Hello all, another new guy getting back into modeling after 15 years away from it (as a kid). I have only done one model since I started again, a Revell F-18, some of which required white paint. I bought/use Testors Model Master acrylics, mostly because that’s the majority of the paint sold in my local hobby store, so even when I was modeling as a kid, that’s just what I always bought. Thing is about that white or silver colors, they seem to be very thin and watery, requiring multiple coats to actually build up the color, and this is brushing them on, no airbrush. Is this what happens with white or silver colors? Am I doing something wrong? Recommend a different paint or technique. Thanks for helping out.
Assuming you’ve thoroughly stirred them when you opened the jar, firemedic, you may just be finding that the lighter colors have less pigment to them than darker colors, therefore they look thinner. I’ve found this with several different brands of pale colors. I’m not sure if enamels behave differently, I don’t really use them. Typically, it’s just several layers to build up to that white or silver color. One solution is a rattle can (spray can) of white or pale primer, as you are not air brushing. Personally, with an airbrush, I make a few passes with my pale colors. I don’t know how well that would work with a paint brush, but priming with a pale color may help.
Any light color acrylic takes several coats. Even airbrushing, light colors of any type of paint usually requires more than one coat.