Goonhammer tests Monument Hobbies ProAcryl 1-Step contrast paints

ProAcryl 1-Step is the kind of release that matters most to speed painters and army batch painters, with detail-first hobbyists the least likely to need it on day one. Monument Hobbies is entering the contrast-style paint space with a line that is meant to speed up cloth, armor, skin, and other tabletop staples while still fitting into the broader ProAcryl workflow. That makes it a release worth judging on utility, not novelty.

What the launch actually is

ProAcryl 1-Step is Monument Hobbies’ entry into the contrast-style paint market, and that alone explains why it drew so much attention around AdeptiCon. The appeal is obvious: ProAcryl already has a strong reputation for pigment and dependable standard acrylics, so a one-step range has to convince people who already trust the brand that this is more than a side experiment. It is not being presented as a replacement for regular acrylics, but as a faster path to color and shading in a single system.

The launch also arrives in a crowded part of the hobby. Contrast-style paints are no longer a novelty, so Monument is stepping into a segment where painters already have expectations about flow, transparency, and ease of use. That makes this release less about hype and more about whether it can earn a place in the case next to the products people already use for quick tabletop work.

Who should care first

If you paint in batches, ProAcryl 1-Step is the audience. The line is built for the kind of jobs where you want color, shading, and decent tabletop impact without stopping to build every surface from the ground up. Cloth panels, rank-and-file armor, skin tones, and other repetitive surfaces are exactly the sort of areas where a contrast-style product can save time.

Detail-first painters are a different story. If your process leans heavily on layered blends, controlled edge work, and custom shading, a one-step range is more likely to be a tool than a centerpiece. The value here is speed and convenience, especially for armies, event prep, and the kind of work where “good on the table by Friday” matters more than a display finish.

How the review approached the paint

Goonhammer did not treat the line like a simple first look. Monument sent a starter set of 12 paints plus the Secret Sauce medium, and Kevin Stillman also bought his own set, which gives the review both a sample-based perspective and a more independent user angle. That matters in a category where early impressions can be distorted by launch enthusiasm.

The testing started on watercolor paper, a smart move for contrast-style paints because it makes opacity, transparency, and viscosity easier to judge before the paint ever touches a miniature. From there, the paints were moved onto actual miniatures, where the real question becomes how they behave on forms that matter to hobbyists: curved armor plates, fabric folds, skin surfaces, and small details that can either pop or muddy out.

Why the comparison matters

One of the most useful parts of the review is the side-by-side approach. Each 1-Step color is compared against standard ProAcryl paints with matching names, and where it makes sense, against Army Painter Speedpaints in the same general market space. That turns the piece into a practical buying guide instead of just a brand-new-product showcase.

For painters who already own regular ProAcryl, that comparison is the real decision point. If a 1-Step color closely tracks an existing standard shade, it may slot neatly into your current setup as a fast-application version of something you already know. If it diverges, it may open up new options for basecoating, shading, or airbrush use. Either way, the comparison gives you a way to think about the line in terms of your own desk, not just in abstract product categories.

Brush, airbrush, and mixed workflow potential

The review also makes clear that the line is being evaluated as more than a brush-only shortcut. The paints are discussed in the context of both brush and airbrush application, which broadens their appeal for painters who like to move between tools rather than lock themselves into one method. That is especially important for armies where you might prime and base with the airbrush, then clean up with a brush before moving into quick shade passes.

This mixed-workflow angle is where ProAcryl 1-Step becomes more interesting than a simple “fast paint.” A product that can sit comfortably in both brush and airbrush routines has a better chance of becoming a regular part of an army-painting workflow, especially for hobbyists who want to keep consistency across large forces. If the line holds up in that role, it is not just a time saver, it is a process tool.

Why the release matters beyond one paint line

The bigger story is competition. The contrast-style segment keeps getting stronger, and Monument is leaning on existing customer trust to push into a category that already has several serious contenders. That pressure is good for painters, because it usually pushes brands to refine formulas, expand color ranges, and think harder about how products fit into real hobby routines.

That is also why the AdeptiCon attention matters. A release that gets talked about in that setting is not just another bottle drop, it is a signal that a company believes it can compete in one of the hobby’s most practical categories. For painters, that means more options for faster armies, more room for experimentation, and a better chance of finding a one-step product that suits a particular style instead of forcing every project through the same workflow.

The practical verdict

If you want quick results on cloth, armor, skin, and tabletop-ready shading, ProAcryl 1-Step is the part of the release that deserves your attention first. If you already like the ProAcryl ecosystem, the line is especially relevant because it extends a brand you likely trust into a faster-use format. If you are a detail-heavy painter who rarely reaches for contrast-style paints, it may still be worth watching, but it is not the obvious first buy.

That is the real story here: Monument Hobbies is not simply adding another paint range, it is trying to make ProAcryl relevant at both ends of the hobby table, from speed painting to mixed workflows. For anyone chasing faster armies without giving up control entirely, that makes 1-Step a launch worth taking seriously right now.