Painting our models can be one of the most time consuming parts of our build. When you have spent hours painting a highly detailed scale model for displaying, its nice when you get compliments on a great paint job. After spending countless hours getting all the details of your model correct you want to use a paint that will be a durable finish and dries with a saturated color.
Acrylics are the most preferred for plastic models because of its short drying time. Enamel is the second best option for plastic. Both of these types of paint are easy to use as they should not require thinning. Acrylics and enamels give off less odor than lacquers and are less harmful to the environment.
Should I Start With Primer Before Painting Color On Models?
In my research I have found it is best to primer coat plastic models. This will provide a uniform base for resin materials, DieCast metals or if the model is plastic and will have different colors. This will also cut down on the number of coats needed if you’re painting lighter colors such as white or yellow.
Some modelers will skip the priming step in favor of applying as small amount of paint as possible to preserve the small engraved details such as panel lines, fine details and hatches.
In general, you should not only prime them, but you should wash the parts first. The mold release agents on the plastic will keep the primer from sticking, just as lack of primer will make the paint bond weaker.
For certain colors or types of modeling materials, a primer coat helps provide a base that will allow the paint to lay in a more consistent pattern or coat.
Another good reason to use a primer is it will allow you to see small flaws in the materials that may need filled and sanded before applying your finishing coats.
Remember that before and after priming you will want to keep the surfaces clean. Use a damp clean cloth. It is not recommended to use paper towels as they will leave fibers on the painting surface.
Should I Use Acrylic Or Enamel On Model Kits?
Acrylic Paints:
For plastic model kits, acrylic based paint is the most used and popular form of paint for plastic models. It will create the best results for most paint jobs. A few of the benefits of acrylics is shorter drying times, and you have the ability to change the flow and viscosity of the paint without changing the color saturation.
The acrylic paint is made by adding color pigment to an acrylic polymer then emulsified with water to create the final product. Sometimes acrylic paints contain various fillers that may affect the paints performance.
Acrylic paint has improved vastly over the years and can now perform as good as oil-based paint for most applications. A few of the benefits of acrylics is shorter drying times, and you have the ability to change the flow and viscosity of the paint without changing the color saturation.
Acrylic paint will be your best paint choice for most of your models. Acrylic-based paints can be sprayed on, brushed on, and can even be used in paint markers. This type of paint is also available in a variety of finishes or sheens ranging from flat to glossy. Here are three of the biggest advantages of using an acrylic paint:
- It’s the easiest to touch up if it ever fades out or you have smears that need fixing.
- It is water soluble so cleanup is easy by wiping up if you have a spill. If it does dry before you have time to clean it up, you can use dish soap and water to clean it up.
- Acrylic paints can be purchased at any hobby and craft stores.
Enamel Paints:
Before acrylics were available enamel or (oil based paint) used to be the most common form of paint. Oil-based paints are mix pigments with a drying oil, typically linseed oil, as a binder. As oil based paints are applied, the oil reacts with the air to dry and create a very hard finish.
These hard finishes can create a very glossy sheen and are more durable than an acrylic paint. To change the viscosity and flow, oil based paints can be thinned or mixed with primer.
Oil based paints do have their downsides such as a slow drying time, they have to be cleaned up with turpentine, and they can give off toxic fumes.
A lot of modelers use both on any given kit, as each has its advantages. It’s comes down to personal preference. When you use an enamel paint always have plenty of ventilation and use OSHA approved respiratory protection.
What Paints Are Available For Model Kits?
There are many paints available on the market today either in spray cans, small bottles and plastic tubes. They come in every color imaginable, even in all the military colors from different eras. Vallejo and Testors are the most popular paints on the market today.
Here are a few examples of the type of kits that are available on Amazon:
Vallejo Basic USA Colors Paint Set:
- Model Color Set has been formulated with permanent pigments for fine arts; all colors are completely lightfast and opaque
- The consistency of Model Color Set allows for an extremely smooth and uniform paint film, with no trace of brushstrokes
- The water based formula of Model Color Set has been specifically developed for adherence on difficult surfaces such as metal and plastic
