What kind of paint do you use and why?

jinithith2

Member since
January 2005
From: returning to the FSM forum after a hiatus

Posted by jinithith2 on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 5:43 PM

model master acrylics because of easy clean up and the low price

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thunderbearr

Member since
November 2004
From: USA, North America, Earth Milky Way

Posted by thunderbearr on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 5:11 PM

Mostly Acrylics. Easy to clean up, goes on nice. Helps me build 'em right. Doesn't put me in the hospital from the fumes.....

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Delbert

Member since
December 2002

Posted by Delbert on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 4:57 PM

Model Master Enamals due to range of color and ease airbrushing and because I really really like them.

Tamiya Acrylics.. some unique colors.. airbrush well...

Pollyscale . some unique colors....... can work with em....

Model Master acrylics... bought by accident.. will use them up...

Artist watercolors (in tubes).. various applications..

Humbrol Super enamals.. bought for testing purpose's.. not used yet.

Artist Oils (in tubes)... various applications.

Pastel Chalks......weathering.

mostly model master enamals though. everything else is for support of those.

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Swedish Mick

Member since
January 2005
From: Kopparberg, Sweden

Posted by Swedish Mick on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 4:19 PM

Like to many other modellers, Humbrol was the all-available brand when I was young. Many years later, I still use them, and they are available at a toy store 50 kms from home. If I want some other brands, I will have to travel some 80 kms or more to get them, but for the moment I don't see any reason to change.

Modellbygge iFokus http://www.modellbygge.ifokus.se

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espins1

Member since
December 2002
From: Reno, NV

Posted by espins1 on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 3:50 PM

I use Tamiya Acrylics with my armor models for a couple reasons:
1. Easy to clean up... just use a Windex type product with ammonia
2. Inexpensive and readily available
3. Easy to mix
4. Fumes are not as noxious as enamels
4. Great for armor kits since you don't have to put a protective coat of laquer over the paint before doing an oil wash..... you can do the wash directly on the acrylic. The wash doesn't affect the paint in any way (unlike enamels.... not good)

Scott Espin - IPMS Reno High Rollers My Reviews

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qmiester

Member since
May 2003
From: Central USA

Posted by qmiester on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 7:15 AM

Been using enamels for 45 years and am very comfortable with them so don't see any reason to change. Use MM, Humbrol and even some 20 year old Pactra that is still usuable for the biggest percentage of my modeling. When I do an occasional figure, I use acrylics for the base coat under the oils (don't lift like enamels will when the thinners in the oils hit them).

Quincy

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 12:08 AM

tamiya: cheap, available, decent, works well for custom ab'ing metal

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Tankmaster7

Member since
August 2004
From: Nowhere. (Long Island)

Posted by Tankmaster7 on Monday, February 14, 2005 8:43 PM

MM enamel, MM acryl, Polly scale Acryl and Tamiya acrylics. as you can see I'm very exclusive in what paint I use. LOL.

-Tanky

Welcome to the United States of America, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, in partnership with Halliburton. Security for your constitutional rights provided by Blackwater International.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 14, 2005 6:32 PM

I use Tamiya color acrylic paint because of the easy/fast clean up and you get alot. 10ml

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Jim Barton

Member since
February 2003

Posted by Jim Barton on Monday, February 14, 2005 5:32 PM

Primarily Testor Model Master enamels, plus some of the original Testor enamels in the little square bottles. It's what I'm familiar with from when I used to model as a kid in the 1970's (back then there was also Pactra enamels--remember those?). For the occasional oddball color that Testors doesn't make, such as flat aluminum, I'll buy Tamiya Acrylic.

"Whaddya mean 'Who's flying the plane?!' Nobody's flying the plane!"

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KJ200

Member since
July 2003
From: Bicester, England

Posted by KJ200 on Thursday, January 27, 2005 6:18 AM

I use predominantly Gunze acrylics, with some Tamiya, Lifecolour & MM acrylics thrown in.

The Gunze acrylics give an excellent finish, are, in my experience, easier to work with than Tamiya acrylics, and come in just about all the colours I need, so no messing around with odd concoctions as with Tamiya.

I also like the ease of clean up, and lack of noxious odours that comes with using acrylics.

Karl

Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 11:46 AM

I've just started using Tamiya acryilics and use them with a lacquer thinner...The first gray coat went on beautifully on my big Dragon Railway Gun Leopold...Now that it's dry (two days) do I use a coat of clear flat or clear gloss before using a second coat of German gray or can I just spray on a second coat over the first one without spraying the clear coat? Thanks for any help you can give an old duffer who ha been using enamels for 60 years!...

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abutt2

Member since
February 2004
From: NW Connecticut

Posted by abutt2 on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 10:53 AM

Before airbrushing, I used Tamiya acrylics backed up with Polyscale (I'm also a model railroader). I just stayed with the same combination when I got into airbrushing and am happy with the results. I also have at least one of every Tamiya flat acrylics they produce. Would not be cost-effective to change at this point. It's ike my HO trains. I'd love to get into O gage...but won't , for the same reason.

Bud

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rrmmodeler

Member since
February 2004
From: Humble

Posted by rrmmodeler on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 9:26 AM

Polly Scale and Tamyia acrylics. They are easy to clean up, and the fumes are not as bad as enamels, plus the dry faster as well. Polly Scale is what I use the most since it covers well when handbrushing and airbrushes well too. The few enamels I have are mainly for brush painting they are Old Silver and Bright Silver in the Flogal (spelling?) and and few jars of Model Master. I also have a can of Tamyia silver leaf and and another of their laquar spray cans. I haven't used them yet so I don't know if I like them or not yet.

