That was the first "paint guide" video I saw which unambiguously stated that Tamiya paint actually is a lacquer paint and that people should take safety measures when spraying it. Thank you !
This question always reminds me of a quote or bit of wisdom I used to hear back in my photography days: “the best camera is the one in your hand.” I always thought it was a Henri Cartier-Bresson quite but I can’t seem to find its actual origin. Nice technical breakdown 👌
Precisely this, "the best paint is the one you have the most skill and experience with." Thanks, I worked to keep it nice, simple and accessible. Predator handshake here.
I actually personally love to use enamels as they seem to be built for hand-painting. I personally don't have any windows for where I work at and I don't own the place where I live so I can't make modifications. The spray booth can only do so much. With that, the only stuff I can really spray is water-based acrylics, which I'm not super fond of working with. So generally, I'm forced to work with spray cans and brushes, much like the same scenario in the video where you painted that Grimoire. With that, I'm kinda forced to do a bit of my own testing and research to find what I like, since there aren't as many demonstrations for hand-painting as there is for airbrushing. With that, I was wondering if you were able to show off more skills using enamels as a color coat. I know you have used them in the past with another Gunpla model, but I would love to see more!
What would anybody recommend for a metal model with plastic windiws? Got some graffiti to put on a off brand z scale london tube train. The graff needs to cover both surfaces so it a head scratcher for me. Also any tips on brushes to work so small too would be cool. Im UK based..
MR.Color gundam paints are the best and i almost tried them all, the paint is more durable, more scratch resistant and i like how you could panel line after painting, then just clean it up with a plastic eraser and it won't damage paint.
Well damn, I am still confused. Looking for paints for a teenager to get into airbrushing his model planes. He can use it outside, and can get a mask. Is that enough safety for the acrylic lacquers? If he gets lazy and sneaky, and doesn't use the mask, how dangerous are they? Or, are the acrylic water based paints just fine for a beginner?
Hello sir. Im now handbrush top coat. Yes i did that. The result are vary. I use tamiya acrylic clear. Sometimes good, sometimes shitty. I want to ditch out the can spray top coat. Bcoz had to wait good condition to spray. My questions are: what kind of acrylic paint that suits me? Does prethinned color suits handbrush? What differences of solvent, leveller and other thinner? (Ofc remover for removing and tool cleaner for tools) Should i switch from acrylic to enamel? Does enamel disturb tamiya accent panel line? My goal is to keep top coating with handbrush. Im sorry cant afford airbrushing sets. Thank you for anyones answers.
Thanks a lot for this explanation! I was wondering what "water based acrylic lacquer" were, since I used Tamiya paints during a long time for model kits, but now that I started painting 3d prints and using regular acrylics I found that the adherence and thickness were a lot different of what I was used to. Maybe I'll start using acrylic lacquers from now on for better results. I wonder if I can also use a wet palette to keep them from drying, especially when I mix colours during long paints....
Thank you! This is really helpful since I’m shopping for paint to use with an airbrush on garage kits and 3d printed figures. probably best for me to use water based acrylics because of fumes, since even tho they can be tricky with an airbrush ive used them a lot for hand painting! Also good to know that I can use mr. super clear over it since I use that already!
I want to paint my switch and i use it quite often(2-3hrs/day), lacquer paint looks like the most durable for it? Should i spray something over it too for more protection from wear and tear. The design has thin lines(smt v gakuran design) which im afraid would start to erase very fast. Donno if i should paint or make a skin. Wanted to paint bc of transparent shell. Digital artist btw:) used to work with ink and pens before.
Hey! Thanks for the question - I can totally understand wanting that perfect, durable finish on a custom-painted switch. Lacquer is a solid choice for durability, especially with a clear coat on top. However, when it comes to intricate designs like thin lines, wear and tear is a real factor, especially with frequent handling. Another option might be custom skins, which are easier to replace but won't have that transparent look you're after. Either way, your transparent shell concept sounds awesome - best of luck, and let us know how it goes! For detailed advice or if you're interested, I've got a guide that goes deeper into materials and finishes for durable, custom paint jobs on small tech - check it out on my site!
