Like any self-respecting 60's/70's schoolboy I was brought up on Saturday afternoon Airfix kits and Humbrol Enamels. Then 15+ years go,almost overnight, and largely due to comments in Iain Rice's wagon books I switched to Acrylics; water-based, less smell, quick drying. After Warley and conversations with Geoff Taylor and Ian Rathbone I questioned this move. They both unreservedly use Humbrol Enamel and get excellent results especially with a bow-pen. Bob Fridd whose work I admire also is a fan of the smelly stuff as is Alan Brackenborough.So is it an MRJ thing or is it skill; and I should stay in the little boys playground? Or do all these great finishers know something I don't - that the old enamel is the superior product and the acrylic is for those who can't really paint anyway?
Then there is the stirring thing; to stir, or not to stir?
Enamel, don't stir.
ReplyDeleteAcrylics come in tubes and can be used for scenics and weathering.
Enamel. Only stir if you need lots or are running it through an airbrush.
ReplyDeleteI won't be turning back from using Citadel Colour (Games Workshop) paints, they allow a hamfisted idiot like me to paint something fairly poorly as opposed to abysmally!
ReplyDeleteTom.
It seems there is a split here.
ReplyDeleteMC &PP: You don't say 'why' though. More above.
Why? Well...
ReplyDelete- It is easier to control the consistentcy when mixing pigment with thinners
- Usually I find I am mixing colours to a shade anyway (unless painting a loco or coach a "Stadard" colour), this makes it very easy to mix different colors
- Once stirred the enamel paint starts to go off. Leave it as pigment under oil and it lasts forever.
- It also helps that by removing the paint to mix it up, you don't get it all over the tin rim, which means the lid still seals!
Use matchsticks or cocktail sticks to extract the pigment, and one of those Ferro Rocher boxes makes a great pallette ...
See: http://michaelsrailways.blogspot.com/2009/02/painting.html
I just don't get on with acrylic. It doesn't seem to stick as well to me. I have tried the modern Humbrol versions and they seem OK but I suppose I prefer to stick with what I know.
ReplyDelete