paints , enamel v acrylic

[jas xjr]

what do you chaps use and what are the relative merits of each type?
its humbrol i am referring to btw.
thanks in advance

[SlipStream77]

Acrylic dries faster and some types can be thinned with water which also makes cleaning brushes easier.
When thinned, sometimes several coats are required.

Enamels in some cases may produce a slightly better finish and they bond to plastic surfaces a little better than acrylics. This reduces the chances of paint coming off when masking tape is removed.

I mainly use acrylics now.

[Eric Mc]

I mainly use acrylics, but not Humbrol.

For aircraft, I use the Xtracrylic authentic range from Hannants for specific colours and Tamiya acrylics for more general painting. I also find that the Citadel metallic acrylics are really good too.

I still have a large stock of Humbrol enamels which I occasionally use if necessary. I don't see myself buying many enamels in the future.

[jas xjr]

Eric Mc said:

I mainly use acrylics, but not Humbrol.

For aircraft, I use the Xtracrylic authentic range from Hannants for specific colours and Tamiya acrylics for more general painting. I also find that the Citadel metallic acrylics are really good too.

I still have a large stock of Humbrol enamels which I occasionally use if necessary. I don't see myself buying many enamels in the future.

is that citadel as in games workshop?

i feel such a fraud . we sell airfix / revell but i have zero product knowledge. i am trying but finding it difficult to answer questions.

[Eric Mc]

Yep.

Although the names of the Games Workshop paints are slightly naf ("Boltgun Metal", Mithril Silver" etc), they are very good paints.

[jas xjr]

thanks

[The_Jackal]

Anyone know when the metallic tamiya acrylics are going to be produced again.
Word was that they only got taken off the market due to incorrect labelling, but surely that should have been sorted now?
Likewise with Tamiya thinners.
Or is there something that was seriously dangerous about them and they just cant replicate it safely.

[Zad]

I hadn't realised that Tamiya thinners still weren't back. Definitely something odd happening there. I went on to using isopropyl (£10/litre at Maplin) + a tiny bit of Windsor and Newton acrylic retarder.

[Evangelion]

I managed to get someTamiya metallics last August! Or perhaps that was old stock. I didn't know about the thinners problem but I have discovered I can order IPA via my local chemist.

With regard to Humbrol I still have a small stock of enamels although I don't like their acrylics much preferring Tamiya, which I use about 70% of the time, the rest is Halfords - particularly their plastic primer and clear gloss.

[dr_gn]

Tamiya are distributing metallics again - my LHS has them in stock now.

I've tried white Revell Acrylic (the ones in the square blue containers)on my recent Metro 6R4 model rebuild. It covered well, and was fully water soluble so was easy to clean, but I did find it lifted when removeing masking tape. Might have been because it was overcoating flatted enamel, but I wouldn't like to risk it on a good model!

I'll stick to Tamiya, and might try Xtracrylics if I can find some locally. I think there's a model show in Huddersfield next weekend, so I might be lucky and get some there.

Cheers,

Dr_GN.

[Eric Mc]

dr_gn said:

Tamiya are distributing metallics again - my LHS has them in stock now.

I've tried white Revell Acrylic (the ones in the square blue containers)on my recent Metro 6R4 model rebuild. It covered well, and was fully water soluble so was easy to clean, but I did find it lifted when removeing masking tape. Might have been because it was overcoating flatted enamel, but I wouldn't like to risk it on a good model!

I'll stick to Tamiya, and might try Xtracrylics if I can find some locally. I think there's a model show in Huddersfield next weekend, so I might be lucky and get some there.

Cheers,

Dr_GN.

Check with Hannants to see what shows they plan to attend this year. That is your best bet for picking up their paints - especially if you can't get to their shop at Lowestoft or Colindale.

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

dr_gn said:

Tamiya are distributing metallics again - my LHS has them in stock now.

I've tried white Revell Acrylic (the ones in the square blue containers)on my recent Metro 6R4 model rebuild. It covered well, and was fully water soluble so was easy to clean, but I did find it lifted when removeing masking tape. Might have been because it was overcoating flatted enamel, but I wouldn't like to risk it on a good model!

I'll stick to Tamiya, and might try Xtracrylics if I can find some locally. I think there's a model show in Huddersfield next weekend, so I might be lucky and get some there.

Cheers,

Dr_GN.

Check with Hannants to see what shows they plan to attend this year. That is your best bet for picking up their paints - especially if you can't get to their shop at Lowestoft or Colindale.

Hmmm, next show for Hannants is Hornchurch in March. I suppose other suppliers might stock them. Then again maybe not.

[Eric Mc]

I go to two or three shows each year - usually Salisbury, Farmnborough (of course) and Telford. Thery are always at Telford.

They are also regulars at some Duxford Air Shows as well.

[konamonkey]

Vallejo acrylics are also pretty useful. I mostly build cars these days and the range they offer covers most requirements. Totally agree about the GamesWorkshop paints! I bought the foundation set along with a breaking of the fellowship figure set adn they are very very good paints.

[Zad]

I am surprised to see people lauding Games Workshop paints. I haven't tried them for years, but many modellers seem to be of the opinion that when they changed suppliers they went distinctly downhill. The original supplier now sells paints under the Coat D'Arms label, and they do a pretty good range of WWII military colours. http://www.blackhat.co.uk/coat_darms/paintcolours....

[dr_gn]

Anyone tried Gunze Sangyo acrylics? I'm going to try some of their RLM designated paints if I can get hold of them.

[The_Jackal]

I know the ProModeller guy swears by them for certain colours (I think it was for the Russian blue that the Mig 29s use).
I think he compared them generally to Tamiyas in terms of there useability and compatibility with Tamiya thinners. But as usual with any range there are certain colours that are made differently and react strangely.
I thoroughly recommend the Promodeller site as the guy constantly produces at least one or two finished models a week for his clients, so gets through a lot of paint and kits.

[konamonkey]

I think Games workshop have changed their source more than once to be fair. I would not use their paint for large areas like car shells etc but for detail work, their density and brightness make them very useful. Halfords car paint is ideal for car shells. I usually prime with Tamiya fine surface primer for excellent results

Edited by konamonkey on Thursday 18th February 16:40

[dr_gn]

konamonkey said:

I think Games workshop has changed their source more than once to be fair. I would not use their paint for large areas like car shells etc but for detail work, their density and brightness make them very useful. Halfords car paint is ideal for car shells. I usually prime with Tamiya fine surface primer for excellent results

+1 for Tamiya Fine Surface Primer.

[Shar2]

I generally use White Ensign Models paints, as they do very accurate colours for the ships that I build.