Drybrushing: Enamel vs. Acrylic

It's because of the technique itself; because of the longer drying time oil based is used; acrylics dry so quickly (in comparison) the time needed to do what you want is very short, so results are problematic and “redoing/correcting" is not too successful because the acrylic paint is dry or very nearly so.

However remember If you want to do something don't let the "conventional wisdom" keep you from it. You never know, you may stumble on a method that becomes the latest "new best way", in the modeling world.

Then you'll be a hero and we will wonder why we doubted you.

HTH

Yeah, it's mostly about the drying time. Personally, I mainly use acrylics and I cannot justify buying enamels just for dry brushing. That would basically double my paint inventory! So I dry-brush with acrylics and it does work.

I put a single drop of paint on my palette and get to work. After a bit, that drop will start to skin over so I put down another drop and continue. Using single drops cuts down on wasted paint. I have experimented with using a retarder and that does work, but it's hard to mix into a single drop of paint, so I  no longer bother.

Chris

I use enamels.  When I put the paint on the palette from the brush, I spread it out and it tends to dry too quick as it is- I have to keep refreshing it.  BTW, I use coated card stock as palette.  I save old coated business cards, and if I run out of those I dip into my collection of old IBM punch cards (excellent modeling material, for glue and paint palettes, and even for representing sheet steel).

I have found that Vallejo acrylics dry brush very well. This is opposite of my experience with most other acrylics. I also like the way oils drybrush. You can buy just a few different colors and mix up just about any shade close to what you want.

I just have to buy MM enamel paints and see if it gives a better result than Vallejo acrylics. Each MM bottle costs about $3 and I need just tow colors - tan and light green.