Can you use Artist Acrylic paint on plastic model kits?

[McColm]

Hi Guys,
The price of paint over in the United Kingdom is very expensive. Enamel being the expensive and Acrylic as a cheaper option. Which brings me to the question; can you use Artist Acrylic paints on plastic model kits?
I have used the acrylic paints from " Paint by Numbers" on plastic models and they seem to work if mixed with a little water or mixed together to create other tones or colours.
I was in my local Pound Shop and came across "Evolution7- acrylic colour paints". High quality, long lasting, hard wearing 6ml x 10 paint tubes.

Just wondering if anyone else uses these paints on there models or artist paints of another brand?

[Rick Lowe]

I've used Artist's Acrylics on 20mm figures; both for washes and full strength as a proper paint coat.
It worked well, but they did run when I tried to brush coat a matt varnish (I was using Gunze Sangyo varnish).

I think if you used a varnish specifically made to go over them you'd probably be ok.
(I have some matt varnish of the same type as the paint, but haven't been feeling lucky enough to try it yet...)

As a bonus, they dried to a semi-gloss which was a good effect for the particular figure.

I regularly use them as my washes and as mud on my 1/35 Armour and have had no problems, though I put them over the final matt coat.

FWIW, HTH

Cheers

[rickshaw]

Artist Acylics will work fine on a model if the model is properly cleaned and undercoated.  The paint requires something to adhere to.   Be careful of the varnishes though!  They may cause the paint to run!

[Dizzyfugu]

I've used artist acrylics on aircraft kits. It works, but there are issues:
- the underground needs to be fat-free
- a sanded/matt surface is a must if you paint more than just minute details
- paint viscosity and opacity can be an issue, esp. on large areas and if you use a brush. Airbrush application might be the best option

[McColm]

Thanks,
I'll use a scrap part first and see how that turns out.