Sell me on your favorite brand of paint

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

I aught to point out I 100% brush-paint, using acrylics.

I know paint choice is a personal preference. When I painted figures, I used Citadel paints (that was many a year ago.) I’ve been using Vallejo Model Color for the last little bit. However, I’m finding that I’m not getting the longevity out of the lighter colors. My whites, yellows, and some of the beiges have air bubbles which make the paint really thin. And, when I turn over some of the metalics, I find that the pigment and liquid have almost totally separated. I really like their bottles, and I like working with the darker colors.

I’ve tried some Model Master master paints. I’ve never used Tamiya paints.

What do you like, and why? I’m starting to try different brands but if there are any known pitfalls, I’d like to find out in advance.

Thanks a bunch.

2

Benjamin Moore is the best, followed by Sherwin Williams. Oh, wait, that’s for painting houses…

3

I thought Behr was the best? [:D]

Seriously though, I use Tamiya acrylics and love it.

4

If you’re getting air bubbles, it may be a question of technque rather than a failing of the paint itself.

It’s also worth noting that all model paints settle and separate to an extent - again, nothing to do with the brand.

It doesn’t matter what brand of paint you use, always stir well to ensure that the paint is thoroughly mixed before starting to paint. With Vallejo Modelcolor in particular, Shake well and when you think you’ve shaken it too much, shake it some more. Note that with the Vallejo “dropper bottles” you can easily pop the dropper insert out to stir the paint if you wish to stir rather than shake.

It almost sounds like you are painting just with the liquid that sits on top of the pigment after it’s settled. If you’re not mixing the paint thoroughly before starting to paint, please refer to the paragraph above.

As much as I like Tamiya’s acrylics, which i’ve used for over 30 years, I much prefer Vallejo ModelColor for brush painting.

5

I used to like the old Polly Scale line, but I haven’t seen them in a long time. Last one I hand brushed, I used Model Master enamels.

6

I’ve been told that it is better to mix by rolling the paint like Vallejo instead of shaking them.

7

I didn’t really see I could pop those dropper-bottle tops off. I’ll give it a whirl.

That would solve the bubbles problem, though.

Thanks for the Vallejo advice!

8

rolled, not shaken? … that sounds a bit over the top.

9

By the way, just to update…I popped the top off and stirred them well. Wow. Night and day improvement.

Thanks for all the tips/suggestions.

10

i find stirring (Tamiya) acrylic the best, and if i’m brushing it, thinning it with isopropyl alcohol…just sayin’

11

Good to hear you’re getting a handle on the Vallejos. Once you get used to them, they’re one of the best paints avaliable for brush painting. [Y]

I find that the lighter colours actually have more “body” than the darker ones and actually need a little thinning for smooth finishes.

I do like Tamiya’s acrylics for airbrushing though.

12

Have used Testors Model master for years but my favorite is Tamiya . And I still have a bottle of Pactra with 35 cents factory stamped on the cap!

13

I still have some small square bottles of Testor’s enamels with “15 Cents” printed on the labels! Don’t think I’ll use them! I think they’re older than most of the people on this forum!

14

Chuck, I think I may still have one or two of those as well. They were most likely bought between 1965 and 1968. Ya know, I bet the paint would still be viable too, if the caps have been tightened down. Oh, that paint would surely need some thinner (and how!) but it would still work. Man, you gotta love that old enamel from “back in the day”. Who knows what was in it, but it sure worked good!

Gary

15

I would have to look, but I bet I still have some of those somewhere. And those Testor’s brushes too. I can almost picture the box that they are probably packed away in.

That’s a trip down amnesia lane.

16

what do you use to thin Vallejo to thin them for brush painting? what about thinning them for ABing?

17

I’ve switched almost entirely to Mr. Color paints. If you get the thinner right, they go on with a beautiful, smooth finish. They dry almost instantly, and are very resistant to scratching and pulling up with tape. I particularly like their metallics for the very fine particulates.

The downside is they pretty much have to be thinned and retarded with “leveling thinner” even for hand brushing, and if you get the mix wrong you get spiderwebs. The smell is bad, so a mask and ventilation is a must. Also a bit expensive and hard to find in stock.

Hand brushing can be tricky, but then I have trouble brushing with Tamiya paints, too.

18

I was just about to start a thread on brush painting and then I saw this thread. I have an airbrush but it is packed away as the house I am in (a flip) is small and I will not have a dedicated space to model until I buy my next place in a year or so. I am using my computer desk now to build on and have a few questions about brush painting as this is all I am able to do in the small space available.

I have the full line of Tamiya acrylics, Model Master acrylics / enamels and Humbrol paints at my LHS. Which of the 3 would be my best option for brush painting? I have used exclusively Tamiya in the past for air brush and small brush work.

Also, which brushes do you guys prefer. I do have Winsor & Newton brushes available along with Humbrol branded brushes and the other typical no name brushes.

19

To thin vallejo I use their own thinner for brush painting, for airbrushing you can use Future, Windshield washer fluid, Vallejo Thinner or a drop of Liquitex Flow Aid. I only airbrush the Vallejo Model Air Series as I can’t get the VMC to behave regardless of the thinner I use.

As far as brush painting goes, I like Humbrol enamels and Vallejo model color. Humbrol is cheap but you have to mix it up good or it won’t dry properly and will stay sticky on the surface.

20

I’m glad you posted this. I just bought an Off White VMC to try to airbrush! My local hobby shop does NOT carry the Air paints. So…maybe I should net even try? I have a Badger 360 AB.