Which paint do you prefer

I've been building for 70 of my 76 years and have used almost every type of paint that there is. For a long time I used only Testors enamels but when the acrylics came out I tried them and liked them. Now I use Testors when I need enamels and Vallejo for Acrylics. Most of my builds are painted with the Vallejo Model Air Acrylics. They are easy to use and extremely easy to clean up and thin with distilled water. 

I did try the Tamiya paints when I got my Aztek Air Brush but couldn't seem to get them to work right for me but lots of the guys here use and like them.

Jim   

I prefer Humbrol and ModelMaster enamels. 

Mostly Tamiya or Model Master enamels.

Figure and brush painting,Vallejo Model Color

Xtracolor enamels for the model, vallejo model colour for figures.

Testors/Model Master enamels...nothing else.

Texgunner

I prefer Humbrol and ModelMaster enamels. 

 

Tamiya acrylics for airbrushing... I am not impressed by Vallejo at all. I miss old Polly S for a good brushable acrylic.

Tamiya acrylics, Model Master for enamels, Vallejo Model Color for brushing.

Depends on the effect I'm going for.

tamiya acrylics, model masters enamels and alcad lacquer 

I prefer vallejo but use all types here and there. Vallejo work best with their own airbrush thinners and DO NOT work well with any others. Following that rule you will be Happy with them.

I've been using Tamiya Acrylics for years.  I like them, and I'm used to them.  However, Vallejo Acrylics have recently blown my mind, and I find myself buying a bottle or two, or four, every time I go to the hobby shop.  I think I'm going to try AMMO by Mig Jimenex Acrylics, because there is a set available which is uniquely suited to an upcoming project.  

Tamiya Acrylics for airbrushing. I have tons of Vallejo for brush painting, but I like Andrea acrylics much better. Those Vallejo Metal Color paints are pretty good for metalics. They make my Humbrol enamel metallics obsolete.

I've always used Testors. I used Tamiya for one project, but didn't like it. I think it's more the acrylic part I didn't like than the brand though. I've started using Model Master paints, and I'm really enjoying them so far. 

I've got a mix bag - Model Master enamels & acrylics, Pollyscale, Aeromaster, Tamiya, Gunze/Mr. Color, Vallejo, a couple Humbrol enamels, Floquil, and a couple Alclad lacquers.

I've got a list of more colors I need to add to my paint collection.

I mainly use Testors Model Master enamels.  I like enamels for a couple of reasons.  I find that the same paints work well both for brushing and spraying.  I build all genre of models, and for aircraft I build both military and civil.  Thus I often need a gloss finish.  I find gloss finishes much easier with enamel than with acrylics.  My workshop is in the basement, at the extreme end from the stairway, so odor has not been a problem.  I have found Testors thinner increasingly hard to find in large containers, and have gradually changed over to hardware store turpentine.

I have occasionally used acrylics.  The last time I did, I tried Michael's house brand of acrylics and found it works fine.  There is an awesome array of colors.  The names have nothing to do with color names on the prototypes of the models, but sometimes I need a weird color and have to just judge it by eye.  Also, I am not adverse to mixing my own colors if I cannot find a needed color.

Usually use MM and Tamiya acrylics,with a smattering of Testor's enamels, usually for brush highlights.  Wanting to give Valleo a try, but have not pulled the trigger yet.  That is only carried by HL here.

It's funny that many people mention switching to acrylics for the reasons of smell and or chemicals. Yet often those same folks will use lacquer thinner with their acrylics to give them more "bite". At which point I believe one is negating the smell & chemical aspects of switcing from enamels to acrylics... just a thought...

stikpusher

It's funny that many people mention switching to acrylics for the reasons of smell and or chemicals. Yet often those same folks will use lacquer thinner with their acrylics to give them more "bite". At which point I believe one is negating the smell & chemical aspects of switcing from enamels to acrylics... just a thought...

Yup. If you want a paint that behaves like enamel, why not buy an enamel to start with?

I really wish we could have the original early-mid 80's Tamiya acrylic formulation back. It brush-painted beautifully. It didn't have the tendency to flash-dry, so no roll-up and brush marks self-levelled before it dried.

Tamiya and Testors for years depending the subject I am building.

What Patrick said. BTW...I love the smell of Tamiya paint; they must spike it. 

Hmm, I'm suprised that many here have an easier time with enamels.  I switched to acrylics because I found them much easier to use.  Then again, it was pretty early in my involvement in the hobby.  Tamiya Acrylics smell like cashews to me.  

Over time I've used almost everything from Pactra enamels on down the line.

For the past few years I've gone exclusively Vallejo. Properly mixed, they spray beautifully, I love their poly primers and varnishes, the color selection is outstanding and what I don't have on hand, I can easily mix using the the iModel app. 

You can pick up 17ml, 10ml and 5ml eye dropper bottles on eBay for almost nothing and mix, thin, etc. 'til the endtimes.

The only variation from Vallejo I use these days is Future with decaling and Testors Dullcote on RC boat hulls (only for it's waterproof aspect).

For those who want to use enamel, but have less odor, there is a type of low odor paint thinner available at art and craft stores. 

I have not tried it myself, but I have friends who use it.  I would have to experiment to confirm it does not have any bad characteristics with the hobby enamel I use, and more importantly to me, it is considerably more expensive than mineral spirits.  I see it in pints at craft stores, but I buy my turpentine/mineral spirits in gallon cans.

Bakster

What Patrick said. BTW...I love the smell of Tamiya paint; they must spike it. 

 

I love the smell of dope thinner best.  My dad's idea of quality time to me was to take me to an airport, and let me just hang around there while he hanger flew with his buddies.  Someone was always painting a plane, and the hangers reeked with dope thinner and hydraulic fluid.  The thinner was the same stuff used with model airplane dope, so my workshop used to smell just like an airplane hanger!  I only build about one or two flying models in a decade these days, so my shop doesn't smell that way much these days.  Maybe they should make a perfume that smells like dope thinner.  And, remember banana oil?

blackburge

Vallejo, Tamiya ?? I use Tamiya since long Time but I tried Vallejo last week for fun and I realise that Vallejo paint are very nice. 

 

• Tamiya acrylics
• Model Master acrylics and enamels
• Testor's gloss enamels (in the little square bottles)
• Andrea and Vallejo acrylics
• Apple Barrel and Americana craft-store water-based acrylics
• Windsor & Newtown artist's tube acrylics
• Schminke-Mussini oils
• and some old Pactra water-based enamels, left over from my boyhood days, and gradually running out

Lately my first choice has been Ammo of Mig. I like the dropper bottle with the stainless steel shaker to mix the paint and I like the way they perform. They do take a little bit more practice, but in the end I like the effect. I also use some AK Interactive stuff, havent been overly impressed just yet, but not ruling them out. I also use Tamiya and some Testors/Model Master both acrylic and enamel, Vallejo Model color for small details. For metallics I use equally Alclad II and AK Xtreme Metal, thinking about giving the Vallejo Metal Colors a test. As a primer, I have switched to Badger Stynylrez as my go-to.