Which paint brand is the best to use? I need to know so I can buy the right paint on Saturday for the Lazy Llama.
I financed the hobby by custom painting for about 30 years. I stopped because I got tired of spending all my time working on other people’s stuff. I used Scalecoat and Scalecoat II(for unpainted plastic) because it gives a good glossy finish ideal for decaling. After decals are on and set you can choose your final finish from “fresh from the paint shop” glossy to dead flat or anything between. I do use Floquil for weathering(I buy grimy black by the 6 bottle package).
Best acrylic paint :probably Scalecoat from Floquil
Best enamel paint: probably Floquil
That’s the best of what I’ve used so far. I don’t know what the Pollyscale and Railroad Colors paint is like. I do know that Modelflex for me won’t do smooth, even coats on even the cleanest surfaces.
Scale Coat is solvent based, not acrylic.
CSXGuy,
You posted a good question, however, you have to realize that you’ll get many different answers. Think of this: It’s like asking a group of car enthusiasts which is the best sports car? The answers you’ll get: Corvette, Mustang, 300zx, Ferrari Testarosa, GTO, Mazda RX8, GT350, etc.
They’re all good cars…each with its strong and weak points.
I’ll give you my opinion, but remember that most of today’s paints are pretty decent. All have strong and weak points. Your airbrush settings and your paint reduction are critical factors in determining how your paint lays. Always test you paint on a “scrap material” first.
Preferences go according to your expericence and taste.
Just as Darth statesd that Model Flex won’t lay smooth for him, I’ve been painting for nearly 20 years. For me, ModelFlex is the smoothest laying paint I’ve ever seen! It will even lay smooth with a paint brush, no thinning required. Polly Scale when thinned properly lays beautifully. Scale Coat II is very tough and durable—the smell is horrible. Floquil was my mainstay for years. I’ve also used Testors–great military colors.
What am I saying? They’re ALL GOOD! I switched to Polly Scale and Model Flex because of the safety factor. Solvent paints in the past have damaged my nervous system. Though slight, I have noticed I no longer have the steady hands I had just a few years ago. I did inhale quite a bit of solvent based paint in the past before using respirators.
Don’t take my word for it either, though, other than these are good products. Do your own research and try more than one paint brand. That’s what the experts do.
Hope this helps!
I have to say that with an airbrush i’ve done my best paint jobs using Floquil paints usually blended with 75% paint and 25% thinner…chuck
Scalecoat IS NOT made by Floquil. I don’t believe Floquil’s line of paints are enamels either. An example of enamel paint would be something like Pactra. Not nit picking, just I see a lot of misinformed stuff posted on these forums and this one bugged me.
Ed
Do ya think my use of Floquil paints for about 30 years could explain my shaky hands and needing bi-focals now? [:p]
Couldn’t be that I’m 30 years older, could it?
[:D]
Chuck
Chuck,
Age is a factor, but personally in my case I was examined by doctors and it was determined that I’ve had effects of solvent exposure. Again, my fault.
I’m 42 and know several guys older than myself that have hands as steady as a rock. Changing my diet and taking martial arts has helped me a great deal. My hands shake only slightly now.
You and I know better but I strongly urge newbies, teen or adult, to always use protection as I’ve experienced the results of what these paints will do to you! The effects are so gradual that you won’t notice, until one day years later. Too late then…
Acrylics are safer and still yield good quality results but by no means are they TOTALLY safe! While ModelFlex and Polly Scale won’t stink up your house, the paint tints, binder and other components are not healthy to breathe either.
Peace.