Airbrush acrylic paints

[ArturasVolk]

Hi guys,

I'm new here and very interested in modelling. firstly sorry for my language, i'm not british.

Bought an airbrush and now looking for information about paints. My workplace is in my room, so i dont want to use nitro or enamel paints. So can you help me to choose acrylic paints. I build aircrafts, but now i want to make some cars.

Now im interested on Vallejo paints, because they make every product acrylic (primers and varnish). What is your opinion about it? Does it look well on cars?

Maybe there is some other brands who make acrylic primers and varnishes?

[Fatboydim]

Tamiya make a range of Acrylic paint.

[saintsclaire]

Hi

I don't know about how it looks on cars, but Vallejo is on of my main paints (Lifecolour is the other). Most are Matt so you'll need a good gloss to get a shine

Claire

[avro683]

There's also Gunze Sangyo. Their paints are acrylic but have a satin finish to them. I also use all of the above and Revell Aqua which I find are very good which can be thinned with water, unlike Tamiya and Gunze which are best thinned with their own thinners.

Edited March 11, 2015 by avro683

[ScarecrowJoe]

Love my Vallejo paints although lately I have been using India Ink for some of my airbrush work due that I can get better control and flow for more accuracy. India Ink also comes in colors so that's a plus and you thin them with water.

Edited March 11, 2015 by ScarecrowJoe

[Greenshirt]

If you're just starting, then you'll find that most acrylics will work just fine -- once you get the feel for thinning and mixing right. Which one you choose is more preference, as you've read here already. If Vallejo is locally available and inexpensive, you may as well learn how to make that one work for you.

Having said that, I've used MM Acryl, Tamiya, Gunze, Humbrol, Aeromaster, and Vallejo. I have to mail order all my paints due to my location and my experience is Tamiya provide the best finish. Rock hard once cured. But as said above they require their own thinner.

Vallejo should also be used with their thinner, although water can work. Add a very small drop of washing up liquid (dish soap) to the paint cup before airbrushing if you DON'T use their thinner.

Airbrushing in a closed room is not recommended. You'll breathe in the particles and they aren't good for your lungs, regardless of the carrier. Get a breathing mask that covers your mouth and nose. You'll be glad you did in a couple of decades and they are not expensive. Also open a window to ensure the room airs out once you're done.

Tim

[ArturasVolk]

Thank you for the answers!

[sroubos]

I use Gunze. When I can't use Gunze, I use Tamiya and when that won't work, I experiment. My experiences with other brands have been poor. Revell doesn't spray very well, Vallejo doesn't harden very well.

[Julien]

If using Vallejo then thin with the airbrush cleaner, not the thinner. I get much better flow.

[sroubos]

Getting it to flow is never my problem with Vallejo, it's the best spraying paint I've ever used. The problem is that it doesn't harden - it scratches very easily. It also doesn't dry very quickly, at least the metallic paints I've used from them are very prone to pick up prints.

Edited March 26, 2015 by sroubos

[capt_biggles]

Getting it to flow is never my problem with Vallejo, it's the best spraying paint I've ever used. The problem is that it doesn't harden - it scratches very easily. It also doesn't dry very quickly, at least the metallic paints I've used from them are very prone to pick up prints.

I have used the Vallejo ModelAir and have had no issues, and even though it is pre-thinned and specially made for airbrushing, I add a couple of drops of their thinner in the colour cup, which helps it to flow better.