Model Painting 101

[Jarhead0331]

Starting a new thread so questions and answers are all in one easily findable place...

Question number 1:

Acrylic or enamel? When I was a kid building models. I always used Testor enamel paint, but I guess that is just because I didn't know any better and it was pretty easy to find. I already have some of the little Testor enamel bottles, but I'm not against starting over with acrylics if that is what the crowd thinks is best.

Thanks!

[undercovergeek]

Starting a new thread so questions and answers are all in one easily findable place...

Question number 1:

Acrylic or enamel? When I was a kid building models. I always used Testor enamel paint, but I guess that is just because I didn't know any better and it was pretty easy to find. I already have some of the little Testor enamel bottles, but I'm not against starting over with acrylics if that is what the crowd thinks is best.

Thanks!

I'm an acrylic fan only because as a kid I remember enamel been thick and gloopy

Overall I'm a a simple wash fan - never had a 'paint' on my desk just 100s of washes

They take care of all the shading and highlighting all by themselves

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

Acrylics.  Far more plentiful than enamel and with a much broader colour range. They're non-toxic, far easier on your brushes, and are easier to strip if you decide you want a do-over.  Only downside compared to enamels is they aren't as durable.

[Jarhead0331]

Question 2:

Any favored brand of acrylic paint?

Tamiya? Vallejo? Army Painter?

[undercovergeek]

Question 2:

Any favored brand of acrylic paint?

Tamiya? Vallejo? Army Painter?

Unless there was a colour I couldn't find I was strictly a citadel man

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

Im a big fan of the 3rd gen paints from AK Interactive. Avoid their quick gen speedpaints though. They're hard to work with.   Vallejo woukd be my number 2, especially if you're looking for military colours.  Their quality has slipped  bit recently.  Some kerfuffle about being taken over by a hedge fund or something.

I like the ArmyPainter speedpaints, but they aren't well-suited to painting large, flat surfaces.  I hear good things about their new Fanatic range but supposedly they aren't beginner-friendly if you aren't familiar with undershading, layering, and highlighting.

I avoid Citadel paints myself.  Too expensive and their bottle and lid design are pretty frustrating.

[JudgeDredd]

I've only used Tamiya and Vallejo acrylics. I like them both

[Con]

Vallejo is great - plus there are several starter kits out there that get you all the key ones you need for certain models (fantasy, German armor, Russian etc)
I have a love/hate relationship with citadel, their paint pots are rage-inducing but they have a great range, a very good app that allows you to see the right paint for highlights and washes to achieve different effects and a great range of contrast (speed) and washes.  I do like the ability to put steel ball bearing easily into the pots to use with the mixers/shakers to really stir the paint up.
I am not as familiar with AK interactive but at my hobby store there are a bunch of people who swear by them - I have some of their metallics and they seem OK
If I was starting out right now I would focus on some of the Vallejo kits (A modern navy link is below)
https://acrylicosvallejo.com/en/product/hobby/sets/air-war-en/us-navy-and-usmc-colors-from-70s-to-present-71155/

[Jarhead0331]

I went to one of my local shops today and walked out with a bunch of Tamiya acrylic bottles. They were onsale for only $2.25 each and since i bought more than twelve, the owner threw in a couple bottles for free too. I also went with Tamiya because the color names were simple and they were easy to match with the chart from my kit.

I was looking at the Vallejo selection and almost went with them too. Maybe I'll try them for the next build.

I checked out the Citadel lines too, but the names are all over the place and I didn't feel like guessing. They were also like $6-$7 a bottle too.

I got some more brushes and some puddy. I'm ready to go. Will probably start painting this week. Fingers crossed!

[JudgeDredd]

I went to one of my local shops today and walked out with a bunch of Tamiya acrylic bottles. They were onsale for only $2.25 each and since i bought more than twelve, the owner threw in a couple bottles for free too. I also went with Tamiya because the color names were simple and they were easy to match with the chart from my kit.

I was looking at the Vallejo selection and almost went with them too. Maybe I'll try them for the next build.

I checked out the Citadel lines too, but the names are all over the place and I didn't feel like guessing. They were also like $6-$7 a bottle too.

I got some more brushes and some puddy. I'm ready to go. Will probably start painting this week. Fingers crossed!

Exciting times.

I maybe should have said - sorry it's late, though I think I mentioned it in another post somewhere - I use Tamiya and Vallejo with my airbrush. I do hand brush with them - but only small parts/figures mostly.

I'm sorry - but I think when you start hand painting with Tamiya, you'll quickly be on here asking about airbrushes 

Just sayin' - I can't imagine Tamiya having the viscosity required to hand brush a big model like that.

[Jarhead0331]

I went to one of my local shops today and walked out with a bunch of Tamiya acrylic bottles. They were onsale for only $2.25 each and since i bought more than twelve, the owner threw in a couple bottles for free too. I also went with Tamiya because the color names were simple and they were easy to match with the chart from my kit.

I was looking at the Vallejo selection and almost went with them too. Maybe I'll try them for the next build.

