Acrylic or Enamel?

Try them both for yourself and decide which you like better. I use to use enamels but switched to acrylics years ago. I find clean up much easier and less toxic than using lacquer thinner to clean up enamels.

I, on the other hand, do not use acrylics in my airbrush, since I find cleaning up acrylics harder than enamels.  For my enamels I use enamel thinner, not lacquer thinner. I do not use the hobby brand of airbrush thinner- no need to. I use turpentine or mineral spirits.  They are selling some real junk at hardware stores called paint thinner, so lately I have used specifically only the two items mentioned.

The cleanup problem I have with acrylics is that they dry fast! If you get distracted you find the stuff dried in your airbrush.  Cleaning out dry acrylic paint is a real mess. If you are disciplined enough to clean immediately- do not answer telephones or spouse, and clean religiously right after spraying, acrylics are okay.

I still use both in my airbrush and try to use only enamels for brush painting.  I do find myself using more acrylics in my airbrush lately unless I can't find the right color.

As far as pre-shading goes I don't think it makes any difference at all.

Mike

I use both, but all of my aircrfat paint schemes and about 95% of my armour are painted with Enamels. I don't have any issue cleaning my airbrush after useing. I use white spirits follwed by a spray with airbrush cleaner. As for thinning, i use the Xtracolor thinners for xtracolor enamel paints.

I use acrylics for airbrushing and enamels for brush painting.

I have tried enamels in my airbrush but found it way too difficult to safely clean up, so I will only use acrylics in my airbrush now.

However, i find enamels are very good for brush painting.

As for pre-shading, I use acrylics.  Not sure if it makes a difference whether you use enamel or acrylic for this.

Chris.

acrylics for me. clean up can be a pain sometimes though because of fast drying. all in all i like acrylics. i've always had problems shooting enamels. maybe it's just me. 

All of the above.

Right now I'm using enamels for most of my airbrushing. Tamiya and Gunze are dusting up something fierce in this heat. Enamels seems to cope better. 

My favorite brush paint is Vallejo, bar none.

One of the things that complicates this discussion is that there are now acrylic enamels and acrylic lacquers!  And, in some (non-hobby) paints the jars do not really indicate they are acrylics.  I find this primarily with auto touch up spray cans at auto parts stores, but have found some in craft stores and hardware stores that are that type.

Also, found some that are solvent type, but not identified as to whether lacquer or enamel.  Department clerk swore they were lacquer- they turned out to be enamel.  Solution seems to be to stick to hobby paints. I have yet to come across any hobby acrylics that were not identified as such.  Then I assume if they say enamel or lacquer they are solvent type.

DoogsATX

Right now I'm using enamels for most of my airbrushing. Tamiya and Gunze are dusting up something fierce in this heat. Enamels seems to cope better. 

What sort of thinning ratios are you using?  I go very thin with my Tamiya's  - in the order of 80% thinner 20% paint (yes, sometimes using Tamiya lacquer thinner) and haven't had any appreciable dusting problems.

Thin paint, low pressure, short distance.

I will have to try them both. I always used enamels. Thanks all for your opinions

both   Tamiya,Vallejo,and     Modelmaster Enamels