The Vallejo Basic USA Colors set, SKU 70140, is worth buying if you are starting from nothing and want a broad general purpose palette in one order, rather than a themed box for a specific subject. Despite the name, this is not a military or Americana specific set. It is a general starter palette that happens to carry that historical branding from Vallejo's product line naming.
What is in the box
16 colors at 17ml each, covering primaries, a couple of earth tones, and two metallics:
| Color | Type | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Refractive Green | base | Deep muted green, foliage and uniforms |
| Azure | base | Mid blue, skies and fabric |
| Yellow Ochre | base | Earth toned yellow, wood and dirt |
| Black | base | Standard black, priming touch ups and shadow mixing |
| White | base | Standard white, highlight mixing and basecoating |
| Lemon Yellow | base | Bright cool yellow |
| Flat Flesh | base | General skin base tone |
| Clear Orange | wash | Transparent orange for glazing and recess work |
| Flat Red | base | Standard opaque red |
| Purple | base | Standard purple |
| Flat Blue | base | Muted mid blue |
| Flat Green | base | Muted mid green |
| Buff | base | Warm tan, leather and stone |
| Flat Brown | base | Standard brown |
| Gold | metallic | Warm metallic for trim and detail |
| Silver | metallic | Cool metallic for steel and hardware |
That is a genuinely broad spread across the color wheel plus two metallics, closer to a color theory starter kit than a themed subject box. The one paint that stands out is Clear Orange, the only wash type paint in the box, useful for glazing warmth into recesses or over metallics rather than as a flat basecoat.
Coverage gaps
There is no dedicated wash beyond Clear Orange, so shading recesses in black, brown, or grey still needs a separate bottle. There are no contrast style or one coat paints here either, this is a traditional layering palette through and through. If you paint fantasy miniatures with saturated, stylized color schemes, several of these tones will read as muted and desaturated next to something like Citadel's brighter ranges, since Vallejo's historical modeling roots show through even in a general set.
Who it suits, who should skip it
This set is a sensible first purchase for anyone starting in scale modeling, historical wargaming, or general craft painting who wants primaries, earth tones, and basic metallics without researching individual bottle numbers. It also works as a supplement for a painter who already owns a themed Vallejo set and wants to round out their color wheel.
Skip it if you paint fantasy miniatures exclusively and want bright, saturated colors out of the box, or if you already own the individual Model Color bottles this set draws from. If you are coming from Citadel and want to know how these Vallejo basics line up against Citadel's paint system, run individual colors through the converter or check the Citadel to Vallejo chart directly. Our guide to choosing between Vallejo's ranges is worth reading before you decide whether Model Color, which this set is drawn from, is the right starting range for your subject matter.
Find the set here: Vallejo Basic USA Colors Paint Set on Amazon(affiliate link).
FAQ
Is the Vallejo Basic USA Colors set actually themed around the United States?
No. The name refers to Vallejo's product line naming rather than the palette content. The colors are a general purpose starter spread, not military or Americana specific tones.
How many colors are in the set, and what size are the bottles?
16 colors at 17ml each.
Does this set include any washes?
One, Clear Orange, which is a transparent glazing color rather than a flat basecoat. There is no dedicated dark wash for shading recesses.
Are these colors from Vallejo Model Color or Game Color?
All 16 are Vallejo Model Color paints, the brand's muted, historically oriented line, also sold as individual bottles.
Is this a good first paint set for miniature painting?
Yes, for a broad general starting palette. If you specifically paint fantasy miniatures with bright saturated schemes, a themed set from that genre, or Vallejo Game Color, will feel closer to what you need out of the box.