You say that Tamiya Acrylics are among the best for hand brushing. Is this also true of their gloss colours? I am trying to see how to hand brush model cars with gloss paint. It is very difficult to do this without very obvious brush strokes, I find.
Hey, I use acrylic Vallejo etc on kitbashing models HT etc and there are many primers but what adhesive would you advise best that will apply thin but hold paint. I also use mr colour lacquers but what would you advise as a pre paint adhesive rather than the myriad of primers. Thanks in advance 👍🏻
Really nice guide :) I am somehow forced to used water based paints because of my allergy,. I sometimes use enames washed because of ability to correct mistakes.
The problem is some paints like AK 3rd, Humbrol, Gaia are very very hard to get in the US, while Reaper and Pro Acryl are easy to get in the US, but might be hard to get across the pond so to speak.
Yes, I could totally do that and it would be the best but... I don't want to. Need the right feelz to get into that. Mostly kidding but I have 2 more projects ready for paint. One is hand brushing with water based acrylics - please be excited for that one and airbrushing with acrylic lacquers - Tamiya LP, Mr Color and maybe Gaianotes too. After that... let's talk again!
Helpful video for someone new to scale models and airbrushing. Are the Tamiya XF and X paints safe enough to spray at home if used with a thinner like X-20A and with good ventilation? I was going to avoid using fully lacquer materials like Leveling Thinner and Mr Hobby colors, and hoping that these Tamiya paints provided a nice middle ground of safety and effectiveness.
Thank you. The Tamiya range of XF and F still require the full safety precautions when using their X-20A thinner. It's still a toxic solvent and especially harmful when atomised and ingested via the lungs.
Hello there. I'm kinda new to modeling and i noticed that putting a model together, using Testors plastic model glue. if i prepaint the parts with Enamels, like the Testors Gloss Enamel, while I'm gluing the parts, the paint "melts away" and looks like ....... I Don't know if i'm doing something wrong. if i should use a different glue, or paint all, when done gluing it together.....Can you please advise me if you can? Someone suggested Acrylic paint, but i was told that it doesn't look as good??? (Though it does dry faster and has easier cleaning, being water based....) Thank you for your time.
Hey Lincoln, this was soooooo helpful, thank you so much! 🙂 May I ask one question. You said acrylic lacquers also act like primers when airbrushed, does this statement also apply to Tamiya X/XF acrylics? I have here a Tamiya X-1 Gloss Black and thought about airbrushing it on bare plastic/resin. This would reduce my worktime as I wouldn't need an external primer. Eager to hear your reply! Thanks in advance.
I used Testors as a kid. I believe that was an enamel lacquer. Is there a better option? I just want to paint models, primarily Star Wars models. The only fancy thing I'm doing is thi ning the paint to simulate weathering. It is unclear what would be my best choice.
Hi John, Testors has both lacquers AND enamels, so that's confusing too. Nowadays, I try to keep my paints nice and simple and often use lacquers for their strength over large surfaces and as base and color coats. Then we can switch down to enamels and water based acrylics for our details. I try to show cause this in my newer videos for you. Hope that helps!
Which is the best water based acrylic to use? Are they worth the trouble? Have access to these brands - Mig Ammo, AK 2nd gen, AK 3rd gen and Vallejo Model Air. Will mainly be spraying through an airbrush. Have previously used Citadel and Vallejo game colour for brush painting miniatures only.
Dunno who engineered humbrol transparent colors but that smell was able to knock me out in just one faint breath in only color i ever just refused to use after opening
I've not seen one Jonathan, in fact for most of these companies they are pretty rare. They only one I have is a special present from the owner of Acrylicos Vallejo and he mentioned that they are very expensive to produce. I mostly choose either in person and guess by the bottle top or via their image on the website - not ideal but then I can just once I have them. :)
@@PaintonPlasticbyLincolnWright Hey thank you for the reply. I sort of figured that it didn't exist, but just thought I'd ask. Thank you very much. Keep up the great modeling!
