First model kit

Do you prefer easy clean-up? Acrylics are far easier to use and clean up. They are also non-toxic and don't use noxious thinners. The results are often just as good as enamels as well. For airbrushing, most acrylic paint companies sell their own thinner. 90% Iso alcohol works well though if you're on teh cheap.

as far as painting some parts before, it really depends. Some people paint as much as they can beforehand, others barely do anything till the model's pretty much done. If you think the part will be difficult to paint properly after assembly, do it beforehand. Generally though, if you can paint it afterward, do it later. Makes the whole thing come together better.

Websites are everywhere, do some searches and you'll come up with boatloads of material. Good luck on the build!

If you'd like a good beginner's book, Kalmbach publishing has a great one entitled "Modeling Realistic Tanks and Artillery" -- commonly available.  Lots of good basics and lots of pictures too.

If you're going to be brush painting, get yourself some Vallejo Panzer Aces colors. They brush fantastically well, and the Panzer Aces line has pretty good color accuracy. Though I'd highly recommend priming before painting (rattlecan auto primer should do the trick). You can thin Vallejo with their thinner, with Future (Pledge w/ Future Shine), Testors acrylic thinner, even Windex or windshield fluid - but the ammonia in those two does attack the paint  versus thinning it, so use sparingly (and definitely use it for cleanup!). One thing with Vallejo - it's one of those acrylics where you don't want to use any kind of alcohol as it'll cause it to clump. 

As far as building and painting, that's definitely a judgement call. My personal habit is...anything that's the main hull color, and can easily be painted while attached, gets attached. Bits that need a different color (the rubber on many tank road wheels, stowage, machine guns) and bits that will be difficult to cover (fuel drums on T-34s as one example) get painted separately and attached later. But everyone has their own preferred way of doing things.

Thank you for your inputs. I recently purchased Tamiya acrylics for my model. Should I be using thinner with it? If so, what is the ratio? and would you just mix thinner and paint in the color palatte? 

Thanks

If you are brush-painting with Tamiya acrylics, thin the paint about one part thinner to three parts paint.

• Do not add the thinner to the bottle - do this on a palette.
• Paint to a "wet edge" ie. paint back to the wet edge of previously applied paint, but not over paint which has begun to dry. If you do apply fresh paint over partially dry Tamiya acrylic, it will lift the previous layer.
• Apply one coat and allow to dry and cure overnight before recoating.

Tamiya acrylics are VERY hard to brush. Phil's suggestions will help, but you might be better off with Vallejo or a Model-master Acrylic. You have to be careful with Tamiya stuff, because if you go over the same area twice too heavily you WILL pull paint up and the surface won't look that slick. Tamiya paints are VERY good for the airbrush though, you might want to save those for then... I'm not saying that you CAN'T do it, but I'd recommend practicing on scrap plastic first. (and again, use Phil's guidelines.)

I would definitely recommend against Tamiya acrylics for brush painting. I just got back into the hobby after several years off and the first thing I did was to try and brush paint with Tamiya... Huge mistake and I almost threw everything in the garbage. However, I absolutely do love Tamiya in an airbrush for sure.

Vallejo Model Color (not Vallejjo Model Air) is your best bet as these paints were originally designed for figure painting so they brush paint very well and clean up with water. They have expanded the line to include every military color known to man. The only issue is they are made in Spain and kind of hard to find on the street. If you can order online try www.scalehobbyist.com. I just placed a huge order of Vallejo stuff with them and they have the best prices I have found yet and very fast shipping. Just get a few basic paints to start with and expand your collection as you go. If you can't find Vallejo or are limited by what you can get locally then Model Master is your next bet for acrylics but I coudn't get it to brush well either. Model Master enamels brush better but you will have to deal with thinners/solvents for clean-up. Humbrol enamels brush very well also.

P.S. I hope you know what your getting yourself into. This hobby is HIGHLY addictive. Frustrating at time but relaxing and fun for the most part. Good luck and post pics as you go. Us modellers LOVE pics!!

Actually, you can find Vallejo paints at hobby stores... they tend to be in the "brick and mortar" shops. Chains like Hobby Town rarely have them unless it's a well-stocked store. and if using Vallejo, MAKE SURE TO THIN IT! It comes out very thick, and for covering larger areas, you need to cut it.