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Help Me! I'm Freaking Out!

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  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Edmonton, Alberta
Help Me! I'm Freaking Out!
Posted by Griffin on Friday, January 21, 2011 4:40 PM

Some of you know from other posts that I am trying to get back into the hobby after a 20+ year break. I was a Warhammer 40K figure painter in that time and I lean towards trying to be perfect when building models.

As I am starting out again and the painting techniques are slightly different from figure painting I am having a devil of a time selecting a paint to do my brush painting with. I have a fairly extensive collection of Vallejo paints, a few Tamiya paints and one/two MM acrylics that I've tried but I haven't been particularly happy with the results.

It's gotten to the point that I am stressing out about making the "right" decision and am putting off building as I'm intimidated by the whole thing. Tongue Tied

Can someone suggest a type (acrylic/enamel) or brand that I should try out. I am building a Dodge Viper model and I have an F-14 and a Puegot Rally car on the sidelines waiting to be built.

Thanks,

Griffin

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Nebraska, USA
Posted by CallSignOWL on Friday, January 21, 2011 4:48 PM

Ive observed that enamels seem to be better for brush painting/primer coats. Beware of the Tamiya paints, I have heard they don't brush too well. I mainly use MM enamels. With those, the flat colors cover the best. I have not used Vallejo paints, so I cant comment on those. MY favorite to use is the MM enamels in the little 1/4 oz jars

and don't freak yourself out and worry too much, you are no good to yourself if you do that. if you are worried about getting the hang of things, just experiment on some cheap kits . If you hang around this forum, you should see the quality of your kits go up. There are a lot of helpful people here!

 

OWL

------------------------

Now that I'm here, where am I??

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Fullerton, Calif.
Posted by Don Wheeler on Friday, January 21, 2011 6:32 PM

My advice:  Put the kits away and spend some time painting junk plastic, like empty bottles.  You can try different paints and thinners, and work on your technique, and there's zero stress.

Don

https://sites.google.com/site/donsairbrushtips/home

A collection of airbrush tips and reviews

Also an Amazon E-book and paperback of tips.

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by spadx111 on Friday, January 21, 2011 7:42 PM

Dons right thats what i did helped alot no stress .Ron

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: MN
Posted by Nathan T on Friday, January 21, 2011 7:49 PM

Try Humbrol enamels, they brush paint real well, and have every color in the book.

Nathan

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: USA California
Posted by vetteman42 on Saturday, January 22, 2011 1:12 PM

I have to agree with what has been said above, Acrylics are just plain bad for brush painting. I like to brush paint with slightly thinned enamels, Model Masters and Testers paints work best for me.

Randy So many to build.......So little time

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: San Francisco, CA
Posted by telsono on Saturday, January 22, 2011 1:18 PM

Unless things have changed, Humbrol enamels hand brush paint the best. For metallic colors, I prefer the Metalizer series from Model Master, although designed for spray use, they hand brush paint very well.

For car bodies and other large areas, Tamiya's rattle cans work just fine. Practice some with "Silly Putty" as a masking product, it works well and is re-useable.

Mike T.

Beware the hobby that eats.  - Ben Franklin

Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out. - Ben Franklin

The U.S. Constitution  doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. - Ben Franklin

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Sydney, Australia
Posted by Phil_H on Saturday, January 22, 2011 7:00 PM

Griffin
I have a fairly extensive collection of Vallejo paints, a few Tamiya paints and one/two MM acrylics that I've tried but I haven't been particularly happy with the results.

Vallejo (ModelColor) and Tamiya acrylics work best when thinned for brush painting. Of the acrylics that I have ued (Vallejo, Tamiya, Gunze), Vallejo's brush paint the best. You need to thin the paint, apply in multiple coats and use good quality (red sable or better) brushes.

If I were doing a car, where a flawless smooth finish is required, I would not consider brush painting the shell. In the absence of an airbrush, I would be seriously looking at spray cans.

  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Right Side of a Left State
Posted by Shellback on Saturday, January 22, 2011 8:02 PM

Best thing is practice . Just get in there and make a mess . I've heard the enamel / acrylic debate for a long time . Myself i use both .  

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Edmonton, Alberta
Posted by Griffin on Saturday, January 22, 2011 10:13 PM

Phil_H

 

If I were doing a car, where a flawless smooth finish is required, I would not consider brush painting the shell. In the absence of an airbrush, I would be seriously looking at spray cans.

I have an airbrush but zero experience with it so I'm going to be practicing on old bottles, etc. until I get the hang of it. I want to build a spray booth, though as I live in the great white north and we have about 6 months of winter up here and I have to spray inside.

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