@@PaintonPlasticbyLincolnWright I did end up finding the Gaianotes catalog online from their website and they did help a bit. Just thought I’d mention it as it helped me see all the colors they offer.
Basically the same as cellulose but with finetunings , i would not use these on tamiya xf paints though , 50/50 ipa and demineralised water is how i thin these
@@PaintonPlasticbyLincolnWright sorry if im going to ask another one again... , its hard to find videos and forum posts as a beginner about this.. but what can I do to make a Mr Surfacer/hobby 1000 or any range of it black/darker? They say darker primer makes good for darker theme... Im not sure if I mix Mr surfacer/hobby 1000 with any other black lacquer is advisable... thank you again.....
We are making a book and I’ve outlined all the products and steps, hope this help as well. I’m very excited to share, you can sign up for the announcements on my website if you are keen - www.paintonplastic.com
Kinda stupid that people think that acrylic paint is only non toxic water based or latex based paints. While outside the artist community its actually more normal that acrylic paint is solvent based. There are so many acrylic paints that are solvent based more than what are water based. Acrylic laqcuers (Xylene and acetone based) , Acrylic enamels (oil based) and alcohol based acrylics (Propylene Glycol based)
Correction, "tamiya is technically an enamel" is not correct although they do also offer an enamel line of paints. The standard line of X and XF Tamiya paints are Acrylic lacquers. Hope it helps!
Who listens to the manufacturer's recommendation? I mean that's why we have the rule of thumb of what types can and can't be painted over other types. /end sarcasm
Thanks for watching, here's the matching blog post for your reference; bit.ly/Linc-paint-guide
This is exactly what I've been looking for, a clear explanation on these by someone who uses them!
Awesome stuff Link!
Glad it was helpful!
That was the first "paint guide" video I saw which unambiguously stated that Tamiya paint actually is a lacquer paint and that people should take safety measures when spraying it. Thank you !
Glad it was helpful!
Didn’t think I would find all the information I needed in 1 video
I had NOT known that the Tamiya works best with lacquer thinner. That's an eye-opener for sure.
This question always reminds me of a quote or bit of wisdom I used to hear back in my photography days: “the best camera is the one in your hand.” I always thought it was a Henri Cartier-Bresson quite but I can’t seem to find its actual origin. Nice technical breakdown 👌
Precisely this, "the best paint is the one you have the most skill and experience with." Thanks, I worked to keep it nice, simple and accessible. Predator handshake here.
I actually personally love to use enamels as they seem to be built for hand-painting. I personally don't have any windows for where I work at and I don't own the place where I live so I can't make modifications. The spray booth can only do so much. With that, the only stuff I can really spray is water-based acrylics, which I'm not super fond of working with. So generally, I'm forced to work with spray cans and brushes, much like the same scenario in the video where you painted that Grimoire. With that, I'm kinda forced to do a bit of my own testing and research to find what I like, since there aren't as many demonstrations for hand-painting as there is for airbrushing.
With that, I was wondering if you were able to show off more skills using enamels as a color coat. I know you have used them in the past with another Gunpla model, but I would love to see more!
Sure thing, will work on it. ^^ I have more Gundam kits on the way too.
What would anybody recommend for a metal model with plastic windiws?
Got some graffiti to put on a off brand z scale london tube train.
The graff needs to cover both surfaces so it a head scratcher for me.
Also any tips on brushes to work so small too would be cool.
Im UK based..
MR.Color gundam paints are the best and i almost tried them all, the paint is more durable, more scratch resistant and i like how you could panel line after painting, then just clean it up with a plastic eraser and it won't damage paint.
Excellent summary for newcomers! Great job!
Thank you Didac 🙏
Just heard your name mentioned by someone in the hobby community. I am newly discovering you but greatly appreciate this content.
Awesome, thank you!
The age jokes hit me in the funnies thank you for that!
