Well, this is my virgin post, so I will do a quick introduction. I built scale models the better part of my teen and into college. I primarily have built 1/48 scale WW2 aircraft. Reciently, we moved into a rent house, and my current hobby of model rail roading has taken a back seat due to lack of space, and the fact we are moving in a year. So I decided to pick up the CA, and a Tamyia kit, and do something constructive.

Now for my question: I have noticed that buying enamel paints at my LHS is hit or miss. sometimes I get a good bottle, and sometimes I don't. I reciently bought a bottle of Model master Zinc Green. The paint fresh out of the bottle was thick, went on like paste, and dried to a glossy finish. Is this just old paint? or am I doing something wrong. The cockpit I did looks terrible, so I am going to give it a break fluid bath, and start again, this time with acrylic.

On the subject of acrylics, around my parts, we don't have a LHS that caters to plastic modlers. If I want acrylics, I have to mail order them. I talked to the LHS owner, and he told me that Testors has discontinued their Model master acrylic line is this true? I just wish I lived near a shop that carried Polly Scale!
--C. Alan

Hi CAlan, first of all, welcome to the best modeling site in the world! About your question, did you use thinner on your enamel? If so, the problem could be that you thinned the paint too much - that happend to me before. Also, did you use a brush or an airbrush? I had problems brushing on paint, but with an airbrush everything was fine.

About your other question. I have heard nothing about Model Master cancelling their Acryl line, it would really be a shame. One problem that I had with their acrylics is that they are sometimes too thinned down to be usable. Three of the paint I bought were so thinned that when I airbrushed them, the paint just ran off the model, so beware.

Poly Scale are great paints!

Take care, Paul

Hello CAlan,
First off welcome to Armorama!

As for your paint quesion, here is what I do:

Enamels tend to be pretty thick so always make sure to mix it very well, I usually stir it but some people add copper BB's and shake.

I also thin the paint slightly, using a few drops of mineral spirits or what not. This helps thin out the paint and won't give you a thick mess to work with.

Hope this helps,

Sean

Welcome CAlan,
Just another thought to throw your way. Have you ever ordered anything on line. Plenty of places you could buy paint and have them sent to you. I use Vallejo paints and can only buy them on line.

I will try to thinning the paint out with some mineral spirits. I use a combination of brushing and airbrushing when I paint. I try not to use the enamel in my airbrush unless it is last resort. I don't like the clean up. I reciently bought a new airbrush, the badger 350. I could have gotten the interal mix brush, but the 350 looked a whole lot more like my old brush I used in high school, and it works just as well.

I have had the problem of acryics not sticking to part in the past, but not lately. My solution was to simply spray a coat of gray enamel primer on the the model, then go back with my acrylic.

Thanks for the suggestions!

hi welcome to the site.
before u use the paint make sure u stir it really well,
with a tooth pick or cut up a old clothes hanger for stiring sticks, then if the pain is it thick it has 2 be
thinned just a little bit,
what happned with your paint is all the flat pigments
where not stired thats why it dryed glossy

Welcome to Armorama

That gloss problem happened once to me too. The reason was already said, I didn't stir the paint, so I had a nice little shiny Tiger tank :-) Well, I stired the paint well and tried one more time...guess what? No more shiny paint job.
Well, just stir or shake or do both and your problem will surely go away.

Enjoy....

I also believe that if enamels turn out too glossy, that they are not stirred properly. They need a really good stirring and then some. All the pigment in the bottom needs to be mixed in.
On the other hand, I dont worry too much about a gloss finish, as I shoot a future coat and the whole model is shiney before weathering. this also helps with decals. A good matt coat after does the trick.
But is important to have paint that is too thick as it will clump in corners and hide small detail.
Good luck with your new kit!