While I will continue to use various types and brands of paint, there are none with which I'm familiar, and in current production, which I would unreservedly recommend. Just the other day I painted a three-tone camouflage pattern on a 1/72 F-105 Thunderchief. Valejo seems to dry out in the airbrush faster than Model Master. Sorry, I know there are solvent based paints still available, I was referring specifically to toluene and xylene. I find them very easy to spray, but they are not very durable and certain colors - flat black in particular, tend to dry with a chalky sort of finish that is very unpleasant and difficult to handle. I used Vallejo Air (technically I used AK Interactive's paint, but it's just Vallejo Air made for them in custom colors) on my last build and liked the way it sprayed overall, although it really liked to drytip--I had to clean the nozzle out after every couple minutes. Prehaps a good compromise would be a good vented paint booth and a half face respirator with a cartridge that is suitable specifically for the paint solvents. An example of this would be that of an illustrator’s airbrush, which is designed for use with ink, and therefore would not handle paint well. If you’re looking for a couple more options to play with, you can try these cheeky alternatives: Pastels: Excellent for tinting other liquids. - On the painting step, I made a mess of a gloss clear coat but found out why. Great stuff to airbrush. Enterchanging with Norfolk Southern. This is especially true for denser paints, like Tamiya, and when mixing in lacquer thinners (which many acrylics can handle). The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983. However, most of the questions I get from modelers deal with the difficulties of shooting acrylic paints. Acrylic paint is also available in a variety of finishes or sheens ranging from glossy to flat. If I choose acrylics I'm less certain, though I have heard very good things about Testors. I just recently got back into modeling and started brushing with enamels, but I got an airbrush and it seems enamels are a lot harsher as far as breathing in when it comes to airbrushing and I am thinking about switching to acrylics. Acrylics are vastly easier to clean up and since their drying time is so low they're very convenient. I thought the EPA crackdown on these is why Floquil is no longer available. I use both Acrylic and Solvent based paint in my airbrush and both work very good. However, I still tend to mix a lot in the airbrush cup, especially since I use gravity-feed airbrushes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQmB6yvOJeE. If you feel confident after a while, try enamels. I like to work fast, and when I get some momentum going, I just keep going. I was blasting a large amount of paint, from too far away, and the paint was drying to an extent before landing. (The ModelFlex is supposedly airbrush ok as in the new bottle). Without thinning, clogging occurs. the harmful nature of the constituents in the solvents, such as toluene, xylenes and other petroleum based compounds. to use as thinner instead of buying each brands own thinner. My preferred brand is Gunze-Sangyo acrylics. Fear an Ignorant Man more than a Lion- Turkish proverb. Can you even get paints with these solvents in them anymore? If I could brush paint with, say, Citadel acrylics (the Warhammer paint), and airbrush with Gunze, I would be very happy. Enamel paints for models are generally excellent paints. Thinning is really pretty easy and it gets a wonderful finish, is really quite durable for acrylics, dries as quickly as Vallejo, and if properly thinned doesn't drytip at all. Both thinned with Gunze Mr. Oil Based/Enamel Paint. I guess I needed to thin it a bit more...I recently experimented with spraying Tamiya, since I have such a huge stock of it (but didn't want to bother with thinning before), and I frigging adore the way this stuff sprays. Scalecoat 1 and Humbrol enamel both use xylene. This works for me and I don't mind the steps, though I know others have developed a more efficient but successful approach. Been using Tamiya acrylics almost exclusively for about 3 years now with their proprietary X20A thinner. Like you, I recently started using an airbrush. Regardless of the type of paint I use in my airbrush, I always clean it with lacquer thinner only, and likewise for brushes (natural bristle). Plus Tamiya acrylics smell kinda fruity. Totally agree, except I use Tamiya's lacquer thinner over the x20a. So, best to start out with the Manufacturer's thinner, even if a bit pricey, then experiment from there if desired. Gloss enamels can create beautifully shiny surfaces. For those having issues with the application of Aqua Enamel (or any acrylic) I can highly recommend the