Well damn, I am still confused. Looking for paints for a teenager to get into airbrushing his model planes. He can use it outside, and can get a mask. Is that enough safety for the acrylic lacquers? If he gets lazy and sneaky, and doesn't use the mask, how dangerous are they? Or, are the acrylic water based paints just fine for a beginner?
"very" helpful video...explained a lot of the 101s about the different types of paint you can use...
Hello sir. Im now handbrush top coat. Yes i did that. The result are vary. I use tamiya acrylic clear. Sometimes good, sometimes shitty. I want to ditch out the can spray top coat. Bcoz had to wait good condition to spray.
My questions are:
what kind of acrylic paint that suits me?
Does prethinned color suits handbrush?
What differences of solvent, leveller and other thinner? (Ofc remover for removing and tool cleaner for tools)
Should i switch from acrylic to enamel? Does enamel disturb tamiya accent panel line?
My goal is to keep top coating with handbrush. Im sorry cant afford airbrushing sets.
Thank you for anyones answers.
Mr Hobby says their solvent based lacquer topcoat (Mr Super Clear) cannot be used on water based paint. What's your opinion on that?
Mr color and mrp are my favorites by far
If you were to brush on acrylic lacquers, would you need a mask? Or would simply opening the window be fine?
Can you use lacquer clear on waterslide decals without damaging the decal?
Can you use solvent based clear coat on top of water decals? Things like lacquer or enamel solvent type top coat.
Hey can you use normal painters acrylic paint on a model kit
Thanks a lot for this explanation! I was wondering what "water based acrylic lacquer" were, since I used Tamiya paints during a long time for model kits, but now that I started painting 3d prints and using regular acrylics I found that the adherence and thickness were a lot different of what I was used to.
Maybe I'll start using acrylic lacquers from now on for better results. I wonder if I can also use a wet palette to keep them from drying, especially when I mix colours during long paints....
Happy to help 👋
Thank you! This is really helpful since I’m shopping for paint to use with an airbrush on garage kits and 3d printed figures. probably best for me to use water based acrylics because of fumes, since even tho they can be tricky with an airbrush ive used them a lot for hand painting! Also good to know that I can use mr. super clear over it since I use that already!
You're very welcome!
You're the man Link! Rock on! LINK FOR PRESIDENT!! Haha.
Wait, I'm not already President? Where is all this free candy coming from then?
I want to paint my switch and i use it quite often(2-3hrs/day), lacquer paint looks like the most durable for it? Should i spray something over it too for more protection from wear and tear. The design has thin lines(smt v gakuran design) which im afraid would start to erase very fast. Donno if i should paint or make a skin. Wanted to paint bc of transparent shell. Digital artist btw:) used to work with ink and pens before.
Hey! Thanks for the question - I can totally understand wanting that perfect, durable finish on a custom-painted switch. Lacquer is a solid choice for durability, especially with a clear coat on top. However, when it comes to intricate designs like thin lines, wear and tear is a real factor, especially with frequent handling. Another option might be custom skins, which are easier to replace but won't have that transparent look you're after. Either way, your transparent shell concept sounds awesome - best of luck, and let us know how it goes!
For detailed advice or if you're interested, I've got a guide that goes deeper into materials and finishes for durable, custom paint jobs on small tech - check it out on my site!
This was very helpful, thank you!
Most welcome Brian !
You say that Tamiya Acrylics are among the best for hand brushing. Is this also true of their gloss colours? I am trying to see how to hand brush model cars with gloss paint. It is very difficult to do this without very obvious brush strokes, I find.
Hey, I use acrylic Vallejo etc on kitbashing models HT etc and there are many primers but what adhesive would you advise best that will apply thin but hold paint. I also use mr colour lacquers but what would you advise as a pre paint adhesive rather than the myriad of primers. Thanks in advance 👍🏻
Whatever happened to Testors and their Model Masters series? 😢
A very good explanation. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
That was very helpful, thank you.
Really nice guide :) I am somehow forced to used water based paints because of my allergy,. I sometimes use enames washed because of ability to correct mistakes.
Nice!
