Using acrylic over enamel and visa versa..

TryintoModel wrote:

I can't seem to remember what the problems are of using one on top of the other.  I wanted to use an acrylic to add shadows over enamel paint.  Is that ok?

Yes.


 

TryintoModel wrote:

And just for curiosities sake, would it be ok to paint emamel over acrylic?  Thanks

Not advised for either enamel or emamel…

Except, of course, for washes. I wouldn't try a coat of enamel over acrylic—it might work, but you're asking for trouble, IMHO.

It is perfectly okay to use an acrylic over an enamel and vice versa.  Just make sure the undercoat is fully dried.  You want to avoid using a lacquer over an acrylic.  Some lacquers will take off even the toughest acrylic coats.

ryanpm wrote:

It is perfectly okay to use an acrylic over an enamel and vice versa.  Just make sure the undercoat is fully dried.  You want to avoid using a lacquer over an acrylic.  Some lacquers will take off even the toughest acrylic coats.

Use caution when applying an enamel over an acrylic, except as a wash. The enamel will usually bond well to a flat acrylic, but may not bond well to a gloss. In either case, if the acrylic is not fully cured, and well bonded to the material beneath it, shrinkage of the enamel may exceed the strength of either the acrylic or its bond to the substrate.

Some enamels may attack some acrylics, even those that are fully cured. This is often a result of the solvents used as thinners in the paint or as reducers for spraying.

Some lacquers may also attack enamels, although the affect is not always a complete disaster. Usually, the effect only changes the gloss, or results in a temporary softening of the surface. In the worst cases, the enamel becomes softened permanently. (I had this happen once, on metal. Absolute bear to get the sticky stuff off. On a model, it would have been a trash can trip.)

When in doubt, test your combination on a piece of scrap.

Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate it.

Dave