When I was younger, there were just two kinds or brands of model paint for plastic models. ‘Testors’ in little square glass bottles, and ‘Humbrol’ in little round metal cans, and both of these were enamel. Oh, have times changed!
Both of these old classics are getting harder and harder to find, and are being replaced at break neck speed, by a vast array of acrylic paints in little plastic bottles. To be totally honest with you, what plastic model paint you choose to buy is really a matter of personal choice and by the amount of money you want to spend. Many years ago I asked one of my art teachers what the best brand of oil paint was to get, and he suggested to pick just one color, such as white, and then buy white in all the different brands available at the local art store. At that time, there were only about 4 or 5 different brands. So, I bought one tube of white from each brand, and tried each one. I knew instantly which brand I liked and then bought all my needed colors in that brand. I used all the other whites over time, so it wasn’t a waste of money, and I learned a valuable lesson.
I’d strongly suggest this lesson to you. There are so many brands of acrylic plastic model paints available today, so just purchase the same color from each brand, try them all, and see which one you feel most comfortable using. Some brands are thicker, some thinner, some brighter, some duller or glossier than others. You’ll quickly discover which one or ones you want to use. Also, never be afraid to experiment with different brands and colors. Learn to mix different colors and shades to make your models different from everyone else’s. Many years ago I watched as a master model maker defended his choice of the olive drab color he chose to paint his model tank with. He actually found paint chips of olive drab, and there were over 12 variations of it. They were all used in different military campaigns. Just like choosing your model, don’t let anyone tell you what paint or color to buy, it’s your model, and it’s your paint.
After you’ve looked through all the different kinds and different brands of model paint, you might decide to buy the one with the white label instead of the yellow label, and that’s fine too. The color and how you apply the paint is much more important than which paint you finally chose to use. Also, many paints today are being manufactured already thinner or airbrush ready. So if you’re not comfortable thinning your paints to use in an airbrush or some other kind of sprayer, then these thinner paints are for you. I still prefer to buy the old fashioned regular paints, and thin them myself as needed.
Once you’ve settled on the color and brand or brands of paint, there’s a few extras you’ll need to decide on. Most of the colors you’ll need are flat or not glossy in appearance such as olive drab, and a few colors might be glossy such as gloss yellow. Hobby Sense stocks most of the most popular brands of model paints for plastic models, and no matter which brand you eventually decide on, they are all top quality. Most acrylic paints are flat, so if you need a glossy appearance you can apply a clear gloss varnish over the flat paint once it’s completely dry. Acrylic paints dry a lot faster than the older enamels, and also don’t have the enamel thinner order. So you can clean your brushes and any spills with plain soap and tap water. Thinning the paints is done with a special paint thinner made by the same manufacture as the paint, or just some distilled water rather than tap water, which many not be pure enough, depending where you live.
I mentioned earlier that the paint brushes you use are more important than the paint you use. The paint is important, but even the best, highest quality paint will not cover well or will go on streaky if you’re using a lousy brush. If I can suggest just one thing, buy the best quality brushes you can afford. A red sable hair or synthetic red sable hair brush is the best, buy a ¼” and a 1/8” flat shape, along with one or two #1 and #0 round shapes. You’ll be able to paint any size or type of model with these, but not the family house. In the blog on bush care, I’ll go into more detail on brushes and how to make them last for years in future blogs, but since you’re using acrylic paints, just simply washing them in room temperature tap water and a little dish washing or facial soap is all that’s needed. Never use laundry or harsh soaps as they will dry out and ruin the brush hairs. Your brushes may be your biggest financial investment and they should be. Any experienced model painter will tell you that whatever paint you choose, and whatever colors you use, it all depends on the brush and you to apply it at its best.
There are a lot of online tutorials out there by people mentioning using the most of odd things to mix in with your paints, like window cleaner, oven cleaner, tire cleaner, and even some toxic industrial solutions. Let me say, you don’t need any of these. All you need is the thinner or cleaner that is made by the same brand of paint you’re using. You have no idea what window or tire cleaner will do to the longevity of your paint. Don’t waste your time, money or the quality of your model with these notions. Spend whatever modeling time you have to practice using your new paints just as you bought them. So practice applying the best, most perfect even coat of paint to your model, instead of listening or watching someone adding tire cleaner to their model paints. Please don’t waste your time, it’s too precious.
Whether you do it on your hobby shop’s website, or by going to them personally, start collecting all the pamphlets and brochures on your new paints. You will learn a lot about all the available colors, all about the correct ways to thin, clean and even apply your new paints. These brochures are usually free and made by the manufacturer of your paint and they have their paint and you in their best interest. These manufactures want you to use their products in the best and most perfect way possible, and aside from asking the knowledgeable and friendly staff at Hobby Sense, you will learn all you need to know from these brochures that are printed to accompany your new paint.
To end this blog, I’d like to get a bit personal. When someone sees your finished model, they will be looking at the physical form of the model which the model manufacture has made, but they will also be looking at your paint job and the colors you chose. Not only make it the best you can do, but also make it yours. Make it a personal statement, just like an artist makes a personal statement when painting a canvas. Modelling is not only a craft, it is an art form, and you can use it to make a statement, to tell a story or to express what you want to say. A black car says something very different than a red car. So have fun, make your models an art form that only you can do, done well, and remember, Hobby Sense is here for you!