What does everyone use? Been thinking of switching.

I used to use enamel, but recently switched to acrylic.

I am far from being a specialist on paints but I use acrylics as its easier to clean up afterwards.

I think I read that enamels are especially useful when painting figures...

I'm using enamels, they work fine. I'm thinking of giving acrylics a try though for base colors.

Steve, try it.. you have to see for yourself wether you'll like it or not. Enamels usually dry a bit slower than the Acrylics, so you have more time to manipulate them for blending, shading, feathering... Oils dry even slower and I've heard some people like to put their models in an owen to speed up the curing process

There is just one rule when selecting the type of the paint... the best paints are those which work the best for you.

Mario M.

I prefer enamels but use acylics occasionally

Each type of paint have slightly different appearence. I just used both enamels and acrylics for my white death to give a contrast between the snow coat and pants. Pants are painted with very flat finish enamels and the coat with Citadel acrylics.
And if you have high quality aquarelle colours (in tubes) , the very fine pigment gives a nice touch for faces when you apply a very thin wash. I don´t mean qouache but real watercolour.
Just try it out, some colours work well also using them together...

Toni

I enjoy acrylics myself, don't like the mess and the smell of enamels. I find them easier to airbrush too...

I am converting to acrylics. Tried the Tamiya brand and they are superb. Easy to use, easy to clean-up afterwards. Does anyone have some tips for airbrushing with acrylics?
thanks
DJ :-)

I prefer acrylics. I got tired of the smell of enamels. Acrylics are easier to clean up, too.
While we're sort-of on the topic; when airbrushing, with a compressor, using acrylics, how fume-y is it? (that's not a word) Like, how smelly does the air get?

YodaMan

Yoda.
The acrylics doesn't smell that bad (I use Tamiya).
The thing is that if you get acrylic particles in your lungs the body can't get rid of those so it will build up more and more.
Therefor you should use a mask even when airbrushing with acrylics.
I don't know how much you need to spray for it to bee really dangerous but why take the chanse.

Thord

I use acrylics only now. With the selection of colors available, ease of use, clean-up, I like em a lot better than enamals. I use Tamiya's and mostly Model Masters. Been thinking of trying out LifeColor's line of paints. Soon.

I use manufacture's suggested thinners to rubbing alcohol, and windshield washer fluid for thinning.Get the paint to the consistency of lowfat milk. Spray between 10 - 20 psi.
Not as fumey as enamels- BUT, as with anything that gets airborn from an airbrush, use plenty of ventilation!!!
Even a mask is a good idea.

Alrighty then! A mask and adequite ventalation it is!

YodaMan
Call me 'Mr. Safety' you may

I use Model Master enamels mainly because I've been using them for over a decade and have an ample supply of them. I have tried Tamiya acrylics and they are good paints. I do use acrylics to detail paint over the enamels, that way the detail paints do not effect the enamel undeneath.

In answer to your question Salt6, it all depends upon many factors.
What I'm painting
At what stage am I painting said subject
What look am I going for
etc, etc, etc, blah, blah, blah....

Rob touched on it briefly, when he mentioned painting acrylics over enamels. That's a good practice, especially if the drying time on the enamel has been short.
Personally, and I may be 'splitting hairs' here, I find that a good quality oil paint has the best pigmentation (colour saturation). Enamels coming in second, and acrylics next. Since we are for the most part painting armour vehicles and not Rembrandt's, all of the above mentioned paints are more than enough quality for our needs.
Figure painters will gravitate to the enamels and oils for their superior richness over acrylics. As will standard painters of landscapes and such on canvas.
For a base colour on a tank I will generally use an enamel paint (Humbrol, because of their vast array of available colours right out of the can). Almost everything else on top of that will be acrylics. The only exception will be the oils I use for my washes. I revert back again to acrylics for any dry-brushing duties.
This multimedia exercise works for me. :-)

Tread.

Oops,....sorry, one little Post Script.
The reason I use oils for my washes are because of the amazing amount of control it gives you, the 'working' or drying time is extended so you can fine tune your 'look' or even completely erase what you've done and start over. And finally, once again IMHO, it adds both a richness to the acrylic under paint, and a 'depth' to the whole project. Giving the model a better sense of scale without going to the potential extreme of Over Highlighting your model. The affect is incredibly subtle and just 'looks' right to the eye.
Hope that makes sense.....don't want to 'ZEN' out again

Tread.

It'd be a downright shame if the Avs lost to the Kings tonight in game 7......

YodaMan
GO RED WINGS!!! GO GO GO!!!
THE AVS WILL BE BURIED!!!... FORGOTTEN IN THE FIRST ROUND! HA HA HAAAAAAA!!!!!!

Is anyone using alcohol to distill their airbrushing acrylics ?
thanks
DJ

I use both, and oils too.
I only brush paint.

I find oils are nice for small areas, Humbrol enamels are good for dead-flat surfaces, and acrylics won't kill you like the others!

I do most of my armor painting with acrylics. I find Pollyscale paints leave a nice finish, and brush marks are not a problem. For figures, I find enamels and oils lead to fewer mistakes.

And, you Western Conference types are just going to have to get used to the fact that Saku is back, and les glorieux will rule again!

You guys are totally crazy...

Mario M.

Maki---Go New York Islanders......run, Baby
DJ

GO SHARKS!!!!!!!!!
Uh, where was I? Oh yeah, I use enamels and oils for washes.

BC--do you airbrush with acrylics? If so, what do you mix the paint with to spray?
thanks
DJ

For airbrushing with acrylics, you can use water for thinning. Specificaly, distilled water. I remember hearing something about using alcohol with acrylics, but I don't know where.

YodaMan
AVS ARE BAD!!! WINGS ARE GOOD!!! RED WINGS WILL WIN!!!!!

I don't use acrylics. I don't even airbrush yet. Getting the C/H compressor shortly and then an Aztek 4709 a/b.

Oh yeah......GO SHARKS!!!