ACRYLICS and their uses

gunner_chris

I must have missed it what issue is the article in? Or is it an online extra one?

I have the shop in a jumble right now ,but ,it,s in the last issue I got ,which I believe is the FEB / MAR .issue.   tankerbuilder

I must have missed it what issue is the article in? Or is it an online extra one?

With all due respect, enamels are rather anachronistic for many applications, but they have their uses. Yes, they brush easily; but they take forever to dry if you're doing something like a car body, and they're notoriously delicate if you're using oil-based washes in Armor modeling.Enamels also need to "gas out" when curing, resulting in that "paint smell". You can't--or really shouldn't, I should add--try to sand a car body that's been painted in enamels for a few weeks to allow it to fully cure.

Incidentally, Tamiya paints are not true "acrylics" but are actually a lacquer-acrylic hybrid, and can be easily brushed by thinning them slightly with their specific thinner, or even lacquer thinner. (Better have a good primer underneath though! )

Craft paint is not really meant for fine hobby painting, although I will occasionally use it. The problem with it is that its pigments are not ground finely enough, and its carrier is still a mystery to me. It's not quite "acrylic", but seems to be some sort of resinous oil-hybrid?

The real issue about painting coverage is your method of application. You may be happy with your brush painting for flat paints, but try to brush-cover something in a gloss white or yellow, and you'll start saving your pennies for an airbrush. In that situation, you can't beat an airbrush for paint coverage and adhesion.

Nathan T

When I read the article I thought the same thing too. Way too much trouble. But the article is on Craft Acrylics, not model hobby acrylics. To me, nothing is simpler than dumping in tamiya in my airbrush, some alcohol or their thinner, either is easily available, and airbrush away...then dump excess in sink, rinse with water, clean with windex, no mess, no fumes...then 20 min. later, mask, touch, recoat...whatever have you...Enamels you Cant' do that...so to ME, nothing is easier than acrylics for hobby paints...Now for the non-airbrush user...its a different story. But i do use some enamels, and each person has their likes and dislikes and there is no wrong or right way, but for me just the easy way.

Love the ease of clean up.

Sometimes frustrating when you can't find the colour your looking for, then to turn around at the enamel aisle and there it is.  I've made it by so far....

Medicman71

I can't use Enamels cause of a parrot that we have. The fumes alone can kill him. So acrylics are just easier for me to use.

There are times when it's hard to find colors that you need that they have in enamels but that's why you mix your own.

 

I would also like to see a simplification of the acrylics....too many thinners...too many options...not all interchangeable...it make you think twice about buying someones paints when its can ONLY be thinned with their product which is usually overpriced,,,

GRL

Ok cool. I've never used any of those paints before. They're not readily available to me unless I get them online.

And I use the FS system as well. So much easier that way.

Medic

the bulk of the paints are from Three paint companies

LifeColor,,,,,,,,oderless enough and safe enough that Anne didn't detect that I had one open at my PC (right next to her own desl) for an hour

Vallejo,,,,,,some because of filling in missing colors, and some because I hit a sale just as I was switching

and Talon,,,,I currently have only the Aluminum and Steel,,,,,,but, they actually smell nice,,,,,so, I am going to fill in with all the other colors that I need

I had to go with a very limited number of PolyScale and Model Master,,,,,,because I had them from the first switch, and because I hadn't found all the matches,,,,,,,but, a very few of them will stay, and the rest will be upgraded to Vall or Life

the colors run from the Yellow wing era to the SuperHornet era in USN/USMC, the Gray and following SEA USAF, and Japan Air SDF Phanotms, Israeli Phantoms and Skyhawks, German Phantoms, and USAF trainers,,,,edited,,,,,don't forget the Aggressor/Adversary colors, lol

140 colors in all,,,,,with backup colors for almost each slot if I don't like how they all finally turn out against the chips,,,,and since I just did this from November until late January, I don't have a bottle of "favorite" color,,,,if it doesn't please me,,,,it will be demoted and replaced

I use the FS system because for me,,,,,,it is second nature, and very easy,,,,,,others may not like it because they think it is too hard,,,,,,,,,but, for me,,,,,,I like the easy way,,,,,I hit enough hard spots in assembly to worry about paint color choices

I just realized that I have "guideline palettes" for a bunch of paint lines,,,,,,I should gather those together and post them up on the Hangar Deck,,,,might save someone a lot of digging for colors

