Poll Enamel or Acrylic

[PrivateMansoor]

This has been discussed for ages but curious to see the results.
Most modellers on ISM seem to use both acrylics and enamels but have a preference for one, so hence the poll, just to see which one you prefer to use.

[Coen]

I'm an acrylic fella now.
I stopped using enamels a decade ago.
The closest thing that I come to it now would be the oils that I use for weathering and the Testors Dullcote that I use for matte coating.
I'll use the occasional alclad metal paint but it's extremely rare.

[Paul]

I can tell you now acrylic will win hands down if everyone votes

[Klargplutte]

Enamel is death , acrylic is life.

[Cymru]

The result of the poll is a forgone conclusion but I'm old school (Read: I was hooked on the fumes by age 10) so on my return to the hobby I have invested heavily in enamels. My 1/24 Hurricane came with some acrylics so I have been using them to play around with. They are certainly less hassle to work with but seem very thin?

[privatepete]

Acrylic every time the only time l use enamel is as a wash which l make my self.Pete

[OneSmallStep1966]

You need a third option in the poll - both.
Acrylics are great and mostly my go-to paint, but I do love the way enamels airbrush and I still happily use them too.

[OliveDrab]

I too use both although I currently use enamels more often, probably about 60-70% of the time. I'm slowly working more acrylics into the paint stash as I use up some of my enamel inventory. The enamels airbrush beautifully though, so I don't think I'll ever eliminate them completely.

[wookiee76]

I use acrylics for several reasons, ease of use, drying time etc but mainly due to my anosmia, not being able to smell means i have to be somewhat careful of noxious fumes, first warning i get about any of them is when they start affecting me.

[Damonkh]

As one noted, since I was young lad I used enamels. Recently coming back into modelling I have switched over to acrylics. I have to say hands down I will stick with acrylics as my primary go to and oils, enamels for weathering. SO much easier to deal with.

Cheers!

[pir8hntr]

Having grown up using enamels on models and 1:1 builds, I was convinced that was the only way to go. Since becoming hooked on all the how to and tutorial videos on you tube by some very good model builders, I have decided to go to acrylics with the Ultra airbrush I am ordering. It is a chance to learn something new.

[Dekenba]

I can tell you now acrylic will win hands down if everyone votes

Good call! I never realised the number of enamel painters was so very low compared to acrylics?

I only use Tamiya acrylics with X20a for the vast majority of stuff. In fact, I can't remember the last time I used anything but Tamiya acrylics, except for wood effect on Wingnut Wings kits, which calls for oil paints.

Widely available, no horrible smell, easy to use, thins well, airbrushes very well, cleans up easily, no airbrush disasters - even the colours look good.

What's not to like?

[Joker56]

Have to say that I would have liked use both button , still use enamels for figures most of the time

[mannloon]

I can't spray enamels due to a lack of a hood and the fact I live in a small apartment. I may use them once we get a house, I love the look of the Model Masters German colors.

[InitialProduction1]

Wow, all I had ever used was enamels, but since joining ISM I've been trying to learn acrylics. in the LHS around me smitty's hobby shop , Dayton hobby shop, hobby lobby, anyway they only had enamels, not until 2015 did daytons HS start to carry acrylics like Vallejo, hobby lobby is just now carring Vallejo, well daytons hobby shop, they have had Tamiya's paint since 2010 but you had to spend a boat load to change over to there paints back then. so that's all I've known is enamels, but I'm trying. I still like enamels and always will, they look great. But it kills my airbrushs o-rings, I have badger on speed dial, hahaha.

[PrivateMansoor]

Thanks all for the reply!, yeah I should have put in an option for both, I guess its done now. I knew acrylic painters were more in number, but I didn't think there would be so few enamel painters. In any case thanks all for voting.

[HamilkarBarkas]

People claim that acrylics are not as dangerous as enamel paints, which is not really true. Both are not healthy.
The thinners in enamels are cancerous, but your body is actually able to release this stuff that accumulated in your body again. This is not the case with acrylics. It kinda remains inside you. Although not as unhealthy in a direct way it does not make it any more healthy than enamels. At least that´s what a professional lacquerer told me once about it.

[TheTroyster]

So am I the only one who uses crushed up plants and flowers for my colors?

[Lysus]

So am I the only one who uses crushed up plants and flowers for my colors?

No, but the other guy who does this also wears a cooking pot on his head and talks to stones, so...

[digger303]

So am I the only one who uses crushed up plants and flowers for my colors?

knew there was someone out there destroying our parks and gardens

[TheTroyster]

Guilty

[TheTroyster]

So am I the only one who uses crushed up plants and flowers for my colors?

No, but the other guy who does this also wears a cooking pot on his head and talks to stones, so...

Why wear that on your head, interferes with the signals from the Grays!

[TheTroyster]

So am I the only one who uses crushed up plants and flowers for my colors?

knew there was someone out there destroying our parks and gardens

Guilty - damn it I need that stuff for my dioramas!

[Homerlovesbeer]

I'm currently spraying Gravity Color paints which I assume are enamel. Beautiful to spray but I really don't see much difference to the Mr Hobby acrylic paints I normally spray.

[demarcation]

I use both.