I checked out the Citadel lines too, but the names are all over the place and I didn't feel like guessing. They were also like $6-$7 a bottle too.

I got some more brushes and some puddy. I'm ready to go. Will probably start painting this week. Fingers crossed!

Exciting times.

I maybe should have said - sorry it's late, though I think I mentioned it in another post somewhere - I use Tamiya and Vallejo with my airbrush. I do hand brush with them - but only small parts/figures mostly.

I'm sorry - but I think when you start hand painting with Tamiya, you'll quickly be on here asking about airbrushes 

Just sayin' - I can't imagine Tamiya having the viscosity required to hand brush a big model like that.

I appreciate that, but I'm not too concerned. I'm not expecting this model to look like something Michaelangelo painted. I'm more focused on the journey and using this build to see how best to approach various aspects of the hobby. A lot of learning through trial and error to see what works and what doesn't.

we all know it's only a matter of time before I get an airbrush though. If my experience turns out to be anything like what you say in your post, there is a good chance I'll have one before this model is even finished!

[Jarhead0331]

By the way...these are the kits I have my eye on:

https://www.amazon.com/Iwata-Airbrushes-Gravity-Airbrush-IWAIW120/dp/B01J4GTIUI/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OO4GWD7NU2F2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AYwR_cXoRMq5ErCa9etskJIFV2hMHfA1JwVVfTwhHbI5iDl9MlbR8fhuke2Q-gN2wi-cMbrI1n-vzsYLVbPp-g9xJ7tLkEbx3iARgEZxBQT7hRFW38EhY9w0xFPPn88t91SKi2Vo0bGqVB0Eou6O1YNsMyg-tleHKJEm_17mKx2YuSMoqcmO99GdSV43TAbwbDbgEb8VE-9uOkpggW_hOzcN9aGxjWyOiqsGWGl-bgSWrgJbPk4CTj7eHVNjL68C5A9c-1dgNLUfDHTyul4d2ZH-cmRp7HDFdttFZoLsH1o.o054qXC_B04V_UV97g3HFl_9pWjjuOJxINXDAQp7nHA&dib_tag=se&keywords=Iwata+neo&qid=1753101711&sprefix=iwata+neo%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Airbrush-ABD-KIT-WBFP-16-20-Professional/dp/B00HEU9EUG/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?crid=1XAW1XXSZUTSC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.WvmLYVRXIzr-HSroEbGTxV2t0omSMYa1Z9iTNv0gBAybhJCJiOmvKzWXQpR_Zzq_En0OWKsm8rPVyMfOCPsiM9jIZ2SUlvFLp44WEA1LJwdDsJJyX7u8f1DTBYG3cEH_Qba3JZ8c4YG75IbDAlan-0AqJ2PEr1iTaB7IH1jc-5r3calL1Ur3YCswvBxcMc6UOSzq1R8LRI1CBXPbd1BVEIZxqaf3Zgd-duv0HzXUTcLs4n6M0pLpNfK9e_K605vIbJvqLc7KtB4aEF3kxQVb3DoyBUMzQBn5lDN8OQC2bVI.wfm3RNhfLEwMlMvbrX93FE0CI3oM_xB33tMAzcOcVwA&dib_tag=se&keywords=Master+airbrush&qid=1753101791&sprefix=master+airbrush%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-3-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

[JudgeDredd]

I appreciate that, but I'm not too concerned. I'm not expecting this model to look like something Michaelangelo painted. I'm more focused on the journey and using this build to see how best to approach various aspects of the hobby. A lot of learning through trial and error to see what works and what doesn't.

we all know it's only a matter of time before I get an airbrush though. If my experience turns out to be anything like what you say in your post, there is a good chance I'll have one before this model is even finished!

I felt pretty guilty about not mentioning I use Tamiya and Vallejo with my airbrush - that was all.

It's looking good. And I understand seeing all the little bits and pieces that don't quite go together being like "urgh"...but the models always look great just sitting there.

I'm just glad You're taking part in this great hobby. 

[JudgeDredd]

You can't really go wrong with Iwata.

I have a Neo TRN1 which was my little workhorse - but something has gone wrong with it recently. It has a trigger (like a gun trigger) rather than a push down/pull back trigger. It was very easy to hold and paint and particularly to control airflow/paint distribution.

Because it's not working properly, though, I recently bought an Iwata Eclipse which is proving an excellent choice.

The airbrushes that come with the compressors are never "all that great"...however, they could be ok for learning. I kept the one that came with my compressor and sometimes I'll use it to spray primer when I use it (not often mind).

Anyway - however the paint goes with this, I'm looking forward to seeing it on your shelf or windowsill.

[Jarhead0331]

^The thing I like about the Master Airbrush kit is that it comes with three different brushes and a lot of paint. However, I hear that Iwata is generally better quality, even on the lower end of the beginner spectrum.

Will the tiny Neo compressor be sufficient? I've read some people complaining about the lower PSI. The Master Airbrush compressor seems more...you know..."compressory"?