Quick question. I have been using Model Master Enamels. These get mixed results, sometimes they are thick, others are thin, and others are fine...fresh from the store. I also find hem to be somewhat difficult to clean from paintbrushes and airbrushes. My question is, how is the quality of Tamiya's paint? Are they the right thickness? Good coverage? Easy to clean?

Any help is appreciated.

They dry to darn fast for my taste.

I like Tamiya's acrylic paints. I have been using them for over 10 years now although I still prefer Model Master enamels for air brushing. Tamiya's paints do dry fast but I like it. They mix well, dry pretty flat and in my opinion cover well. Lately I have been using more and more Vallejo paints. They are really good for painting uniforms and have quite a variety of colors. Just my 2c.

Yep to all of the above. I've used them for a long time and stand by the quality with my models. Good stuff, good coverage, easy to store & mix & clean-up.

Gunnie

I totally agree with what gunnie said about Tamiya's acrylics. I have used them for years and found that the quality are real good indeed.

Steve

I love the Tamiya line of acyrilic paints. One thing that I have found that helps more than anything when using them is to add a drop of Tamiya thinner, it helps to increase the flow of the paint greatly and retards the quick-drying aspects somewhat. Another thing to keep in mind, without knowing your particular set-up, is the health benefits to using acrylics over enamels and their accompanying thinners.

Coop

I too have used Tamiya acrylics until a couple of weeks ago. It is good in all aspects but I have changed as it dries far to quick in the Queensland heat. I have changed to Humbrol enamels and they are excellent too.

Cliff

Heck, they dry too quickly in the New England cold! I used to use them a lot. Airbrushed with them, hand brushed, did flesh tones. Several years ago, their formula changed. I'd mix a batch of flesh and before I was done with a 1/35-54mm figure's face and hands, it was dry on the palette. Maybe if I'd tried the thinner, but by that time, I was too disgusted with the brand. The new formula was clogging the airbrush and not laying down well. Brush marks were prominent in larger parts, such as uniforms and the paint would quickly skin over and not allow touch up for a couple days.
Tamiya's use of proprietary color names makes matching quite difficult. Their limited number or colors means you need to be carefully mixing to get just the right color. ModelMaster uses ANA, FS, RLM and other specific codes to identify their colors.
Model Master can be airbrushed with only a couple drops of standard thinner, not necessarily their "airbrush thinnner". Even as it gets old, it can be thinned adequately in a pinch, when you need a little bit, and can't get to the hobby store.