Whats Your Prefered Paint Type?

[Shasper]

So, do you guys prefer Enamels or Acrylics? I'm firmly in the Acrylic camp (untill I get of my arse & buy an airbrush), and heres why:

A few years back Shas sr. had to start using a Vader mask in order to airbrush due to the fumes enamels are notorious for producing. Seeing as I havent been doing too much modelling over the last few yrs, I havent been messing around with enamels too much due to the current phase of Life I'm stuck in. When I've been able to model I'd use acrylics so I wouldnt fumegate my roomie too bad.

Well the other day I was starting paint on the wing of my USAF F-8F & the only dk. tan I had was in MM Enamel, so after doctoring it up I got on with the task at hand. I noticed after I got done that my head & sinuses were about to have a cow from the fumes (I am working in a well-ventilated area), so I took a hint & decided to make the jump to MM Acrylics as much as I can.


SHas B)

[Brian da Basher]

I use acrylics exclusively. I've always been comfortable with them as they were my primary medium when I did paintings. I love that they clean up with just water and no fumes or solvents necessary. I've tried Tamiya, Model Masters, Testors, and Polly Scale. Each brand is pretty good, but I'd rate most Polly Scale acrylics as the berst, although for some reason, Testors White seems to be the best white I've used yet. Polly Scale has quite a large range of colors and I find I'm often picking up something new from them when I visit the LHS.

Brian da Basher

[gooberliberation]

I've changed religions to acrylics, since they seem easier to deal with and are hopefully less toxic. I've only tried Polly Scale and Tamiya.

So far Polly Scale seems to take to paint brushing the best but I think I'll focus on Tamiya and Gunze for those easy to open plastic caps. (which reminds me, acrylic paint bottles that have crusted shut can be opened by dripping water under the cap, as opposed to thinner for enamels)

[Allan]

Me, I'm most comfortable with enamel, and flat enamel at that.

Allan in Canberra

[dragon]

I am very "old school" on this.  I use almost exclusively Testors Enamels.  I do use Tamiya, but only for specialized areas that don't exist in the Testors range, for example the clear colors (clear red, clear blue, clear yellow, smoke) for use with transparents.  I have never had any problems with the solvents since I use pipettes to deliver my thinner and paints to the very small air brush cup on my Paasche H.  
Besides, when I was much younger I used to work with worse stuff- Heptane, Isopropyl Alcohol, Acetone.  I figure I am probably in trouble already any way. B)  

[NARSES2]

I'm primarily an Acrylics man but use enamels when the colours I want arn't available  (French, Italian, Russian etc) when I'll use White Ensign

Chris

[Spey_Phantom]

i prefer (and always use) Enamel, prefering Silk Matt cause its the best paint to apply  B)  

[nev]

Shas - word of warning here.  There are 2 aspects to the inhalation of airbrush fumes.  Yes, you have to be wary of the solvent aspect with enamels, but the second is the issue of particulates.  When you spray, you are creating a fine mist of paint particles which if you breathe them in, will clog your lungs (eventually).  Its the same reason you should wear a dust mask if you're sanding wood, or knocking a wall down or, well anything that creates dust.

So my recomendation is, even when using acrylics, make sure you have adequate extraction/breathing protection.  Or both.



As for me, I'm still in the land of the brush painter (not long to go tho....) and I prefer Acrylics for a/c (the late Aeromaster being my favourite), but I much prefer enamels for painting figures.

[Scooterman]

I'm 95% Testors Enamels with a little Humbrol and Xtracolour thrown in (when I can get them/need them).  I HATE acrylics.  This will sound odd to most, but I can't get nice hand painting from them and airbrushing?  Forgetaboutit.  When I first got into modeling many moons ago I only had access to Testors so I guess I got use to using them and all their pitfalls...........

[nev]

Just to add (to these who aren't already aware) enamel paints will probly be banned within the EU in the next 2 years.  cf Hannants, Humbrol and Revell all releasing an acrylic range to "supplement" their enamels.

[Mossie]

I'm one of the few that hasn't made the jump to acrylics yet.  Main reason is, apart from Tamiya, I can only get hold of Humbrol & Revell locally.  It's not a problem mail ordering some, but when I need that one colour I can't just pop to my LHS & get a pot.  Also, I've used Humbrol since I started modelling so I'm a bit 'stuck in my ways', although I recentley got hold of few Tamiya pots to give them a try but I just haven't got around to it yet!

[SinUnNombre]

For me, it depends on the application. If I'm doing brush painting inside, I like to use acrylics for their lack of fumes and easy cleanup. But if I'm spraying, wether from a can or an AB, I prefer enamels. I spray outside in the open(or at least in the garage just inside the open door if its raining) so the fumes aren't as big of a deal. And it seems easier to get a smooth finish out of an enamel. Although, Testor's has come out with a brilliant two-stage lacquer system for car models with absolutely stunning results.

Jon

[lancer]

Mainly an enamel user, as that is what I've always used. Buit I do like Acrylics and am thinking of changing ocer to them at some point when finances permit. But, I will NEVER EVER use bloody Xtracolor paints again. I've just built the Tamiya Me109 for my brother and those dammed things almost eruined it!!!! I suppose that I'll end up using both Enamels and Acrylics

[anthonyp]

Enamel user here.  Testor's Model Master exclusively, though I've been contemplating switching to acrylics now that Testor's redid their formula a couple years back.  I used their acrylics when they came out years ago, and wasn't impressed.  I hand brush, and I like TMM for that.  Also, figuring out FS numbers is great with TMM since most have them on the bottle.

I have used Vallejo acrylics in the past, and was impressed by them, but they kind of gooped up while in the bottle.  Some of them did, that is, others seem to be just fine.  I got really nice results on my old gaming minis with Vallejo paints.

I've used other acrylics and enamels in the past, and none of the others really did it for me.  Like I said, I hand paint, though I have an airbrush that I got really nice result with in the past.  It's just a pain to use, since I airbrush outside (used to not have the room, now, I just don't like paint fumes inside).

[rafi]

I want to keep my nose clean as much as possible...

100% acrylics (Tamiya, Aircraft Colors, Gunze, Prince August) + mask.

Rafi