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                        Opinions on Best Paint Brand

                        1318 views
                        8 replies
                        1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Opinions on Best Paint Brand
                        Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 31, 2004 7:35 AM
                        Opinions on Best Paint Brand

                        Hi,

                        O.K. I use acrylic paints for figures and have just recently started
                        using WEM Colourcoats Enamels (lacquer based) for ships.

                        I will also be starting on a couple of helicopters (UH-1C and UH-60L)
                        and would like to use enamels on them as well.

                        I am checking into whether or not there are suitable WEM paints but
                        there may not be so thought I would ask the experts here on what
                        alternatives to I have.

                        I did a bit of searching but have not really found what I am looking for.

                        What brand of paints do you guys use?

                        Is there one that will have the FS numbers indicated on them so
                        I can match them up to the FS numbers required for each copter?

                        Model Masters? Testors? ?????

                        Any of these lacquer based?

                        Thanks in advance,

                        James Smile [:)]
                        Report Abuse
                        allan
                        • Member since
                          June 2003
                        • From: Cavite, Philippines
                        Posted by allan on Saturday, January 31, 2004 10:58 AM
                        James,

                        For me the best paint is Gunze lacquer. The finish is smooth and tough. And oil from your fingers wont affect the finish. And since its lacquer, oil washes wont eat into the paint.

                        Gunze's 300 series (H-301, etc.) all have FS numbers indicated on the bottle itself, so finding the right match is quite easy.

                        No bucks, no Buck Rogers

                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 31, 2004 12:28 PM
                        Thanks Allan!

                        I will check them out.

                        Any experience with Xtracolor paints?

                        James Smile [:)]
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 31, 2004 1:40 PM
                        James,

                        My personal preference is Humbrol enamels (I thin with laquer thinner). I bought a couple colors by 'default' once (the LHS was out of the color I needed in Model Master) and I couldn't believe how much smoother and creamier they were than the MM paints. They're great if you do any brush painting, and just as good through the airbrush. They're also cheaper (at least at my LHS). Go figure.

                        Personal preference. I've still got lots of jars of MM left over that I need to use up before I stock up on Humbrol though. You'll have to make your own choice, but I'd suggest buying a color you use often and giving it a try.

                        Murray
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 2, 2004 12:22 AM
                        James,
                        I agree with Murray about the Humbrol. You can put them down with a brush and it smooths out like it was airbrushed on. I use them a lot for armor. For helicopters ... my main line anyway, I use Model Master. Thin with their airbrushing thinner and use Olive Drab for the UH-1C and Helo Drab for the UH-60L. You can then apply future or Model Master clear over that for decal or wash preps. I've used them for some times and I've never had a problem with them. They've got great shelf life too.
                        Good luck,
                        Paul
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 2, 2004 12:33 AM
                        I like Gunze paints, Tamiya acrylics(don't care too much for their enamels) and Humbrol paints.
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 2, 2004 4:18 AM
                        Well I ordered some Humbrol paint, and a few Xtracolor and
                        a Gunze 3 tins set (for the yellow zinc chromate).

                        What I find amazing is that I know there are thousands and
                        thousands of aircraft builders out there so there is a good
                        market for paint. Yet it seems no one maker makes a complete
                        line of paint to match FS numbers that are frequently used.

                        Just to paint 2 helicopters I had to buy three different brands.

                        Why doesn't one brand cover all the regular needs?

                        Seems strange to me.

                        James Smile [:)]
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 2, 2004 4:41 AM
                        Ok, talking from a Japanese viewpoint:

                        Tamiya makes paints for their models only(Revell equivalent).

                        Gunze Sangyo is a generic colour maker like that is referenced by most japanese and asian kit producers, kinda like the equivalent to Humbroll overseas.

                        Gunze Sangyo produces a LOT of specialised colours too for series like Gundam, Evangelion and Aura battler Dunbine as well as sets for standard Armor, Ships and airplane interior colours.
                        The set I use the most from them is their "Weathering set" which includes colours like oil, mud, rust, soot, rough grey, etc.
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 2, 2004 7:59 AM
                        I tend towards Testors' Acryl line.
                        The main reason is that I don't have to thin them to spray them. The second reason is that the stores I go to carry Testors almost exclusively. One of them carries some Tamiya, but not everything.

                        I was also rather ammused that Tamiya's Interior green was a combination of two colors. and even after mixing the colors, I still had to thin the paint.
                        Report Abuse
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