately in their own dedicated AK Interactive sets.
Is this set good for painting figures, or just vehicles and terrain?
It is built primarily for general scale modeling subjects like vehicles and terrain. There is no dedicated skin tone included, so figure painters will need additional colors from elsewhere in the range.
How does AK Interactive's 3G line compare to Vallejo?
The two brands overlap heavily in general purpose color coverage and bottle format. See our AK Interactive versus Vallejo comparison for a full side by side on catalog size and finish types.
Is this a good first paint set for someone new to acrylics?
Yes, if you are focused on scale modeling subjects rather than fantasy miniatures. The curated color spread covers most general mixing needs without requiring you to research individual bottles from a large catalog first.