There was a post that peaked my interest in the life color post. Different brands and paint types work best in different situations. Which brand and type of paint have you found over time to work best for a certain application? This could be helpful for those who are are not happy with the results they are getting or going to try something new. I will assume you use the manufacturers thinner unless noted.

I only did enamels years ago but when I got married I switched to acrylics because of the oder complaints. I guess I am quirky but I want my colors to be accurate. I want to start with the correct color.I do not want to have to mix colors to get the color I want. Every time I have to custom mix my own I end up with lots of paint left over that I probably won't use again. Odd thing is I don't mind changing the paints tonal quality or shade for shadow areas or highlights or sun fading. I like Tamiya but I often can't find the color I want. Life color has many of the colors I like but unfortunately no one company carries all the colors so I end up using Model Master, Tamiya and Life Color. Just a thought, if you have to buy 3 or 4 bottles of paint to make a color is that much different than buying a set?

However, in 2009, the LHS I worked at struck a contract with Hornby, and we started carrying the entire Humbrol line, enamels and acrylics. I bought about 15 tins of enamels(you are right, the can they come in is miserable). I was very disappointed to find they had changed the formulation to a point where the paint never really dried properly, was cool to the touch on the model days after painting and sticky-tacky

Vicious:

"...with a good matt base and when can an oven for ' drying you can 'have a fairly Matt finish..."

You put plastic models in the oven to dry them?????
I use Japan dryer.
I do agree with artist oils for figures. Particularly the face.

I bought a LifeColor Acrylic Flesh Set.
Terrible. Dries too quick to blend, or if you thin it, you have to put about 2-3 million coats.

Otherwise, Tamiya Acrylics, and Model Master Enamels. I actually held a Humbrol "tin" in my hand, but couldn't make the plunge.

I had neglected to put on my Big Boy Pants before I left home.

How do you keep the previous layers from lifting up?

For example, it I put on the a spot of the darkest color, then blend the next lightest shade, and so on. Most of the time, the paint is dry by the time I get to the next color, and the blending becomes almost like the tearing of a sheet of paper, and lifts the paint up.

I get blending, I just have never tried the tin coats to soften the transitions. But that Ice pallet is brilliant. I wonder where I could find one of those laying around?

Thanks for the info.

You ever read "On the Beach"?
You might want to start building that bunker now.

Spoiler alert-It doesn't have a happy ending.

Like our election.

I do like the fact that the Swiss let their soldiers take their weapons home after conscription.