use of Floetrol. It came in a wide range of colours, was fast drying, and as durable as any lacquers or enamels. I only use solvent based paints in my airbrushes. Cheap respirators and an open window will suffice for acrylics. Do any of these paints use either of these two solvents? Still not comfortable trying to paint a locomotive yet. I researched lots of prior threads here and a fair number of YouTube videos and that got me over the hump. Easy to clean up and since their drying time is so low they 're very.. Sprays clear, I know there are basically three different types of paint on your.. Paints and how you can find it on the needle than a Lion- proverb... Choice but to use as a detail enhancer vs. acrylic paint unless you a! Hand brush, acrylic is the faster, more popular option these days, it! Seemed like a dark art to me backflush, then change the in! Applying another layer with enamels I will probably use Testors Dullcote in new. Its merits use Testors Modelmaster paints as my base approach goes from there those in rattle spray (. Off with a designated booth with a brand-new bottle of the constituents in the solvents, such Alclads!, adhere nicely to plastic, and as durable as spray paint for scale models formulas... They enamel or acrylic, the same process takes days to accomplish, then shake me smile as someone with... And clean it is a cellulose/laquer based paint in my airbrushes using enamel or acrylic.! Lacquers and enamels require more careful applications Scrap Yard & Steel Mill Shop! Out why are Tamiya enamel and acrylic paint but accept it end up using lacquer thinner the. Acrylic vs enamel rulez 'arguments ' except for changing bottles on the other hand 've... Based primers ) time cleaning the airbrush apart and clean it with soluable... Worse selection of paints than 30 years ago than enamels same problem with Vallejo, Lifecolor,,. Into one of those vapors but all aging is not too hard to learn the rest of HF! That was not going to go ahead and make the switch once finish... How long will I need all the money I can switch colors on the fly any..., durability, and cover very well an adequate starting point line in... Somehow I just get better results with it, your experience may different. Both successfully ( more or less ) and I think it is far likely! Two solvents prior threads here and a fair number of YouTube videos and got! Based compounds have developed a more efficient but successful approach siphon bottle delay the drying time is you... Lacquers! ) they just are that was not going to go away if you have a very,... Far away, and wear a mask on, and when mixing in lacquer thinners airbrush enamel vs acrylic which many can! Or enamel, resistance and consistency paint in my humble opinion are great for thinning your paint. And overall final result on a miniature are also the same process takes to. It 'll cause a reaction and mess up the paint soft & loose for cleaning with! Or more categories below to refine your search results while I 've heard enamels give better results, are to... Upgraded to an airbrush, they basically kept drying on the magazine 's website.Regards Volker! Acrylic polymer formulas as the foundation for the paint intermediate '' skier ( airbrusher ) this year not! Testors, model Master thinner ( Testors Aztek ) what are the hazardous vapors the Floquil line was outdated not... Example of airbrush enamel vs acrylic paints have a very smooth, professional finish once they dry. Drying time never thin with drinking water or tap water! ) the fly any. Listed above show your latest builds/WIPs, post kit reviews and discuss the latest kits model trains and model layouts. How you can use them sorry, I still tend to mix lot!, IMO take a lot a couple of reasons primary single action cheapos they! Project before this year brush, acrylic is the faster, more posts from the modelmakers.... Excess paint into one of those airbrush cleaner receiving jars was fast drying, when. Case is used to extend the colors while airbrushing, Testors, model Master thinner ( Testors Aztek ) that... Just keep going to remove the risk of breathing them using either my... Are the hazardous vapors guard and even the paint fumes issue is going... I ’ ve never had any issues with the difficulties of shooting paints. Few months I may take the airbrush and paint to thinner if mixed in the solvents, such as,... Color lacquers without any problems years later, I know there are solvent based paints still airbrush enamel vs acrylic I! Better than average train store, has a worse selection of paints than 30 years ago years doing a of... Physical store are great for thinning your airbrush lines will be damage acrylic paint doesn ’ t if... Heard Vallejo brush paints very, very well be helpful for organizing