Paints et for customising

[genkhrylov]

What paints do you use? It seems everyone uses acrylic on the boards, maybe it's an American thing? I use humbrol enamel myself. I'm going to give humbrol acrylic a go next week, and wondered.

Anyone here airbrush their stuff? I'm going to get back to that, as it's been years and I have a couple of new airbrushes. It'll be very bad and very messy at first no doubt.

Re the acrylic, do you just try paints and see what the colour is like? I have yet to see a good colour chart or colours made specific to a certain military colour in acrylic, other than the rlm colours (Luftwaffe). Maybe I just don't know where to look for these things in acrylic.

I hear acrylic's main advantage is dry time, but enamel has so many precise colours from history out there, from German camo colours, to napoleonic etc.

I'm going to give acrylic a go so I can test those paints on my new stuff for the coming shop, just so I know the answers to some questions about athe items holding acrylic, should I get asked.

What sealant do you use? Again, I use the sealant for enamel of course, from humbrol again (hangover from model building as a child).

The enamel paints hold very well, when sealed don't rub off at all, and actually add strength to the item painted.

Anyone very into their paints?

 

[K-Tiger]

Acrylics, as I've never known an enamel-based paint to stick to soft toy plastic. I use the cheap ones as they come in a rainbow of colors and I'm capable enough to work around the short-comings they possess. I do have a couple bottles of Testors Model Master and I've no complaints about them othere than price.

I don't seal, as there's really no point with acrylics if you're gonna be doing any post-paint posing.

 

[genkhrylov]

The seal on acrylic doesn't hold enough for posing? That's a bummer. My experience of enamel sealing is that it holds very well if done right. The enamel sticks well for me, I just stir for a long time, and leave each colour or coat overnight. I also clean the item in mentholated spirits first, which makes a very noticeable difference.

 

[Wry1]

I generally use Model Masters simply because that's what is available here. I almost never use the color right out of the bottle, mixing paints just seems a better route for me to get exactly the color I want.

i always use a matte sealer, it definitely helps against paint wear and chipping. as far as wear on the joints you gotta shave/sand the joints down prior to painting so the parts don't rub together, that's key.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Most use acrylic paints for painting action figures b/c enamel has a chemical reaction with the softer plastic used with action figures that causes it to stay tacky and never fully dry... From what I've read several times.

Enamel is definitely good for the harder plastic used on vehicles though.

 

[Meddatron]

Acrylics have a massive amount of colors too.
Testors Military colors
http://www.testors.com/category/137615/Military_Model_&_Hobby_Acrylics
All Testors colors
http://www.testors.com/category/136649/Acryl_Paints
Model Masters colors
http://www.testors.com/category/136645/Acryl_Paints

 

[Mswi]

Most use acrylic paints for painting action figures b/c enamel has a chemical reaction with the softer plastic used with action figures that causes it to stay tacky and never fully dry... From what I've read several times.

Enamel is definitely good for the harder plastic used on vehicles though.

This, I started out using enamels though, all those beginning customs are gone, but I remember how they stayed tacky for long after and it can actually melt the softer plastic. great for vehicles and transformers but for action figures not so much

Personally never use sealers, 1 be cause I don't play with my customs, 2nd I sand and glue protect the joints so paint wear is minimal. 3rd if your not careful you can use too much in an area and obscure all the detail you worked so hard on to paint.

 

[genkhrylov]

Thanks, lots of useful info. I'll give acrylics a whirl and see. I am attached to certain colours and their numbers though, like the colour combo I figured for klmk light and the tan version.

 

[unclassified]

if you choose to use testors, you will see a white glare on thepaint button. the duller glare is flat, the bright white glare means semi gloss. so you know if you are buying the color you want, it will be flat and not find out it's gloss and you figure looks like michael jackson's red coat.

 

[BL4CK5H33P]

I use Testors Model Masters, but, am gettin' set to re-up my supplies & am considerin' pickin' up some Citadel colors... I also only use Life Touch brand for my fleshtones... it has a very soft finish (not the dried hardness, but, the actual "flat" look - very skinlike) & I got an airbrush kit from my in-laws for Christmas & have been dabblin' w/ it some off & on tryin' to get comfortable w/ it...