Paints n stuff
Discussion
Rightyho, getting back into it and a stack of humbrol enamel paints still OK form a while ago. Today I also buy some Tamiya acrylic seeing as it is going on a tamiya but not all that is required thinking I can use me humbrol. Then I see bits here and there about not mixing too well, bit like ghostbusters not crossing the stream, the world blows up or something. Also found out thinning Revell with humbrol thinner ends up with revell and humbrol not mixing, bit like that oil and vinegar dip as a starter in restaurants.
So, bit like dissimilar metals, is there a guide as to what goes with what?
So, bit like dissimilar metals, is there a guide as to what goes with what?
Don't try and apply Tamiya acrylics with a conventional paintbrush, it is possible, but the paint will just clog and go horribly grainy. It needs to be applied with an airbrush. Acrylics are water based and use water+alcohol thinners, whereas enamels are oil based. You can paint one over the other if they are fully dry, but as you can imagine, oil+water doesn't work too well.
).Do have a look at the airbrushes out there. They have never been better value. You'll get plenty of advice from us folk - whether you want it or not.
I have almost exclusively moved to acrylics these days. They offer many advantages over the traditional enamels -
they are almost completely odourless
they dry much quicker (usually within minutes)
they can be thinned with water in most cases (although different specific thinners exist for the different manufacturers
Their main disadvantage is that they don't brush paint as well as enamels - especially over large surface areas. I brush paint acrylics on smaller components such as undercarriage legs, wheels, tyres etc but spray fuselages and bodywork
My favourite brand of acrylics is Xtracrylic - which is manufactured for the Hannants model shop in Lowestoft. They do an extensive range of aircraft and armour colours and spray beautifully - if their own brand thinner is used. The main difficulty is getting hold of them as they are not generally available in model shops. The main source of procurement for me are model shows and mail order.
Tamiya acrylics are very good and fairly easy to obtain. I find both Humbrol and Revell acrylics thick and gloopy but work OK when well thinned.
I have heard good things about the Spanish Valejo range - which are pre-thinned for spraying but I've not used them personally.
Finally, there is always the option of using the aerosol can. Humbrol do a limited range of their acrylic colours in spray cans. Halford acrylic car paints are excellent for consistent base colours - especially their grey and white primers. Halford's Appliance White is the white of choice for airliner modellers (and people like me building Space Shuttles and Saturn rockets).
I have almost exclusively moved to acrylics these days. They offer many advantages over the traditional enamels -
they are almost completely odourless
they dry much quicker (usually within minutes)
they can be thinned with water in most cases (although different specific thinners exist for the different manufacturers
Their main disadvantage is that they don't brush paint as well as enamels - especially over large surface areas. I brush paint acrylics on smaller components such as undercarriage legs, wheels, tyres etc but spray fuselages and bodywork
My favourite brand of acrylics is Xtracrylic - which is manufactured for the Hannants model shop in Lowestoft. They do an extensive range of aircraft and armour colours and spray beautifully - if their own brand thinner is used. The main difficulty is getting hold of them as they are not generally available in model shops. The main source of procurement for me are model shows and mail order.
Tamiya acrylics are very good and fairly easy to obtain. I find both Humbrol and Revell acrylics thick and gloopy but work OK when well thinned.
I have heard good things about the Spanish Valejo range - which are pre-thinned for spraying but I've not used them personally.
Finally, there is always the option of using the aerosol can. Humbrol do a limited range of their acrylic colours in spray cans. Halford acrylic car paints are excellent for consistent base colours - especially their grey and white primers. Halford's Appliance White is the white of choice for airliner modellers (and people like me building Space Shuttles and Saturn rockets).
Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 31st October 07:43
One problem is I have no where to airbrush but thinking of knocking up a big box with a clear plastic front type flap thingy. Garage is occupied and dusty as heck if it were not. Boxes are still dusty but lined with paper or something and it should do? Will be having a nose at airbrushes some point but not for this batch.
Already picked up on the halfords primer, can of grey kicking around, should do me for a while so need that box sooner.
Stopped making for a while as my eyes went and I did not realise it, so peeper adjusters on and back to the fray but realising what I did before was small fry.
Also found that humbrol do conversion charts with other makes so have a few covered
Already picked up on the halfords primer, can of grey kicking around, should do me for a while so need that box sooner.
Stopped making for a while as my eyes went and I did not realise it, so peeper adjusters on and back to the fray but realising what I did before was small fry.
Also found that humbrol do conversion charts with other makes so have a few covered
Went mad yesterday. Already messing around around with a Revell 1/72 Hurricane (paint issues now,) to see if the eyes were up to it so now have a Chieftain 1/35(Tamiya), Mossie 1/48 (Revell) and Ju87 1/48 (Airfix). Considering I was part way through the Victory, Sunderland and Belfast when my eyes finally said no, I went for three so I could keep going when I got as far as I could with one. Something that always got to me, get in the groove and you cannot go any further so I started to keep going and make a mess, hence three for my impatience.
Need a decent magnifier with a lamp as well.
Been looking at your Saturn, that has been on my radar since it was released in the last few years. Did have a Bentley Blower but that got lost in a move, not really fussed on having a go at the newer cars for some reason.
Turns out this Tamiya also has a battery marking on the base of the hull.
This lot will do me for a while now.
Need a decent magnifier with a lamp as well.
Been looking at your Saturn, that has been on my radar since it was released in the last few years. Did have a Bentley Blower but that got lost in a move, not really fussed on having a go at the newer cars for some reason.
Turns out this Tamiya also has a battery marking on the base of the hull.
This lot will do me for a while now.
