who makes the best model paint

I have a three way tie for favorite, both with huge pluses & minuses...

Tamiya Acrylics
+++ easy to work with both airbrushing & straight brushing, easy to clean up...
--- very limited on colors, I don't like mixing my own FS colors

Model Master Acrylics
+++ huge variety of available colors, ready to AB right out of the bottle
--- don't always brush on that well & clean up is not as quick & easy as Tamiya or Gunze

Gunze Acrylics
+++ good variety of available colors, easy clean up
--- smell really bad, worse than enamels to my senses

Brian

Pollyscale works great for me and best of all the thinner I use is less than a
dollar a gallon. I've got some of the new Aircraft Colors acrylics to try as soon as work
permits.
Fuzzy

I don't know about being the best, but its Testors Model Master enamels for me.

They are easy to come by, have a vast range of colors, are great for spraying, good for brushing and are relatively trouble free.

I also use on occasion:
Tamiya acrylics
Gunze acrylics
Xtracolor enamels
Humbrol enamels

Darren

I don't know about being the best, but its Testors Model Master enamels for me.

They are easy to come by, have a vast range of colors, are great for spraying, good for brushing and are relatively trouble free.

I also use on occasion:
Tamiya acrylics
Gunze acrylics
Xtracolor enamels
Humbrol enamels

Darren

I don't know about being the best, but its Testors Model Master enamels for me.

They are easy to come by, have a vast range of colors, are great for spraying, good for brushing and are relatively trouble free.

I also use on occasion:
Tamiya acrylics
Gunze acrylics
Xtracolor enamels
Humbrol enamels

Darren

I don't know about being the best, but its Testors Model Master enamels for me.

They are easy to come by, have a vast range of colors, are great for spraying, good for brushing and are relatively trouble free.

I also use on occasion:
Tamiya acrylics
Gunze acrylics
Xtracolor enamels
Humbrol enamels

Darren

humbrol and MM. I have a few polly too but need to learn how to use them, little thinner ouuta the bottle then I am used to.

I will be brave and advocate my recommendation for a "best" model paint. I would have to vote the best model paint on the market is Testor Model Master enamels. The reason is becuase Testors has been around for decades, widely available, time tested, and has without a doubt the most extensive color selection available to the modeler. No more mixing formulas and guess work...just get the color you need off the rack and your set to go! The Testor line is easy to use for brush painting as well as excellent airbrushing ability. Testors MM enamels also has superior adhesion to styrene unlike acrylics. A modeler only needs Mineral spririts to thin it, and Laquer thinner to clean the airbrush and tools. It doesn't get any more simplier than that. The only precaution when airbrushing enamels is to work with adequate ventlation, that is to say; an open window, outside, or a spray booth. The fumes arn't all THAT bad, for crying out loud, it's not like it's "Nuclear VX" or something. If used as suggested, you can't go wrong, and you'll enjoy using it for decades, as thousands of others have. Well thats my vote, I been using them for as long as I can remember. Happy modeling my fellow glue sniffers!

There probably is no "best". I usually use Humbrol and Model Master enamels as well as the 1/4oz. Testors line. And various other brands, according to my specific needs. BUT, I think Humbrol is hard to beat. I do have 1/4 oz. bottles of Testors that were bought new in 1965 (marked .19 cents on the cap) and Humbrol tins from the same time period that are both still viable paint. Man, that's some lifespan for paint. Gary.

i also like model master enamals, they are good, but i don't airbrush them because i don't have enamal thinner

I'll go with Vallejo for acrylics all three types have uses . (The AB paint is sweet)

I don't do non-acrylics, ever so I can't comment.

Polly Scale has always given me smooth finishes...I especially like the Azure Blue...looks awesome on the bottom of my Beaufighter.....

Hmmm, Im suprised noone mentioned humbrol.

For my money Gunze acrylics.

Karl

QUOTE: Originally posted by 1337 Here is something MikeV would say There is no "best" model paint. it is all preference.

That is true with all subjective questions.
If it works for you then that is the best product to use regardless of what others like.

Mike

Here is something MikeV would say

There is no "best" model paint. it is all preference.

that aside, i like tamiya's and gunze. not really testor's, they dry too slowly (thank you mr. tamiya)

Tamiya or Model Master Acryl for airbrushing. Citadel for what little hand brushing I do, finding ways to avoid it for the rest.

I use Model Masters for everything, except when I need to mix paints for highlights and shadows, then I use Andrea colors

thats a loaded question for sure my friend!!

when airbrushing acrylics - tamiya

when hand painting acrylics - vallejo

when airbrushing enamels - model master

I also prefer Model Master, but then I prefer enamels.

Robert

I like Testors Model Master myself.

Mike

Despite the limited colors, I prefer Tamiya.