My paint boxes are filled with a few brands that I have aquired to use and test. There are a couple questions on which paint everyone uses to air brush with, here they are.

1. which brand do you preffer for airbrushing and why?
2. which brand do you stay away from while airbrushing and why?

recently I was told by a guy who does amazing work to try gunzo (SP?) out. I have also shot testros acrylic and tamiya. Out for those I liked tamiyas results better. Why doesn't Tamiya come out with FS numbered paints, they would make a killing I would think? Anyway, let me know what works for you if you don't mind.

Okay good question Drew. I have read just about every post here on painting and more at other sites. When I stopped modeling about 7 to 10 years ago my four favorites were Model Masters and Humbrol and Polly S Floquil. I have about 300 tins and jars of paint now .Have used Badger acrylic, Tamiya acrylic, Gunze sanyo acrylic, Vallejo acrylic they all have their good and bad points. I don't like acrylics cause they dry so darn fast either brushing or air brushing. I still use mostly the MM line and Humbrol paints. So the answer is MM for airbrushing followed by Humbrol. And I like the smell of Humbrol in the morning. #:-) . Floquil in my book has the best coverage but the Thinner is kind of rough on plastic if you don't watch it also have tried automotive paints on car models back when. Okay any body use total Floquil for painting AFV's.?

I'm pretty much a Model Master user here -- good range of colors, easy to thin with regular mineral spirits, generally good smooth finish, and -- like Jeff said -- a lot easier to handle during a session than acrylics. I tried Tamiya once, though, and it covered well and smooth.

I avoid Gunze Sangyo for one big reason -- I like to use Solvaset for decals and it turned even dry, clearcoated GS into jelly when I used the stuff. Once bitten . . . .

I have been slowly switching over to acrylics. Mostly Tamiya and Model Master. My wife started complaining about the enamel thinner smell. I like Tamiya, I just wish their color line was more extensive. Model Master "Acryl II" is a close second. Both easy clean up, I use Windex. But I do keep some of the old Testor's square bottle enamel around. I like the "rubber" color for tank road wheels. And always a bottle of gloss red!

I think it's whatever you prefer. Other people seem to like different kind of paint. I mostly use MM enamels and they spray well. I have tried a couple Tamiya acrylics and thought they were very good. I haven't had much luck with Humbrol and Gunze Sangyo, so I stay away from them, but clearly others know how to use these paints well.

Nic

I personally like the Tamiya acrylics over any others. I've just had more good experiences with them through the airbrush. Their so easy to thin out (using alcohol) and I seem to get a much flatter paint job than with any other brand. Somebody was right, though, when they said they should expand their line. If they carried half the variations MM does it would be awesome.

MM Acrylics are ok but don't seem to thin out as good as the Tamiya brand in my opinion.

The enamels are 'ok' but I try to stay away from them. The only enamel that I really use is a MM Rust that has a very nice finish when airbrushed on. I do have some of the old Testors enamels but their only for touch-up work if needed.

I picked up some small bottles of Krylon enamels at Kmart one day for 99 cents a jar and got some basic gloss colors: red, yellow, black and chrome. They should last me forever.

Acrilics I use Tamiya, Pactra & Badger. Enamels I use Model Master. All using primarily a Paashe H for general work I've got a Badger 250.

Matt

I think Matt added a pertinent piece of information-the type of airbrush used. I have a Paasche H (single action) that I've used off and on for ten years now.

I use Model Master enamels and thinner. I also use Tamiya acrylics on occasion, they have some good specific colors necessary for their kits already in the right shades (or close enough).

Me? I'm a Tamiya acrylics guy - have been since 1985 and won't change! Easiest to work with, mix, lay down, flatten, gloss if needed, clean-up, weather, and store.

Recently, I've shot some Model Master Acryl paints for my entry in Penny's Navy Aircraft project. For my first try, Acryl works pretty good - if it has a primer coat of Tamiya acrylic to "bite" into.

I don't shoot Floquils or any other enamel-based paints - never have. I see no reason to with the results I get with Tamiya acrylics.

Gunnie

I use TAmiya acrylics... BUT I have been slowly switching over to Polly scale acrylics because they have a good variety of colors and they spray GREAT!!!!!..........Otto

The Badger 250 is my "First" airbrush. I can't seem to part w/ it.(mostly used for ground work) I use the Paasche Cause I got it at a Quitting Buisness sale at the local hobby shop (that I helped out at) that closed in 1994. got it for 1/2 price. I MISS THAT PLACE

Matt

Well it looks like the answer is the same as it is in most cases in modeling. the answer is what works best for you. Slowly but surely I am starting to understand this. Still, it is nice to hear what works for others and why to cut out some of the garbage. Feal free to continue to answer the question, I will continue to check the input.

i like TAMAYIA PAINTS i use bottle and can and i thought i saw some fs paints by
tamayia. i have a shop thst keeps a rather good stock so i stick with that.

I use Model Master enamels. I just like to keep things simple, so I stick with one brand and that is what I started with.
The one paint I avoid using in my airbrush is Sherwin Williams.

This is a bit off topic and I think its been talked about before, WHY DOESN'T TAMIYA COME OUT WITH A FULL FS SERIES OF PAINT!!!. I have talked to a # of people who would use them more if they did and I am new at this. I am sure they have heard it from lots of customers wanting it. Just seams like such a demand would have some rusults in shaping the product. Oh well, I'll learn to mix better.

