Layering Lacquer, Enamel, and Acrylic Paints

[Joe]

Hey Guys,

I have heard that Tamiya's primer is one of the best out there and I would like to use it but it is a lacquer based primer and I use mostly acrylic paints. I understand that you can layer (but not mix together) paints of different bases but they have to be layered in a specific order. For instance:

Start with a lacquer based primer; then preshade with an enamel paint; then you could lay down an acrylic base color.

I don't know if the above statement is correct and that is what I am asking you: Is it correct?

Also, if you were to paint the layers listed above, would it be dangerous to maybe add a layer of enamel based paint on top of the acrylic base? (as if you were doing a camouflage scheme?)

Thanks in advance for your sage advise!!


Joe Miriani

[aur0ra145]

I use the Tamiya primer in the rattle can. It goes on first, then I use Tamiya acrylic paints for preshading, base coat, camo, etc. After that I clear coat with Aqua Gloss, apply decals, Aqua Gloss again over the decals to seal them, weather using enamals, then a dullcote using the Testors Dullcote. This has worked for me. So to format it a bit better from starting at the top to finishing at the bottom.

Tamiya Primer - rattle can
Tamiya Acrylic paints
Alcad Aqua Gloss
Apply decals
Alcad Aqua Gloss (to seal decals)
Enamals for weathering (model masters, or anything else that's enamel based)
Testors Dullcote

There are a lot of techniques or other layering options out there; but, this what has worked for me. I haven't done a gloss top coat to date, so I can't make any recommendations there. I've never mixed acrylics and enamals in the same layer before. I keep it to one type. However, there are tons of people here who know way more than me.

What sort of kit are you building?

[Vleugelmoer]

Hi Joe,

The acrylic paints used in modeling are less potant that the house hold acrylic paints available from the local hardware stores. This will mitigate most of the issues you read about when mixing paints.

As most primer paint are acrylic there is no issue covering it with an enamel or lacquer based paint. You can even use oil paints and pastels to add filters and different weathering effects over the acrylic clear coats, which is immune to volatile organic solvents like white spirit and odorless terpentine.

As always happy modeling and keep sticking styrene.

Paul J