Global Scale Modeller

I know you have talked about this before (sorry) but I currently use Tamiya paint. As you know they do not brush very well. For Christmas my wife wants to get me something and I told her model paint. I live in the US and sometime it is hard to find some of the stuff you use across the pond. Any suggestions?

I use this site to order paints, the seem to have great selection, not everything but most brand names.

http://www.scalehobbyist.com/

Wish they had a few more lines, like Mr Hobby, lifecolor etc..

I always felt that Testers Model Master enamal brushed ok, but it has been a while since i did figures. The tools on Tanks, I just do a couple coats of Tamiya or Valajo, then oils....

Stick with acrylics, either Vallejo model colour and lifecolor are the best IMO and once properly thinned they airbrush fine too

Thanks. It looks like there is a good select of Alcad. Are they good?

Paul do i need to thin Vallejo when brushing? I was looking at Vallejo yesterday on Amazon. Just was not sure.

I find they brush better when thinned a little yes, alclad a are brilliant paints but need to be airbrushed

What about primer? I was looking at the above website and they have both Alcad and Vallejo. Preference?

George wrote:What about primer? I was looking at the above website and they have both Alcad and Vallejo. Preference?

For brushing? Out of those two, only Vallejo as Alclads have to be airbrushed. Cans of spray primer work well

Rob wrote:

George wrote:What about primer? I was looking at the above website and they have both Alcad and Vallejo. Preference?

For brushing? Out of those two, only Vallejo as Alclads have to be airbrushed. Cans of spray primer work well

Yep as rob wrote Vallejo only really, a rattle can is the best way with an airbrush.

I personally swear by Vallejo for Primers and Paints, they can be used via brush and airbrush. The Model Air range is marketed at airbrush users as they are pre-thinner but I personally find them just as good for brush painting. Value wise the model colour works out better because you thin the paint down yourself.

I'd say vallejo model colour.

Paul wrote:Stick with acrylics, either Vallejo model colour and lifecolor are the best IMO and once properly thinned they airbrush fine too

Paul,

Since getting back into the hobby, it seems that enamels are out of favor. When I was into it 20 years ago, Testors Model Masters was the cats meow. I also used Tamiya backin the day.

My question; why are enamels less desired now. They always seemed to work well, and I find the acrylics dry to fast.

I have even seen y'all discussing dry brushing with acrylic, doesn't it dry to fast.

I would prefer to only use acrylics if I can get past some of the probs I have had with them with the brush.

Any hints would be great

Thanks

Gb64c wrote:

Paul wrote:Stick with acrylics, either Vallejo model colour and lifecolor are the best IMO and once properly thinned they airbrush fine too

Paul,

Since getting back into the hobby, it seems that enamels are out of favor. When I was into it 20 years ago, Testors Model Masters was the cats meow. I also used Tamiya backin the day.

My question; why are enamels less desired now. They always seemed to work well, and I find the acrylics dry to fast.

I have even seen y'all discussing dry brushing with acrylic, doesn't it dry to fast.

I would prefer to only use acrylics if I can get past some of the probs I have had with them with the brush.

Any hints would be great

Thanks

Hey buddy

I too used enamels up until 4 years ago when I got back into this hobby and after using acrylics I would never go back to enamels.

Enamels take too long to dry, they stink and are a right pita to not only airbrush, but also to clean up after spraying.

To me enamels have no benefits over acrylics, that's only my opinion of course

Acrylics, smell a lot less, clean up easier, airbrush real nice and dry nice and fast.

I've not had a problem with acrylics drying too fast in fact I think it's a bonus, saving time and allowing you to progress faster in a build.

As for dry brushing again no problems with acrylics they work really well, as the paint doesn't have to be wet to give the effect desired.

The only time I use enamels now is for weathering.

Paul wrote:

Gb64c wrote:

Paul wrote:Stick with acrylics, either Vallejo model colour and lifecolor are the best IMO and once properly thinned they airbrush fine too

Paul,

Since getting back into the hobby, it seems that enamels are out of favor. When I was into it 20 years ago, Testors Model Masters was the cats meow. I also used Tamiya backin the day.

My question; why are enamels less desired now. They always seemed to work well, and I find the acrylics dry to fast.

I have even seen y'all discussing dry brushing with acrylic, doesn't it dry to fast.

I would prefer to only use acrylics if I can get past some of the probs I have had with them with the brush.

Any hints would be great

Thanks

Hey buddy

I too used enamels up until 4 years ago when I got back into this hobby and after using acrylics I would never go back to enamels.

Enamels take too long to dry, they stink and are a right pita to not only airbrush, but also to clean up after spraying.

To me enamels have no benefits over acrylics, that's only my opinion of course

Acrylics, smell a lot less, clean up easier, airbrush real nice and dry nice and fast.

I've not had a problem with acrylics drying too fast in fact I think it's a bonus, saving time and allowing you to progress faster in a build.

As for dry brushing again no problems with acrylics they work really well, as the paint doesn't have to be wet to give the effect desired.

The only time I use enamels now is for weathering.

Thanks Paul,

Yep I don't use enamels for base painting, just brush, small stuff etc... But as my Vallejo line grows, I plan to use them more for figures and small parts.

Thanks

Gb64c wrote: Thanks Paul,

Yep I don't use enamels for base painting, just brush, small stuff etc... But as my Vallejo line grows, I plan to use them more for figures and small parts.

Thanks

No problem good luck

To counter the Enamel comment slightly, I find they still do have a purpose, but only really one. Weathering. They can be a great tool for streaking effects, filters and other little bits and bobs, the reason for this is because you can streak with white spirit over acrylics without the white spirit damaging the layer beneath.

Other benefits include self leveling for brush painting, it's much easier to get a nice finish with Enamel than it is with Acrylic using a brush, but again, it's possible with acrylic.

One other I forgot to mention, they smell nice! At least the Humbrol ones do.

Thanks I will go with Vallejo.

George, we are in the same boat as far as not being abled to get decent model supplies

I'm quite new to this hobby and I tried lots of diffrent brands to see which one fits me. I avoided smelly paints of all kinds, except for weathering, I got a green light using enamels for this

I found that Tamiya and Model master works best for me when airbrushing, alot of Model master paints I don't even have to thin, which is nice! Vallejo air doesn't really work out for me though, I tend to get a dry tip and I have to use higher pressure to get em to work smoothly, even when I thin it. It's probably user error here though

For brushing I have found LifeColor amazing, very nice coverage. Some of the Revell ones have been quite good though but they tend to be a little too goopy.