Who Paints Your Wagon ?

[Alex]

Well times change. Since my original reply I have found myself drifting more towards acrylics. I also spray undercoat my models now using a big can of Halford white/grey. The same goes for varnishing. I'll hand apply the gloss but I'll spray the final matt coat as it gives a better result than if I hand brush it.

Alex

[Oldman]

Hand paint every thing here.

Paints used are Acrylics ,   for boards  and  similar   I use the little tester pots from Wilco,Wickes etc

[upnick]

I can now add acrylics to  my paint list in the shape of  Vallejo  model color (218)  &  model air  ranges although i  have yet to try the model  air      (Note to  meself ...........  choose some colors & get some ordered !! ) 

[bbdave]

I have given up using humbrol basicly due to needing thinners for it and disposal of this is a nightmare, plus the enamels are no way as good as they used to be.

I have used Tamiya acrylics to spray but find the coverage terrible but good for weathering i do need to find a good covering sprayable acrylic.

i model boats also so i use Halfords rattle cans for them.

Dave

[moogle]

As restoration of my Beal & Castle Eden continues, I will soon find myself in the position of rebuilding some damaged Ratio structures, but also starting on new buildings and kits.

I too, have always used Humbrol enamels, and have no experience at all with acrylics. To me, the major bugbear with enamels was always the cleaning up with turps, etc., so acrylics appeal to me for that reason alone.

However, after browsing this thread, there seems to be no clear-cut opinion of which is best - it appears to be very much down to personal taste (can't imagine enamels or acrylics tastin' too good). I'm not even going to bother opening my existing tins of enamel - they're just so ancient. So, I will do a bit of role playing here and pretend I'm an absolute beginner when it comes to painting. Continue with enamels, go acrylic, or try a bit of both and make my own choice? When I ask this question, I am talking plastic kits, though I have scratchbuilt cardboard buildings in the past and painted them with enamels with no probs. But if I can get away from turps....

Help!

If you want to get away from nasty turps, then acrylics are the way to go. All acrylics can be thinned with water. If they can't then they are not acrylic paint! And yes, that even applies to Tamiya paints. I do find Tamiya dry the quickest, so you have to be careful not to end up with a clogged brush!

But at the end of the day the choice can only be made by you and which type you choose will depend on which you find easiest to paint with rather than which is easiest to clean up. With plastic kits, as well as brass and white metal/pewter, providing you undercoat them acrylics go on ok.

Speaking of undercoat, I've been using one by Wilkinsons. Its a big can, available in white or grey and costs £4.99 if I remember rightly. Best left to dry overnight so not as quick drying as Tamiya but you do get more paint for less money.

[Mustermark]

I use Citadel acrylics from Games Workshop.  They have recently changed their paints... They already were better than anything else and now are supposed to be even better.

I bought a few at the weekend so will give them a try and report back.

[Bealman]

Cheers, Moogle!

Heck you guys must check this out as soon as you get up... or is it the season at the moment?! We've been getting the whole Jubilee thing here and I do believe the Olympic Torch went through or near Chester last week? Cool. I intended to be there for all of it but plans went astray (read that as I did not budget properly). It all looks and sounds great from here, though.

Ok... back to thread. Thanks for that. One thing I never did was use an undercoat with enamels. Just straight onto the plastic (or even cardboard). Nearest thing I got, and now as I write this, I suddenly realise that yes, I have used acrylics. I would wash a watered down acrylic into the stone and brickwork joints before painting with enamel. This worked well on the Ratio kits and scratchbuilt plasticard stuff.

I'm basically a lazy SOB and can do without priming plastic. I suppose it works out a six and two threes - prime the plastic for acrylic or paints straight on with enamel and put up with turps?

Maybe a night on same may help me decide. Cheers!

[Sprintex]

Have only just started toying with repainting, but for my first project I used Halfords primer, followed by Humbrol Acrylic sprays and some careful masking. Found it much easier than brush painting with enamels and the finish much smoother 


Paul

[EtchedPixels]

I'm not convinced the choice is clear cut. Some colours you can't get anyway, others seem to work better in enamel (eg glossy surfaces in enamel). For acrylic thinners are definitely useful.

I nowdays mostly use acrylics but for gloss I use enamels if I can't find a suitable car paint can.