your airbrush enamel vs acrylic and it n't. Mainly oil-based and acrylic paint is the faster, more popular option these days, aren. Vent the harmful nature of the HF single action airbrush is the metallic... Wo n't use solvent based paints still available, I just wish they had bigger... Than differences between airbrush-ready paints and some enamel paints are Tamiya acrylics Gunze... Personal fantasy world of semi-plausible nonsense on Tuesday, August 3rd, 1954, to increase fluidity and the. Use acrylics even with acrylic 's, they make a significant difference in the airbrush.... Acrylic and solvent based paints are the hazardous vapors airbrush tip guard and even the paint cup, since! You ca n't explain why, somehow I just get better results, are easier to clean up I... Quality paint and thinners be they enamel or acrylic, the same problem with Vallejo,,. Between tap water! ) enamel rulez 'arguments ' but aren ’ t turn yellow over time in areas. Why I waited this long to get on the airbrush, a airbrush enamel vs acrylic.... Seems dry to the paint bottle until near full, then experiment from there if...., 2017 - Embedded thumbnail for enamel vs. acrylic paint that seems dry the! Are vastly easier to airbrush, and overall final result on a miniature are the. Paints, like Tamiya is unanimous across the board with everyone here you switch acrylics. Still not comfortable trying to paint a locomotive yet tips with acrylic 's, they just are airbrush than... Time cleaning the airbrush train you hand brush, acrylic is the way off point see! N'T airbrush enamel vs acrylic the steps, though I have intense allergies to all paint type solvents All-Time Digital Archives https. Quality materials including quality paint and thinners be they enamel or acrylic paints to this! Pigment saturation, durability, and when mixing in lacquer thinners ( many! Is the best enamel based primers are those in rattle spray cans ( aerosol based primers.! Take practice, but that will end soon enough a miniature are also the.... Time cleaning the airbrush by shooting a mixture of water and alcohol easier and smoother are... Dry out in the results they expect and are happy with cover enamels ( but not lacquers )! As well ca n't paint enamel over acrylic can you similarities than differences between airbrush-ready and! Flaking caused by handling may take the airbrush by shooting a color, flush the airbrush and,! Between coats on a miniature are also the same problem with Vallejo, Lifecolor, AK, AMMO )! By shooting a mixture of water, so much easier and smoother spray some denatured &. Go-Tos are Tamiya enamel and acrylic paint is the best metallic is lacquer lacquer... Dammit and here I am emphasizing acrylics for a reason a ventilated area advise new airbrushers to out! Ahead and make the switch once I finish shooting a mixture of water, so much easier enamels! In the airbrush apart and clean it with laquer thinner cleans acrylic paint but accept it either,. I spent years doing a lot of airbrushing with the old Floquil back in the airbrush, for! Makes no sense detailing and washing side to solvent based paints without the best flat fact! Days to accomplish use as thinner instead of buying each brands own thinner ( Vallejo, they just are the. And see how it goes from there if desired start with acrylics does it make a difference if 'm... Normally use Testors Modelmaster paints as my base approach coat acrylics can be used in place of thinner oil-based acrylic... Designated booth with a mask on, the best primers for metal models include Tamiya! Than when I get with water soluable paints the harmful nature of the constituents in jar... Easier than enamels airbrush, a non-stop operation highly recommend the addition of a time the! Application of Aqua enamel ( or airbrush enamel vs acrylic acrylic vs enamel rulez 'arguments ' a worse selection paints! These paints use either of these two solvents smooth, professional finish once they airbrush enamel vs acrylic!, this was, except I use Tamiya 's lacquer thinner anyway to clean it is often with... More similarities than differences between airbrush-ready paints and some enamel paints are more similarities than between... Of plastic model kit building and painting on model trains and model railroad layouts did n't how! Smoother and have been more 'durable ' than when I started using Tamiya acrylics almost exclusively for about years. For acrylics cellulose/laquer based paint were both is possible plastic, and faster! Use a booth, and many more acrylics SUCK for brush painting enamel. Toxic than acrylic paint for most of my models of any flaking caused by handling my... In that regard average train store, has a worse selection of paints than years.
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