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djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 2:43 AM

Humbrol enamels mostly, because I grew up on the stuff, so to speak, but I do have a sizeable 'collection' of acrylics from various manufacturers which i use for 'fast turnaround required' sub-assemblies, bases,... (Tamiya, Humbrol, Valejo, Precision Paints,..). A handful of enamels from Revell too, purchased when I can not dfind the Humbrol equivalents...

I also use automotive acrylics in cans (primers and for airliners), oils in tubes (washes, drybrushing, stains, figures), acrylics in tubes (give colour to my plaster of paris), watercolours in tubes (washes).

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 2:03 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by RichFLD120

I've never had much luck with acrylics (especially airbrushing them), so I've bascially settled on Humbrol and MM for the vast majority of my projects.

You tried adding some retarder/extender to the thinner??
This, IMHO, is a must in order to get good results with acrylics.

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shroomy

Member since
October 2004
From: kent uk

Posted by shroomy on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 1:58 AM

i use vallejo acr.
tamiya acr.
reeves tube acr
pastle chalks
revell enamels
mig pigmants they all have very good uses
just gotta get into these oils now :)

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 12:21 AM

I've never had much luck with acrylics (especially airbrushing them), so I've bascially settled on Humbrol and MM for the vast majority of my projects.

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 8:03 PM

Well lately I have pretty much switched to Vallejo acrylics, I like the way they look and they provide a nice even coat... I still have some MM enamel and acrylic I am trying to use up, but if I have the color in Vallejo I use it and save the MM bottle for an emergency.. Tried Tamiya and while it was ok I preferred MM... for hand brushing I mostly use enamel with a few bottles of MM acrylic I use for specific things...

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 6:25 PM

Started in Humbrol, tried Revell.

Currently using mostly Gunze Acrylics and some enamels, with a bit of Tamiya thrown in here and there.
Found the Gunze/Tamiya colours very easy to work with, giving a good result and are the most common pains in my neighbourhood everything else costs an Arm and a Leg if available.

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knight667

Member since
January 2004
From: Philomath, OR, USA

Posted by knight667 on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 6:18 PM

MM enamels, because that's what I've always used and change is bad. Big Smile [:D]

John "The only easy day was yesterday." - US Navy SEALs "Improvise. Adapt. Overcome." - US Marine Corp. "I live each day/Like it's my last/...I never look back" - from "I'm A Rocker" by Judas Priest

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MusicCity

Member since
January 2004
From: USA

Posted by MusicCity on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 12:45 PM

I use acrylics for about 90% of my painting. I usually use an enamel primer and frequently use laquer metallizers but spray them from rattle cans so I can take the parts outside to be sprayed. Just about everything is acrylic regardless of whether it's airbrushed or hand painted.

Local stores here carry a mixture of Citadel (Games Workshop) acrylics, Tamiya acrylics, Model Master enamel and acrylics, and PolyScale acrylics so I use all of those brands.

Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 11:16 AM

I'm pretty much stuck with Humbrol. It's the only brand available without going for a long drive. But when I take the trip I stock up on Model Master. Both do a great job but I prefer the bottle over the can. Just like my beer.

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DanCooper

Member since
March 2004
From: Belgium

Posted by DanCooper on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 10:49 AM

I started with Humbrol enamels when I was a kid (it was also the only brand available at the time here). Later I switched to Tamiya Acrelycs and when I started to use an AB, I swithed back to enamels, now I mostly use MM (although I have to travel 80 km to get them) Enamels.

On the bench : Revell's 1/125 RV Calypso

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jridge

Member since
April 2003
From: West Des Moines, IA USA

Posted by jridge on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 9:21 AM

I use acrylics exclusively. I build/paint in the store room in the basement. I don't have a spray booth or ventilation system. So, lack of fumes is paramount to maintaining a happy home - to say nothing of my health.

Jim The fate of the Chambermaid http://30thbg.1hwy.com/38thBS.html

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zokissima

Member since
July 2003
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Posted by zokissima on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 6:46 AM

For airbrushing I use Tamiya acrylics almost exclusively, but stray to MM Acryl here and there when the shade calls for it. I will stick with acrylics because of their 'apparent' non-toxicity, and ease of cleaning.
For hand-brushing, I use pretty much everything. I'll tend to stick to Games Workshop (of warhammer) acrylic paints for detail painting, but will use a lot of MM enamels, as well as Tamiya, and others.

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ckfredrickson

Member since
April 2003
From: Halfway back to where I started

Posted by ckfredrickson on Monday, January 24, 2005 11:58 AM

My favorites are Testors enamels, both from square bottles and their MM line because they're relatively easy to find, have wide availability of colors, and cleanup is easy.

I like the fact that MM Acryl is ready to use right out of the bottle, but have never found cleanup of them to be easy.

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djrost_2000

Member since
February 2003
From: Where the coyote howl, NH

Posted by djrost_2000 on Monday, January 24, 2005 11:49 AM

I've used MM enamels all my life. I like the durability of enamels. The accuracy of the shading with MM is great and it's easy to match colors based on Federal Standard numbers. Also my hobby store only carries MM enamels and acrylics.

Dave

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pingtang

Member since
April 2003
From: NSW, Australia

Posted by pingtang on Sunday, January 23, 2005 11:48 PM

I used to use Tamiya acrylics alot, but got sick of having to mix colours to get military shades. Now I use Gunze-Sangyo Aqueous and I couldn't be happier. They have a large range of military colours for different countries, spray on nice and smooth, easy to clean up and I can use Tamiya thinner to thin them anyway. I'll never go back to Tamiya now.

-Daniel

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Scott Espin - IPMS Reno High Rollers My Reviews