acrylic paint question

When it's dry to the touch (tack free), you can recoat if you are airbrushing. If you are brush painting, it's best to wait 24 hours, especially with some brands like Tamiya and Gunze, and with any gloss color.

For masking, however, you must wait 24 to 48 hours for full cure.

One thing is very different about acrylics, vs. enamels: acrylics require a very clean surface. Wash the model in a good degreasing cleanser like 409, Simple Green, or Windex before painting, and don't touch the surface thereafter with your bare hands. An alcohol wipe just before painting will also help static/dust problems. 

It does vary considerably from brand to brand.

As Ross stated, Tamiya and Gunze should be lefr for at least 24 hours before overcoating when brush painting. However, Vallejo acrylics can be overcoated when touch dry, sometimes as little as 2-3 minutes for "simple" overcoating, but I would let them cure overnight before applying any masking.  If using Vallejo, I'd also recommend applying a base/primer coat before the colour coats.

If you are brush painting and you want to use acrylics, I'd suggest giving Vallejo acrylics a try - there are few model paints which brush as well as these do.

Phil_H wrote:

If you are brush painting and you want to use acrylics, I'd suggest giving Vallejo acrylics a try - there are few model paints which brush as well as these do.

Just wanted to second this...  Tamiya paints are great for airbrushing but they are a PIA for brush painting.  If using Tamiya for brush painting it is helpful to add a little retarder, without it the paint dries to the touch very quickly and it is easy to mess the surface up as you work.

 I recently switched to Vallejo Collour for brush work, it is a really nice paint to work with, you can thin it with Distilled water, increasing the amount of paint for the $$$.  (Don't try airbrushing with it though)

Phil_H wrote:

If using Vallejo, I'd also recommend applying a base/primer coat before the colour coats.

Phil, what kind of paint do you recommend for the base coat?

m@

MikeS71 wrote:

I recently switched to Vallejo Collour for brush work, it is a really nice paint to work with, you can thin it with Distilled water, increasing the amount of paint for the $$$.  (Don't try airbrushing with it though)

Hi Mike,

You can airbrush Vallejo Model Color paints, you just have to be careful not to over-thin them otherwise it's like spraying dirty water.

Watchmann wrote:

Phil_H wrote:  If using Vallejo, I'd also recommend applying a base/primer coat before the colour coats. Phil, what kind of paint do you recommend for the base coat? m@

I just airbrush a primer/base coat of regular Tamiya flat acrylic (colour is not critical - sometimes buff under "flesh" areas on figs, for example) before brushing or airbrushing Vallejo.

Thanks Phil.  That's what I've been doing; glad to know I'm doing something right ^^

m@

Phil_H wrote:

MikeS71 wrote: I recently switched to Vallejo Collour for brush work, it is a really nice paint to work with, you can thin it with Distilled water, increasing the amount of paint for the $$$.  (Don't try airbrushing with it though) Hi Mike, You can airbrush Vallejo Model Color paints, you just have to be careful not to over-thin them otherwise it's like spraying dirty water.

You can airbrush Vallejo Model Air, but trying to airbrush their Model Color line can cause problems...  Admitedly I have not tried it but this is only because of the many problems I have read from people saying their Model Color line gummed up the airbrush, created problems etc...  have yo had success airbrushing the model color line and if so, what did you thin it with? Distilled Water?  At what ratio?

Phil_H wrote:

I just airbrush a primer/base coat of regular Tamiya flat acrylic (colour is not critical - sometimes buff under "flesh" areas on figs, for example) before brushing or airbrushing Vallejo.

Another option is the good old rattle can of Tamiya primer, 1 can should be good for 2-3 projects if not overused...  nice part of it is that it dries fast and you dont have to clean the AB afterwards!

MikeS71 wrote:

You can airbrush Vallejo Model Air, but trying to airbrush their Model Color line can cause problems...  Admitedly I have not tried it but this is only because of the many problems I have read from people saying their Model Color line gummed up the airbrush, created problems etc...  have yo had success airbrushing the model color line and if so, what did you thin it with? Distilled Water?  At what ratio?

I have no problems airbrushing the Model Color line thinned with distilled/demineralised water. Admittedly I haven't airbrushed with them a lot, though I have experimented a little just to get a feel for them. I can't help with any particular thinning ratios, as I use the "looks about right to me" method, and because I have found quite a range of different consistencies in the bottles that I have.

Alcohols (both denatured and Isopropyl) can cause Vallejo paints to clump up (or "flocculate") into big stucky lumps which will undoubtedly clog an airbrush.