Is there a cheap homemade alternative to buying model paint?

I don't know exactly what you mean by "homemade alternative".  Do you mean grinding pigments and using chemicals to make your own binders and solvents?

However, it is certainly possible to use art store acrylics.  This subject has come up a number of times (usually in the painting and airbrushing forum below).  The consensus usually is that it works okay when thinned properly for the desired method of application.

Depending on the color, and how much intricate surface detail there is, spray cans of paint from the hardware store can also give a decent finish- either enamel or acrylic.

But, having said that, the cost of a bottle of paint, or even a spray can, is usually far less than the cost of the kit, so I always have believed that saving money on paint is false economy.

What I'd recommend is buying good hobby paint for the basic hull color, but use wife's acrylics for small amounts of detail colors.  Also, as far as mixing two colors of the same kind of paint to get a desired color shade, I am a firm believer in this.  With a wife who is used to mixing colors you will have excellent help that many don't have access to.

Expanding on a note Don mentioned: I will always resupply on black and white, and then buy a few primary colors such as red, green, yellow, blue. Often I can mix a color this way and save a few bucks, if an FS# is not one I need. My wife's a CPA and economy is literally written in stone at our house.

 Chris

Will you be brush painting, or airbrushing?  Airbrushing artist acrylics is possible, and I have done a lot of it, but gave it up for brand-name model paints, as I believe they are far easier to work with.

I used primarily Liquitex Basics,and thinned it with Windex.  It runs easier, and usually required more coats to cover.  If you are brush painting, you may get away with buying the craft acrylics that come in the little bottles.  They also take some experimenting with thinning, and can be difficult to paint without brush stokes showing.

I know where you are coming from; Testors paints at Hobby Lobby are $3.50 or more, so the expense adds up quickly, but it depends on what you want to accomplish.  If it is a one-time build, and the finished work is just for your pleasure, experiment a little.  If it is something you would like to show off, it will be a bigger challenge using the artist paints.

Also, if airbrushing artist acrylics, I highly recommend priming first, though I just use inexpensive rattle can primer, and if you are just looking at a single color basecoat, a rattle can of the color you want may work.

This might be the first I've heard of someone building just one kit and then give up on the hobby.

Anyhow, since you say your wife paints with acrylics, why not go ahead and buy acrylic brand model paints.   Whatever is left over, she can use on her canvas or whatever other medium she paints on?

regards,

Jack

Many modelers use Future floor wax (actually an acrylic floor covering) as an alternative to model clear paint. Painting your kit in the proper mixed colors from your wife's stocks and then applying future would help your decals adhere. Decals require a very smooth surface to stick to without "silvering", the Future does that.

I have noticed that both Michaels and Hobby Lobby always seem to have craft acrylics on sale (a couple of weeks ago my wife picked up a dozen or so bottles of acrylic paint at Michaels for 50 cents each).  I wonder if they would work as modeling paint?

I use those types of paint when I paint larger figures like the old Aurora monster and super hero models that were reissued by Polar Lights.

a "homemade alternative" ?

only if you want a pebble-dash effect! not fine enough, not recommended.

After all the paint may be expensive, but not as expensive as a ruined model.

Use Modelers' paints, from Testors, Tamiya, Vallejo etc (one brand, don't mix different vendors' paints)

You can also use automotive spray paint cans, which in the UK at least, are acrylic, with Cellulose/Lacquer carrier.  

You mention it's decal heavy, so you want as smooth & glossy coat as possible, as decals go over gloss better than mat, & you can then use a mat clear coat to tone it down.

Lots of advice & help here, do ask.

     Is it the Polar Lights 1/1000 Refit Enterprise? If so, I painted mine with Tamiya Diamond White, out of a rattle can. It was like $5.00. Makes a great base coat to bring out those nice aztec decals.

  I know you'd like to use what your wife already has, but I just don't trust much paint that wasn't specifically designed for models.

  It may be worth the effort to do a little test with your wife's acrylics on a part of the model that won't be seen, just to see how it sticks.

  Chris