what paints do you use for your builds?

For cars consider nail polish as well.  Tons of colors and finishes.  They dry hard and spray well.  Acetone is cheap and nail polish too.  Get a couple of colors and experiment.  Some are laquer based as well.  You will want to prime any plastic prior to spraying nail polish.

Also touch up paint bottles from the auto parts store.  typically laquer based or same as nail polish.

Look at paints geared towards the RC car hobby.  Tons of great colors and usually laquer based.  The paint section at craft stores like micheals also has some selection of enamels in colors ideal for cars.

The railroad hobby paints still have a lot in enamels as well.

Humbrol still has lots of enamels too.

For cars I used to use PlastiKote touch up paints that came in 1oz bottles. Still have a few. I don't know if they were a casualty of the green effect or a merger. The small Duplicolor touch up colors work too, just not much there and kind of expensive. I also use fingernail polish for cars. You can find anything from mild to wild. Not too expensive and easy to work with. I've only found a couple that lacquer thinner didn't work with. There are at least a couple of online stores that sell automotive paints to modelers in small quantities but I don't have the names handy at the moment. One sells actual color match paints. I'll try to find the name and post here. Also, Coast Airbrush sells most, if not all, House of Kolor paints in small quantities. From 1oz up. Lots of kustom colors there. Last time I checked they had decent prices on Tamiya bottled paints too. Large bottles. Plus, they can supply most of your airbrush needs. :-) And, some local paint suppliers will sell in small quantities and can match most anything.

I see someone else was writing too. :-) And sorry but when I reply from my phone it ends up one paragraph...

Mainly Tamiya,ease of airbrushing,nice finish,and easy cleanup. Lately I have been using Vallejo,they have a great range of colors,but are more difficult to get right for the airbrush,but by using their thinner and flow improver,I'm getting good results.

I have a wide variety of brands:

Model Master enamels and acrylics

Tamiya

Pollyscale

Aeromaster

Gunze / Mr. Color

Humbrol

Alclad

A few Vallejo acrylics and...

1 White Ensign color

Lifecolor paints. So far they are the only brand I've had success with when it comes to brush painting. Even a light tan color only needed about four coats to get complete coverage.

Tamiya lacquer sprays and Humbrol enamels.

I often use Duplicolor or other auto paint spray cans and they work fine.  Several of my car modeling buddies also use them.

For airbrushing, I use enamels, but do see the handwriting on the wall.  I am trying to learn how to use acrylics in an airbrush.  Acrylics seem not to give the high gloss of enamels, but I can always use a glosscoat over them.  Only real problem with that is for older cars that never had that wet look finish.

 

I wrote a big post about Mission Models paints a few weeks ago and they are really game changing paints. The entire point was to make an acrylic paint that worked like enamels do when airbrushing. This way you get great results with no fumes at all. They are paint made by modellers to work with todays needs and that is something I really respect. The first 2 rounds of colors have come out for military and agrocultural colors. The 3rd round is in progress right now for auto colors with a gloss fininsh.

I really know what you are saying about finding that paint and making it your go to. Acrylic paint is a real pain when it comes to consistent results airbrushing. This Mission Models paint has a specific process and when followed the results are outstanding. Tamiya paint used with their lacquer thinner is amazing and really the standard with many.

Auto and military guys are worlds apart when it comes to painting and auto guys have so many tricks of the trade, mostly actually using paints made for actual car painting. I would keep an eye out for the upcoming Mission paints though, you may add a few years to your life, lol! Check out their web site and even shoot them an email, Jon is a really nice guy and emails you back very quickly. 

PaulAndrewGreen

I wrote a big post about Mission Models paints a few weeks ago and they are really game changing paints. The entire point was to make an acrylic paint that worked like enamels do when airbrushing. This way you get great results with no fumes at all. They are paint made by modellers to work with todays needs and that is something I really respect. The first 2 rounds of colors have come out for military and agrocultural colors. The 3rd round is in progress right now for auto colors with a gloss fininsh.

I really know what you are saying about finding that paint and making it your go to. Acrylic paint is a real pain when it comes to consistent results airbrushing. This Mission Models paint has a specific process and when followed the results are outstanding. Tamiya paint used with their lacquer thinner is amazing and really the standard with many.

Auto and military guys are worlds apart when it comes to painting and auto guys have so many tricks of the trade, mostly actually using paints made for actual car painting. I would keep an eye out for the upcoming Mission paints though, you may add a few years to your life, lol! Check out their web site and even shoot them an email, Jon is a really nice guy and emails you back very quickly.