Rex

TarnShip

same here Medic

Enamels cause Anne to start to die

after 39 years of Enamels and Floquils,,,,,I had to switch to Acrylics, because I found the only woman of all the one's I've met that actually supports my having this hobby

Paint choices too hard?,,,,naw,,,,,,I just finished switching from a "full set that Rex needed" of Enamels to Acrylics a year ago (without using Tamiya or Gunze),,,,,and then found out that those aren't quite right for her breathing either,,,,,,,then, I switched again

I just completed switching to truly non smelly, non toxic Acrylic paint lines, with only a few bottles of one company's Acrylic that I will have to spray out in a tiny shop,,,,,all the rest can be used next to her at the coffee table, if I really wanted to

so,,,,,not counting Tamiya and Gunze,,,there are Two full sets of model paint colors out there in Acrylics, in addition to Craft and Tubes,,,,,,and my palette had to do all eras of USN, USMC, and Vietnam era USAF,,,,,,,140 total colors

it is doable (haha, around here,,,,,the line would be "if someone like Jarhead Rex can do it twice, surely a Smart person could do it ONCE")

So what brand do you use now. I've been using Tamyia and Model Master Acryl lines. I do go out in the garage to use primer or Future just cause of the fumes. Once we buy a house, i'll have a dedicated "man cave" that i'll set up so I can use anything. Gonna have lots of ventilation.

That,s why my work area is well isolated from the pets .I too have a bird. Did I say BIRD ? She,s more like a feathered clown. I got one of those INDIAN RING NECK PARAKEETS .Gees, I didn,t think  parakeets got so big! She,s a lutino and that color (SAFFRON ) is just awesome .then there,s the QUAKER .Oh , well that,s it about birds .I have tried ALWAYS to keep my paints (because of the fumes) and stuff away from the kids and pets .Most folks don,t even give that a thought . I have breathing problems, so I do wear a mask when the time comes to paint . Man , those filters are getting expensive! Guess ,soon , it will be all acrylics for me .and odorless ones at that (craft types? ) thanks for your input.      tankerbuilder

same here Medic

Enamels cause Anne to start to die

after 39 years of Enamels and Floquils,,,,,I had to switch to Acrylics, because I found the only woman of all the one's I've met that actually supports my having this hobby

Paint choices too hard?,,,,naw,,,,,,I just finished switching from a "full set that Rex needed" of Enamels to Acrylics a year ago (without using Tamiya or Gunze),,,,,and then found out that those aren't quite right for her breathing either,,,,,,,then, I switched again

I just completed switching to truly non smelly, non toxic Acrylic paint lines, with only a few bottles of one company's Acrylic that I will have to spray out in a tiny shop,,,,,all the rest can be used next to her at the coffee table, if I really wanted to

so,,,,,not counting Tamiya and Gunze,,,there are Two full sets of model paint colors out there in Acrylics, in addition to Craft and Tubes,,,,,,and my palette had to do all eras of USN, USMC, and Vietnam era USAF,,,,,,,140 total colors

it is doable (haha, around here,,,,,the line would be "if someone like Jarhead Rex can do it twice, surely a Smart person could do it ONCE")

I can't use Enamels cause of a parrot that we have. The fumes alone can kill him. So acrylics are just easier for me to use.

There are times when it's hard to find colors that you need that they have in enamels but that's why you mix your own.

When I read the article I thought the same thing too. Way too much trouble. But the article is on Craft Acrylics, not model hobby acrylics. To me, nothing is simpler than dumping in tamiya in my airbrush, some alcohol or their thinner, either is easily available, and airbrush away...then dump excess in sink, rinse with water, clean with windex, no mess, no fumes...then 20 min. later, mask, touch, recoat...whatever have you...Enamels you Cant' do that...so to ME, nothing is easier than acrylics for hobby paints...Now for the non-airbrush user...its a different story. But i do use some enamels, and each person has their likes and dislikes and there is no wrong or right way, but for me just the easy way.

Now industrial paints(automotive, aviation), are completely different, they require a hardener or catalyst to ensure tough, durable and a proper finish each time if mixed in accordance with its label. And it helps it dry fast for quick clear coating and repair work at the factory or shop.

If you're having trouble locating pollyscale paints, try hobbylinc.com in the USA. They have what seems like every color(railroad and all others) still in stock.

Agreed 100% TB Keep It Simple Stupid.

While there are certain properties I do like about acrylics over enamels- particularly when time deadlines or washes over the base color are issues, enamels (Humbrol inparticular) are still my 1st choice where ever possible.