First build in 20 years

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Hi gang. I am trying to build a 1-48 scale F-18 my sons fav plane. The last time I build a plane was with my dad some 20 years ago.

I need some help. What types of paints do you use for a aribrush gun? and which brands do most of you like to use?

2

First Welcome to the forums.

What kind of airbrush do you have? I know with mine, a Badger 200, I can use whatever kind of paint is on hand, I use both acrylic and Enamel.

Whats a better question is do you have an airbrush that is gravity feed, or syphon feed? do you attach the bottle, or do you pour the paint into a cup.

If its a cup, as long as it is thinned properly (the consistancy of milk) you will be fine, just keep it clean. If it uses the bottle being attached you have to make sure you get paint with the right size of bottle that will fit. I have two adapters for mine, one that attached to Model Masters Enamels and Tamiya Acrylics

3

Hello,

First off Welcome to the forum, and back to the hobby. I use either Poly Scale, or Model Master Acryl in my Badger 150.

Rick

4

Welcome to the Forums [snWcm]. For paint, it really depends on whether you prefer enamels or acrylics. I use both, but mostly ModelMaster enamels. For acrylics, Tamiya is hard to beat except for the rather limited color selections.

Regards, Rick

5

Thanks for the warm welcome. I guess I would like to know what is more forgiving on a rookie painter and modeler?

6

I’d say acrylics since you can basically just wipe them off with water and try again. I’m thinking of switching to acrylics for that very reason.

7

Even when dry, you can remove most acrylics easily using denatured alcohol without affecting the plastic in the kit.

8

Tamiya’s selection isnt THAT limited, you need to know where to look, and even then its easy to mix their colors together, I have gotten some amazing results mixing their colors

9

Hi, NavyChris, welcome!

I’ll second Smeagol on Tamiya paints. Actually, I’ve read that their paints are actually formulated for airbrush use, and that’s why some folks have some trouble brushing them on.

As for where to find them, I’d go right to their US website, http://tamiyausa.com/ I’ve ordered paint directly from Tamiya, when my local hobby shop doesn’t carry specific colors that I need (I want to support the LHS, which is a Hobbytown, but when their supplier can’t get the paint for 6 weeks, and I can order it and receive it in three days, I usually go for the faster delivery).

Tamiya also has a range of rattle-can colors for aircraft modeling, including WWII colors for the major combattants, as well as modern USAF/USN/USMC colors. If you go to their site, you can see what’s available.

Gunze-Sangyo has an extensive catalog of colors, too, and their products are available through many online outlets. Theirs are also formulated for airbrushing, if I am not mistaken.

Welcome back to the hobby, and I’m sure your boy is going to enjoy working on the kit with you, as much as you enjoyed working on yours with your dad.

Best regards,

Brad

www.agapemodels.com - Check it out!

10

Welcome back to the hobby, NavyChris! Recent returnee myself.

With paint you’ve got several options.

Easiest to find locally and perhaps the most forgiving is going to be Model Master Enamels. These thin down with laquer thinner, paint thinner, or mineral spirits.

Model Master also makes an acrylic line called Acryl. Personally, I haven’t had the best experience with these, but I’ve read others have.

Next up I’d say Tamiya acrylics. I actually ended up switching to these from MM enamels midway through my first build back. Thinned properly (I’m shooting at a ratio of about 40% paint, 60% Tamiya thinner), the stuff sprays like liquid silk. Color selection IS limited, but for the low-vis gray of an F-18, I don’t think that’d be a problem. Tamiya paints can be thinned with isopropyl alcohol, denatured alcohol, or laquer thinner and cleaned up with Windex.

I’ve just started trying to get a handle on Lifecolor acrylics, but can’t recommend them for ease of use just yet. They’re wholly water based and can be thinned with distilled water, but they spray like water, too. They’re also not easy to find locally.

There’s Vallejo as well. I’ve only used their paints for some brush work, but I’ve heard they airbrush reasonably well.

Still, in your situation, I’d recommend going with either Model Master Enamel or Tamiya acrylic. Both spray well and tend to be relatively forgiving.

11

I agree.

12

Actuially, Tamiya Acrylic is the most forgiving, and I find it alot easier to use and if you shop online its easier to get

13

thanks for all of the imput. Now i just need to find an air brush kit to get. I had been offered an aztec airbrush but it looked way to used. any suggustions. Thanks again for all the input

14

have whoever offered it to you give you a demo of it working or not.

15

If there is a Michael’s or an AC Moore near you, snag one of their 40% or 50% off coupons…I know that the AC Moore near me sells Iwata airbrushes, and the Michael’s sells Badger…

16

THAT ^^ is a good idea! I may do that myself to get a 2nd AB thats a gravity feed.

I will say though, old ABs arent bad ones. Mine is beat to crap and it works more or less fine, no real issues