So, as I’m a returning to hobby I see acrylic paints plus other types are all the norm as I have my self started purchasing acrylics, I still have enamels from the past that are all ok. So, I’m just wondering if there are anyone today who still use enamels paints, and should I steer clear from them as I didn’t really have issues with them in past and are aware of the negatives such as smelly long to dry ETC also can they be use in air brush. Cheers
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Revell EMAIL colors are enamel and I’ve had good experiences with them.
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There are still the good old Testors 1/4 oz. square bottle to be found at certain stores. And Humbrol enamels, my personal favorites, can also be found at certain stores as well. Revell enamels, as mentioned above, are also available, but a bit harder to get here in the USA. And yes, I am a die hard user or enamels myself.
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They are still used, but have become increasingly difficult to find. Hopefully we will eventually get Tamiya’s line of enamels, as i have heard nothing but good things about them.
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HobbyLinc carries Testors little bottles and Revell enamels.
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Those square bottles press the nostalgia button HARD!!!
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Yes they can be airbrushed, quite beautifully I would add. You can bring up questions here at the forum as to the specifics of doing that when you get ready to try it. As usual though, you will get a bunch of opinions and personal preferences as to how to go about it.
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Acrylics, especially water-based acrylics (not all acrylics are water-based) are popular because they are relatively easy to use, and dry fast. They’re very popular with figure painters for that reason. You can use a wet palette when painting with them, which keeps them thinned to a consistent…consistency. They’re also not as noxious in terms of odors as enamels can be, or lacquers.
Tamiya’s acrylics, which are not water-based but alcohol-based, airbrush very well. Apparently they were designed specifically for airbrushing.
However, as others have noted, enamels are still used. You just need different solvents to use them. Though back in the day, there were water-soluable enamels that could be thinned with water or isopropyl. The old Pactra line had an acrylic enamel that was water-based! That makes some heads spin these days.
Best regards,
Brad
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The cabinet and furniture refinishers are using something similar these days, the paints generally are urethane alkyd or water soluble enamels. Generally sprayed on with HVLP guns or high end airless high pressure systems. I’ve used the Benjamin more Advance, which is one iteration, and it sprays beautifully from my LVLP guns, thinned just a little with water. Rustoleum has a water based enamel for cabinets and wood work. Also Rustoleum water based Bulls Eye 123 primer is awesome, sticks to about anything, tough, hard, paint grips it well, sprays great with about 15% water added.. Behr has a cabinet/wood work alkyd that’s water soluble. Then there are a host of all in one enamels, with primer and top coat in the paint, that some of the furniture folks seem to like. One favorite with the cabinet folks is is Emerald from Sherwin Williams or the PPG counter part to that ( a bit less expensive).
Some of this has trickled into craft paints. I haven’t seen it in hobby paints yet, not already formulated in one product at least. One could take the craft water based enamels and build on those though.
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I always mention that “acrylic” doesn’t mean “water-based” or “water-soluable” because so many members of our hobby today think that it does. And that’s natural, because of popular brands like Vallejo, Andrea, Reaper, Lifecolor, and the craft store brands (I use those, too). I believe it’s important to be clear in discussions on the subject, to help others avoid any troubles with their paint and solvents. A bit of paying it forward to others.
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It’s confusing as heck. That’s why I tend to stick with the brands I’m familiar with and rarely deviate.
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Same, and same brand for thinners and whatnot, the world of paint is overwhelming.
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Thanks all for your replies i will take this on board I may take both paths just to mix thing up .