This week's five quid bargain at LIDL (OK £4.99)
It comes with the gubbins to help soldering wires (and stuff) and to hold the soldering iron which I don't expect to use much so I have swung one bit out of the way and taken off the grippy croc clips. It has a couple of LEDs under the shield and comes with the three batteries (AAA) to power it up.
I intend to get one of those daft looking fabulous eyeshield type magnifiers soon but for now, for a fiver, this is pretty reasonable. 2.5 timmes magnification with a quite useless 5 times magnification bubble on the frame side of the lens.
As Eric predicted airbrush advice is readily available here and as a recent "returnee" from the olden days (remember when Humbrol stank of thinners and flowed like a dream off your paintbrush? Forget that now, brushing modern paint has become awkward.) I advise putting away a few bob to get on the dual action airbrush bandwagon. Much more "faff", far better finishing...
It comes with the gubbins to help soldering wires (and stuff) and to hold the soldering iron which I don't expect to use much so I have swung one bit out of the way and taken off the grippy croc clips. It has a couple of LEDs under the shield and comes with the three batteries (AAA) to power it up.
I intend to get one of those daft looking fabulous eyeshield type magnifiers soon but for now, for a fiver, this is pretty reasonable. 2.5 timmes magnification with a quite useless 5 times magnification bubble on the frame side of the lens.
As Eric predicted airbrush advice is readily available here and as a recent "returnee" from the olden days (remember when Humbrol stank of thinners and flowed like a dream off your paintbrush? Forget that now, brushing modern paint has become awkward.) I advise putting away a few bob to get on the dual action airbrush bandwagon. Much more "faff", far better finishing...
Lidl? Forgot about them, must go and look see tomorrow. Bought one of those head magnifiers (£10, amazon, free deivery so not here yet). Then dropped by at Argos as I was in the shop next door for a clamped table lamp with magnifier. It is pants, going back tomorrow, aberrations everywhere on the magnifier and the clamp looks like it is about to snap, I focused on one part with one eye and the other eye was blurred. Hold it up to the light and it looks like a storm in the glass (plastic?).
Starting to feel the need to look at some airbrushes, don't tell the boss.
Starting to feel the need to look at some airbrushes, don't tell the boss.
jmorgan said:
Lidl? Forgot about them, must go and look see tomorrow. Bought one of those head magnifiers (£10, amazon, free deivery so not here yet). Then dropped by at Argos as I was in the shop next door for a clamped table lamp with magnifier. It is pants, going back tomorrow, aberrations everywhere on the magnifier and the clamp looks like it is about to snap, I focused on one part with one eye and the other eye was blurred. Hold it up to the light and it looks like a storm in the glass (plastic?).
Starting to feel the need to look at some airbrushes, don't tell the boss.
I borrowed a proper 'anglepoise' type glass lens magnifier from work. It had two 'daylight' flourescent tubes at each side. Obviously it made the workpiece look huge, but it also made your fingers/tweezers/paintbrush/errors look huge too. That coupled with the dodgy depth perception you tend to get with these things made me glad I didn't buy it for myself. Far better IMO to get contact lenses or glasses optimised for close work if your eyesight isn't spot on. I think excellent lighting is of more use than a magnifier.Starting to feel the need to look at some airbrushes, don't tell the boss.
We a few corkers in work, used them for map work before it all got computerised and new technologies did away the need for the maps. Now they are used for soldering and repairs to fiddly bits as we are all getting on and cannot see.....
One was left at just the right height once over the cork faced table by the window. A few cups of water put the fire out.
One was left at just the right height once over the cork faced table by the window. A few cups of water put the fire out.
perdu said:
This week's five quid bargain at LIDL (OK £4.99)
It comes with the gubbins to help soldering wires (and stuff) and to hold the soldering iron which I don't expect to use much so I have swung one bit out of the way and taken off the grippy croc clips. It has a couple of LEDs under the shield and comes with the three batteries (AAA) to power it up.
Drat, none left. Was it from last weeks offers?It comes with the gubbins to help soldering wires (and stuff) and to hold the soldering iron which I don't expect to use much so I have swung one bit out of the way and taken off the grippy croc clips. It has a couple of LEDs under the shield and comes with the three batteries (AAA) to power it up.
Never mind, the headgear should be around soon, will keep an eye out one of them.
jmorgan said:
Drat, none left. Was it from last weeks offers?
Never mind, the headgear should be around soon, will keep an eye out one of them.
Yes it was from Thursday 27th.Never mind, the headgear should be around soon, will keep an eye out one of them.
Shame
My local LIDL had about fifteen or twenty on Saturday, do you have another branch locally? Might just be a lot of Fly-tyers near you, I'd think these would be good for a hobby like that too.
I'll be getting a headgear one too soon.
Word to the wise
colour temperature
I'm moving rapidly in the direction of "if it looks right to the (your) eye it will be fine
The LED magnifier has a harsh blue light that is fiercer than "natural daylight, in itself an elusive beast" so it changes the warmth of any colour you observe in it
I have a daylight bulb in my anglepoise, not really ideal either
So back to my point, if you like the look of the colour you paint, that is the one you should have used
I must look this week (don't go there every week) to see if the local LIDL has sold its allocation, let you know if and when.
colour temperature
I'm moving rapidly in the direction of "if it looks right to the (your) eye it will be fine
The LED magnifier has a harsh blue light that is fiercer than "natural daylight, in itself an elusive beast" so it changes the warmth of any colour you observe in it
I have a daylight bulb in my anglepoise, not really ideal either
So back to my point, if you like the look of the colour you paint, that is the one you should have used
I must look this week (don't go there every week) to see if the local LIDL has sold its allocation, let you know if and when.
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