Hi, I was actively building models when I was a teenager back 15-20 years ago but haven’t done much since I moved to Toronto. When I lived in Korea, I could walk to 4-5 different hobby shops and grab cheap Academy kits and paints. Nothing really here in Toronto.
So, I just acquired an airbrush set (GREX GCK02) for my custom cake business and decided to get back to the model as well. Also purchased an Iwata HP-CS just for the model.
I want to start building but I don’t have any paint…well have 20 year old paints that totally dried up.
Went to Micheals to see some paint and got a Testors matt paint kit, but I might return. I hear they make Acrylic paint for models now, so not too sure which direction I want to go to. Probably stick with enamel.
Which brand of enemal should I go for? I think I’ve seen Tamiya and Model Master. Can I still use lighterfluid to clean/dilute enamel? lol
This is my current stock purchased over last 20 years.
Boxes I’ve saved
SU-27 I build when I was 13 I think.
Used this to spreay. The can only lasted for sometime, so I used portable butane bottles($1 per can?) Had to hold the connector with one hand, and shoot with on hand, lol
I never heard of thinning enamels with lighter fluid. The best method would be using the manufactures thinner.
Nice collection you got there. As far as preferred paints, well that’s a long story. Work with what you’re used to for now. Both Testors and Tamiya are excellent paint manufactures. Acrylics have become very popular and I will sometimes use a mix between enamel acrylic and lacquer depending on the effect I’m looking for or what I have in stock at the time.
I would suggest getting an air compressor. It will pay for itself in no time. I found the one I have been using for years on eBay for $20.
Ditto on what steve said above. Use what you’re used to. As you really get into the swing of things, you can try one of the newer paints and see if you like it or not. Acrylics are “the in thing” now because they are easy to use, thin with distilled water and clean up with windex window cleaner. No strong odor.
Hi Elation, Is Hamilton close enough? You mentioned nothing in Toronto as for hobby shops? I sometimes go to http://www.wheelswingshobbies.com/index.php/staff They have a nice selection of everything. I dont know what area of T.O. you live in but here is WWHs address:1880 Danforth AveToronto, ON.
Also, In march here in Hamilton we have Heritage Con model show & sale at the Warplane Heritage Museum at the Hamilton Airport & IPMS Hamilton & Toronto. Hope this helps.
Welcome elation! Yeah, a lot has changed (for the better) in 20 years. LOL! As for the paint. I use Tamiya acrylics. Easy clean up, a bit better then enamels health wise. I still use the enamels, but only for hand painting right now. Try them all and see what works for you.
My [2cnts]. I always use primer before paint now to show up any imperfections and to provide an even color base for the main color. I used to spray Vallejo Model Air Acryllics over the plastic without any primer. Sometimes a putty filled seam would show through and when painting camo, pulling the tape off between colors would sometimes take some of the paint with it. Don’t have these problems any more.
If you ask these questions in the paint section of these forums, I think you will get a lot more responses. Hope that this helps.
I used to use spray can 1/1 sandable (lacquer based) auto primer but it is no longer available around here. I’m still looking for a good all around primer but so far Vallejo Model Air acrylic primers are doing the job pretty well. A couple of minor paint pull-up occasions when doing camo even with blue painters tape that I stuck to my arm a few times to lessen the stickiness. Could have been caused by the old body oil coming off the fingers that I didn’t get off when cleaning the parts.
