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which paint for brush painting

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  • Member since
    June 2015
which paint for brush painting
Posted by SoundwaveOiA on Sunday, June 21, 2015 3:57 PM

Hi everyone,

Due to recently moving I cannot use my airbrush right now. Ofcourse I do still want to make an aircraft model, a 1/48 bf109E to be accurate. So I will brush paint it. Now I have easy access to a few paints and I have been reading reviews. Yet I cannot choose... which paint out of this series would you pick?

-Vallejo model air (for airbrushing I believe so not great)

-Valleje Model Color

-Lifecolors

-Revell aqua colors

Thanks for the help everyone

Have a great day!

  • Member since
    June 2015
Posted by Pother on Monday, June 22, 2015 9:39 AM

Most acrylic paint can be brushed well if you are willing to spend a little time figuring it out. Painting small surfaces has never been an issue for me, but when trying to paint larger areas with solid colors it can start to look bad. For me, the trick was to add some golden acrylic retarder to the paint (not to the jar/bottle), and find a viscosity that works well for the situation. The retarder slows down the drying time long enough to allow the paint to level itself out a bit better, and eliminate more of the brush strokes. Thinner paint will also retain less brushstrokes.

I would recommend starting with a paint that is thicker rather than thinner, since you can always thin a paint easily. I suppose you could increase the viscosity of a very thin paint by adding an acrylic gel medium to it.

If I had to choose just one acrylic paint off your list I would choose the Vallejo colors, simply because I have read more about them than the other colors on your list. Though being the person that I am, I would grab one of each just to try them all out. The Revell colors interest me due to their unique packaging.

PS. If I really had to choose just one paint to brush with, I would choose an enamel paint rather than an acrylic. I'm sure it's my own lack of practice with painting acrylics on scale models, but I have had much better luck brushing Humbrol enamels. The slow dry time tends to work well with my limited time anyway.

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Monday, June 22, 2015 10:30 AM

Choosing from your list, I'd personally go with Vallejo Model Color. It has the best self-leveling properties of any hobby acrylic I have ever brush painted.

Hope you find one you are happy with!

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: MN
Posted by Nathan T on Monday, June 22, 2015 10:40 AM

LifeColor paints are also wonderful for brush painting, but are more spendy than Vallejo.

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • From: Nampa, Idaho
Posted by jelliott523 on Monday, June 22, 2015 3:19 PM

I just did some brush painting with some Ammo of Mig colors, specifically their Rubber / Tire black color.  It flowed well and didnt tend to show brush strokes at all.  I used it on the tires of my 1/32 Bf-109.  I had never used Ammo products before and was actually impressed at the coverage.  The paint is bottled similarly to Vallejo paints, but much, much thinner and contains an agitator in the bottle to help mix the paints.  I do believe that Ammo products are more expensive than Vallejo however.

On the Bench:  Lots of unfinished projects!  Smile

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 8:48 AM

I don't use any on the list. I use Testors enamel, and find it works well both for hand brushing and for airbrushing.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 7:37 PM

I use a wide range brand of paint - acrylics and enamels for both airbrushing and hand painting.

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Scarecrow Joe on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 8:29 PM

I used to go only with enamels but now am an acrylics man. Love the easy cleaning and no offensive odors! LOL! Love Vallejos line of paints.

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Boston
Posted by Wilbur Wright on Sunday, June 28, 2015 12:42 PM

I've never been able to successfully brush paint acrylic paints (Tamiya in particular) as they will "Roll up". on all but the tiniest of parts or surfaces, and also won't level.  And you can forget brush painting gloss in any medium, unless you are paining a tiny light (for instance).

I find Humbrol flat enamels are the best for brush painting followed by Testors  flat MM enamels.

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