Getting back into modelling and discovering the paint issues

[taffallan]

Hi all

Just starting a 1/32 GR1 Tornado going to be using the 617sqn markings. I have been looking at some topics regarding the paint for RAF grey green scheme and it seems quite strange that no one really seems happy with any option off the shelf or am I wrong? I would appreciate some advice and any other suggestions would be very welcome.

What manufacturer and what colours would you recommend for the grey green shceme?

I have been used to enamels in the past never used acrylics, there are pros and cons for both but could we have a discussion as to what these are and what recommendations of manufacturer you would make.

Can I use enamels for brushing and acrylics for spraying? Or would you recommend not mixing the different products?

I want to use acrylic for the main grey and green effect and I want to use an airbrush for this. I want to use a wash to accentuate the panels what would you recommend? I also want to use a primer I have read the Halfords grey is a good choice? Following the undercoat and then the acrylic base colours what gloss varnish would be best to use before the panel wash?

Following the panel wash do you then use a matt or silk final clear coat over the decals?

Is there anywhere on the forums that has a good step by step process?

Sorry I know I am asking for a lot but this is the one area where things really have changed massively.

Any help gratefully received.

Taffallan

[philtn]

I can recommend gunze acrylics. Great for airbrush, bad for brushing... Mainly I use their aqua-series mr hobby colors. Awesome color range, very fine pigments...

As for spraying one type of color on top of another (enamel, acrylics etc): I remember googling all this stuff when I came back to the hobby. What I can tell you is a pretty basic rule I guess,

that is if you let the colors harden, not just dry, but harden (48hrs) then I never had any problems so far with spraying one over another.

One exception is spraypaint cans... some of the stuff that's in there (nitro) is really aggressive and can f...up quite some of your paint jobs.

I usually stay with one kind of paint for a camo job though. (Gunze)

I always clear coat (gloss) before applying weathering and washes. Never had a problem either...

My rule number one is: Leave the colours to harden before moving on to something else. That usually does the job for me (there are of course exceptions

Don't sue me, go for trial and error