Acrylic vs Enamel...thoughts on the topic?

Question

Can you do it the other way?  Spray down an acrylic and then spray a dullcote or glosscote over it?

I've been really happy with Polly Scale. Water soluble... did I spell that right? Anyway.... water dissolvable , no smell, easy clean up, good coverage, lays down well when brushed on.

Plus it leaves your breath fresh and minty! LOL

With either one you choose, please use proper caution. Especially with enamel, I'm less worried about the smell than what that smell is. The thinners used with enamel paint are very harmful to your lungs, I think both ventilation and masks with organic filters are a requirement when working with enamels.

I too prefer enamels.   I do not find them to smell particularly offensive.   Enamels, particularly flats, dry quite fast.  Dust is not an issue.  I am able to spray and unmask almost right away.  

I use inexpensive hardware store thinners without being tied to the often expensive model paint company's proprietary thinner for their brand of acrylics.  (How many have had you acrylic paints turn to goo in the paint cup when you added the wrong thinner?) 

Additionally the sole source of accurate, out-of-the-bottle colors for my prefered modeling genre' (ships) is enamels - White Ensign's Colourcoat line of paints.  These colors are not available in acrylics.

Bottom line is use what works best for your particular application and modeling style.

When I got back into the hobby I went all out on Acrylics. I used to do enamels, but based on a few things I decided to go Acrylic this time around and I am not sorry at all.

They dry faster. When airbrushing it dries almost instantly... prevents dust

easy clean up... water or windex

slight smell.. nothing like enamels which is crazy 

I can use water to clean my brushes... which is where i generally use most of the thinner. its great to be able to dump out dirty brush cleaner and get new stuff from the faucet. 

 I do have a few cans of enamels though.. so i use them for primer on models. It has a nice bite to it and its great for priming.