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Painting - - -

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  • Member since
    July 2013
  • From: Chicago area
Posted by modelmaker66 on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 2:35 PM

the Baron

I use craft store paints, too-some Americana, some Apple Barrel, and some Folk Art.  They're decent acrylics.  I use them on my toy soldiers, including glazing with them (a mixture of Future, water, and a touch of the color).  They're good to have as utility paints, too, since they're so reasonably priced.  And yes, there is a great selection of colors in every maker's catalog-just as there is among the fantasy wargame products, too.  You just have to decipher the names.  "What color is Elf Vomit, really?"

The only caveat I have for craft store acrylics is with airbrushing.  Yes, they can be airbrushed.  But be aware that they typically have more coarsely-ground pigments than paints made specifically for scale modeling, and you can wind up with a rough finish.  I found that out when I used some craft store acrylics on a 1/72 airplane.  I think it would be possible to correct for that by letting the color sit and letting the larger particles settle out.

But otherwise, absolutely, I use them.  I'd say they make up about half of my stash of water-based acrylics, and that's around 30 bottles or so.

 

I add a bit of future to the mix and it airbrushers very smooth and durable.

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 12:22 PM

I use craft store paints, too-some Americana, some Apple Barrel, and some Folk Art.  They're decent acrylics.  I use them on my toy soldiers, including glazing with them (a mixture of Future, water, and a touch of the color).  They're good to have as utility paints, too, since they're so reasonably priced.  And yes, there is a great selection of colors in every maker's catalog-just as there is among the fantasy wargame products, too.  You just have to decipher the names.  "What color is Elf Vomit, really?"

The only caveat I have for craft store acrylics is with airbrushing.  Yes, they can be airbrushed.  But be aware that they typically have more coarsely-ground pigments than paints made specifically for scale modeling, and you can wind up with a rough finish.  I found that out when I used some craft store acrylics on a 1/72 airplane.  I think it would be possible to correct for that by letting the color sit and letting the larger particles settle out.

But otherwise, absolutely, I use them.  I'd say they make up about half of my stash of water-based acrylics, and that's around 30 bottles or so.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2018
Posted by oldermodelguy on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 11:50 AM

Ya craft paints been around a long time lol !!! I've been airbrushing it for a few years, sometimes I brush it. My wife has been brushing acrylics in one form or another including craft paints for more than 40 years in use on her ceramics projects.

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Painting - - -
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 11:30 AM

Hi;

    Just finished reading a  Zombie thread about the types of paint you can use. I have found that one of the Sweetest Lacquers I ever used was put out under the AMT brand. Now that is NOT to say there aren't more. I just haven't found them yet.

     I use a lot of Rustoleum on my Ships and Cars. Why? Well, it always performs beautifully! No, I don't de-cant it as I don't have Airbrushes now. Where I live, the folks I share the house with, have extreme breathing allergies. So It's brush or outside with the Rustoleum. 

     So builds are scheduled around the weather! At least the painting with spray paint part! Rustoleum reacts the same way in a warm water bath that Tamiya and Testors Sprays do. This is something I have done for years. Ever since a friend told me about warming a can of AMT lacquer up to get better and finer dispersion.

      Now the thing I have complained about is familiarity with product. I found for instance that with the large amount of Brushing I do, Tamiya needs to much Nursing. Some of the older brands, no longer available in the colors or amounts once obtainable, brushed fantastically with NO brushmarks!

      I am NOT just referring to old Timey Pactra either! Some of the more familiar are Not being marketed anymore. We know the names Polly S ,Floquil and one of my all time favorites Humbrol. Yes, Humbrol is back, But not in the selections I used years ago at the Museums I built for.

      Believe it or not I have found multitudes of colors in Craft Acrylics! Yup, the same ones used for Bird House kits and Pine Car derby cars! They even have their own type of Gloss, Semi-Gloss and Flat clear spray overcoats.of these paints. They work pretty good too. Now there is something that you have to do first, in the case of these products. Yup, Gotta use primer!

       Can you say, hundreds of colors and the potential for hundreds more if you're not afraid of mixing to suit your needs. The really nice part? they leave no brush marks if you follow their directions! So Paint away, and Remember you can Airbrush most of them too. And clean everything up with Good old Dawn and warm water!!

 

 

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