what's better for plastic structures....

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

water or solvent based paints? I will be using both brush & air brush.

thanks
Pat

2

Both will work equally well. However, some older solvent-based stuff (such as Floquil) will damage plastic. With that, spray on a coat of primer first.

3

I usually use solvent based for the base coat and the use water based for the details. I find that the solvent will not attack the plastic if I airbrush fine coats.

4

Either works well. I prefer water based: easy clean up and low odor.

Nick

5

I’ve used both without problems… I mostly use water base nowadays for convenience sake.

6

With the solvent based paints the thing you want is an enamel. That won’t attack the plastic. A laquer based paint will attack it.

I like the solvent based paints myself, but thats probably because I’ve been using them for 30+ years now, so I’m comfortable with them.

7

Water-based acrylics, the craft type, avail at W-Mart. Cheap, effective, you can even weather locos and structures with it in a wash.