Monument Hobbies launches Pro Acryl 1step, a different take on speed paints

Monument Hobbies’ Pro Acryl 1step is not trying to be another straight clone of Contrast or Speedpaint. The pitch is more specific: fast coverage that still behaves when the brush goes back in for glazing, feathering, and cleanup work. That makes it a very different proposition for painters who want a quick army workflow but do not want the paint to turn into a dead end once the first coat is down.

The launch starts small, with 12 colors and a Special Sauce medium rather than a sprawling wall of bottles. That matters, because the range is being positioned as a focused system instead of a one-size-fits-all replacement for the whole one-coat paint category. Monument Hobbies says 1step is designed for smooth application, instant depth of color, a more consistent finish, easier mixing, and compatibility with the rest of the Pro Acryl line. The paints also come in the brand’s familiar 22ml bottles with screw-on nozzle caps, so the range plugs into the existing Pro Acryl setup instead of reinventing the storage and handling.

The most interesting part is the Special Sauce. Monument Hobbies says it can dilute 1step colors or convert standard Pro Acryl paints into 1step paints, with a starting mix of about 2:1 medium to paint. That gives the line a practical edge over rival systems: if a color is missing, the painter can build it from paints already on the rack. For batch painting troops, that is a real time-saver. For character work, it opens the door to using the same fast-paint behavior selectively instead of committing an entire model to one finish.

Stahly tested the range on a Freeguild Steelhelm from Warhammer Age of Sigmar, primed with a zenithal black-to-white airbrush coat, then pushed the paints against Contrast and Speedpaint while also trying glazing and feathering. That testing setup tells the real story. This is not just about how the paint stains over a basecoat; it is about whether the finish still lets you steer the model after the first pass. That control is what separates a useful speed paint from an overhyped shortcut.

The timing also fits the brand’s broader reputation. Pro Acryl already has a following among competition-level painters, with creator-linked sets tied to names like Ninjon, Vince Venturella, and Louise from Rogue Hobbies. A hobby video also placed the 1step intro box and medium at Adepticon 2026, giving the launch a convention-floor debut. Monument Hobbies is backing the release with weekly live-stream giveaways, even as it warns that a transition to a new fulfillment process may slow some shipping. For painters who have wanted a speed paint with more of a Pro Acryl feel, this is the most interesting thing Monument Hobbies has put out in a while.