I use mostly Tamiya also, but i agree, they dry too fast to use to brush. I'll probably get some enamels to do brush work. I have a Badger 175 that i spray with, and I like it alot. I've ried spraying enamels a couple times, but I didn't see enough advantages to outweigh the disadvatages, ie smell, sovents, cleanup. Just my opinion though. I may try them again, just because, as others have said, MM has such a great line of colors. I agree with Drew, Tamiya needs to expand their line!

I use MM acrylics and enamels exclusively. Why? Two resaons; 1) they're reasonibly priced and easy to find around here, and 2) I can't find anything else around here!

As for the airbush, I use a Paasche H. It works fine for me, but I'm still going to get a double action pretty soon.

YodaMan

Great thread. And if you read the posts, there is an obvious commonality.

My input is somewhat similar to what has already been posted.
For my ABing needs I use my old klunky Paasche 'type VL' model for base coating, misting, sometimes priming, and even camo patterns occasionally. For my finer work, I use my Iwata Eclipse model HP-BCS. An excellent brush!
So, with that said, I will generally use enamal as either my prime coat, or my base,or both. For this I will use the Paasche. Alomst everything afterwards (additional base coats, cloud, dusting, camo, WW, etc.) is done in acrylics tthrough my Iwata.
After all of my ABing is done (for the most part), I then switch to oils which I apply with a series of sable brushes.
So, I use all three.
My personal theory about the interaction of the mediums is this, I use enamels for my prime/base because it generally gives me a good solid base from which to work. From there I can work with the acrylics (thinning, mixing, etc.) without worry of affecting the underlying base coat. The acrylics (some people here complained about the "fast drying" time of the acrylics) allow me to work at a wonderful pace, i.e., my own. Without worrying about a particular coats 'dry time' (enamels). The oils I use for washes and such allow me all the time I need to 'fine-tune' the appearance I am trying to acheive (believe me, I need all the time I can get). When I used to use acrylics for my washes it never semed like I moved quick enough.

So,before I quit this long-winded yak-fest of mine, back to one of the 'commonality' thingies.
I agree with most of you about the superb quality of the Tamiya paints (I use them too), my wish, just as many of you have already stated, is that they decide one day to offer an FS line of paint colours. IMHO, the reason they don't is because they originally catered to the sci-fi, auto crowd (just look at their original colour offerings to see what I mean). If you remember 'back when' , almost all military modelers swore by ENAMELS! Maybe one of these days when Mr. Tamiya feels confident that we're here to stay, he'll break down and do what he should have already done....the FS line. Because my fellow campers, if Tamiya did that, and offered, say a line of colours comparable to Humbrol's, or MM's properly mixed and named colours.........they would simply dominate.

:::::::::::taking a breath::::::::::::::::

Tread.

Oh, before I forget. Someone (Gunnie) brought up a very good point. The 'laying down' of the paint. When I use enamels for my prime or base coat I know I am sacrificing one thing for another. I am sacrificing a better 'lay down' of an acrylic prime/base coat, for the peace of mind of having a more bullet-proof underlayment for all my other coats. If you don't believe me on this, try priming two pieces of a kit, one with Tamiya acrylic, one with an enamel, lay them side by side (pick a piece of model that has some real detail in it) and check it out.
Secondly, .............nah, gotta go to work, save it for next time.

I'm a Tamiya Acrykics spraying kinda' guy.

Sorry to say but I'd rather stay away from Revell Enamels. I find them very hard to stir....most of the times the result is a bit transparent.... I guess it's just me, who can't do the wild thing with this paint. Never heard complaints by anybody else, so I guess it's just me. As for Humbrol enamels...they suit me just fine.

So it's Tamiya Acrylics and Humbrol enamels.

Hmm? I've never heard of them...

Yoda be confused...

YodaMan

Humbrol and Revell enamels are common here in The Netherlands. Think it's because we're so close to Revell's "heimat" I think....

Forked out a bit of money 2 weeks ago for a good compressor so I bought the cheapest airbrush I could get my hands on. (1 thing at a time). I have only ever used humrol enamels before so I decided to try some Tamiya acrylics. I couldnt believe it. Perfect first time round. I was very happy with the results. I thinned them with 50% isoproponel alcohol. Im definately going to invest in more of this range. Havent tried Humbrol enamels yet through the airbrush. One thing I will say is I read a lot of threads like this for a few days before I bought and I was suprised how easy(?) it was to airbrush. An interesting future has opened up.

By the way has anybody tried humbrol acrylics for airbrushing? I dont see many people mentioning them here. They are easily available near me. Just wondering!! Also what about citadel acrylics for warhammer. Any advise on these as there is a shop near me with a good stock of both of these?

Thanks

[quote]

By the way has anybody tried humbrol acrylics for airbrushing? [/qoute]

Sorry, Humbrol acrylics are not available near me.........otherwise, an interesting future might be in store for me too :-)

[qoute] Also what about citadel acrylics for warhammer. Any advise on these as there is a shop near me with a good stock of both of these?[/qoute]

Actually Plasticbattle, the Citadel paints are quite nice. Another example of well mixed/named paints. Who can resist colours like 'Rotten tooth White' for crying out loud! #:-)

Tread.