Hello, getting back to modelling.

Howdy!

I never heard of thinning enamels with lighter fluid. The best method would be using the manufactures thinner.

Nice collection you got there. As far as preferred paints, well that's a long story. Work with what you’re used to for now. Both Testors and Tamiya are excellent paint manufactures. Acrylics have become very popular and I will sometimes use a mix between enamel acrylic and lacquer depending on the effect I'm looking for or what I have in stock at the time.

I would suggest getting an air compressor. It will pay for itself in no time. I found the one I have been using for years on eBay for $20.

Steve

Welcome to the Forums! Glad to have you with us!

Ditto on what steve said above. Use what you're used to. As you really get into the swing of things, you can try one of the newer paints and see if you like it or not. Acrylics are "the in thing" now because they are easy to use, thin with distilled water and clean up with windex window cleaner. No strong odor.

Jim  

Ya, I've always used lighter fluid instead of enamel thinner. Much much cheaper.

I have a GREX compressor now. It fits both GREX and Iwata airbrush.

I read acrylic doesn't stick well to plastic and you have to prime before? Is this the case?

Hi Elation, Is Hamilton close enough? You mentioned nothing in Toronto as for hobby shops? I sometimes go to http://www.wheelswingshobbies.com/index.php/staff They have a nice selection of everything. I dont know what area of T.O. you live in but here is WWHs address:1880 Danforth Ave Toronto, ON.

Also, In march here in Hamilton we have Heritage Con model show & sale at the Warplane Heritage Museum at the Hamilton Airport & IPMS Hamilton & Toronto. Hope this helps.

OldSalty

Welcome aboard, dive in and enjoy.

Welcome elation!  Yeah, a lot has changed (for the better) in 20 years.  LOL!  As for the paint.  I use Tamiya acrylics.  Easy clean up, a bit better then enamels health wise.  I still use the enamels, but only for hand painting right now.  Try them all and see what works for you.  

Welcome to the forums!

Eagle90

Hi there oldsalty

I live in Vaughan, so that's about 40min away without traffic.I will check it out when I am in the area. Thank you.

I've been to the Aviation World on Carlingview by the airport. I think they had some models and paints. Exciting place.

Welcome to the Forums!

Welcome aboard!

Toshi

My . I always use primer before paint now to show up any imperfections and to provide an even color base for the main color. I used to spray Vallejo Model Air Acryllics over the plastic without any primer. Sometimes a putty filled seam would show through and when painting camo, pulling the tape off between colors would sometimes take some of the paint with it. Don't have these problems any more.

If you ask these questions in the paint section of these forums, I think you will get a lot more responses. Hope that this helps.

Jim  

Thanks Jim. 

So, do you use enamel primer?

I used to use spray can 1/1 sandable (lacquer based) auto primer but it is no longer available around here. I'm still looking for a good all around primer but so far Vallejo Model Air acrylic primers are doing the job pretty well. A couple of minor paint pull-up occasions when doing camo even with blue painters tape that I stuck to my arm a few times to lessen the stickiness. Could have been caused by the old body oil coming off the fingers that I didn't get off when cleaning the parts.

Hope this helps.

Jim