The problem is some paints like AK 3rd, Humbrol, Gaia are very very hard to get in the US, while Reaper and Pro Acryl are easy to get in the US, but might be hard to get across the pond so to speak.
I mainly do gundam model kits and wondering what type of paint should I use on ABS plastic?
What about clear coats over water-slide decals?
Since winter is now do you think you could do a video of you painting Vallejo mecha the most proficient way anyone can do?
Yes, I could totally do that and it would be the best but... I don't want to. Need the right feelz to get into that. Mostly kidding but I have 2 more projects ready for paint. One is hand brushing with water based acrylics - please be excited for that one and airbrushing with acrylic lacquers - Tamiya LP, Mr Color and maybe Gaianotes too. After that... let's talk again!
@@PaintonPlasticbyLincolnWright sure and I look forward to that handbrush video because I gotta stop doing thick coats of paint
Helpful video for someone new to scale models and airbrushing. Are the Tamiya XF and X paints safe enough to spray at home if used with a thinner like X-20A and with good ventilation? I was going to avoid using fully lacquer materials like Leveling Thinner and Mr Hobby colors, and hoping that these Tamiya paints provided a nice middle ground of safety and effectiveness.
Thank you. The Tamiya range of XF and F still require the full safety precautions when using their X-20A thinner. It's still a toxic solvent and especially harmful when atomised and ingested via the lungs.
Great video mate, cheers. Glad I found it :)
Welcome aboard!
Hello there. I'm kinda new to modeling and i noticed that putting a model together, using Testors plastic model glue. if i prepaint the parts with Enamels, like the Testors Gloss Enamel, while I'm gluing the parts, the paint "melts away" and looks like ....... I Don't know if i'm doing something wrong. if i should use a different glue, or paint all, when done gluing it together.....Can you please advise me if you can?
Someone suggested Acrylic paint, but i was told that it doesn't look as good???
(Though it does dry faster and has easier cleaning, being water based....)
Thank you for your time.
Hey Lincoln, this was soooooo helpful, thank you so much! 🙂
May I ask one question. You said acrylic lacquers also act like primers when airbrushed, does this statement also apply to Tamiya X/XF acrylics?
I have here a Tamiya X-1 Gloss Black and thought about airbrushing it on bare plastic/resin. This would reduce my worktime as I wouldn't need an external primer.
Eager to hear your reply!
Thanks in advance.
I used Testors as a kid. I believe that was an enamel lacquer. Is there a better option? I just want to paint models, primarily Star Wars models. The only fancy thing I'm doing is thi ning the paint to simulate weathering. It is unclear what would be my best choice.
Hi John, Testors has both lacquers AND enamels, so that's confusing too. Nowadays, I try to keep my paints nice and simple and often use lacquers for their strength over large surfaces and as base and color coats. Then we can switch down to enamels and water based acrylics for our details. I try to show cause this in my newer videos for you. Hope that helps!
Thanks Linc!
You bet!
Which is the best water based acrylic to use? Are they worth the trouble?
Have access to these brands - Mig Ammo, AK 2nd gen, AK 3rd gen and Vallejo Model Air.
Will mainly be spraying through an airbrush. Have previously used Citadel and Vallejo game colour for brush painting miniatures only.
Badger, Createx, Golden.....
There is another type popularized by korean modellers. 2 part Urethane paints. but that brings toxicity to another level
Yes, I will not use them myself due to the unnecessarily high toxicity and will not introduce them to my audience.
Dunno who engineered humbrol transparent colors but that smell was able to knock me out in just one faint breath in only color i ever just refused to use after opening
Great video! I learned a lot.
What about oil-based paints?
Coming soon!
Can it be use the rust oleum spray cans?
What about Minwax spray polyurethane for clear coat?
Very informative!
Glad it was helpful!
can it be use for metal ? 7:01
Wait. So water based acrylic can be thinned and cleaned up with water? So I can just wash it with water to remove the paint?
Nope, once dryed won´t get activated by water.
So educational thank you 😊
Glad it was helpful!
I've re-watched this video at least 10 times...
What about mr hobby, can I use water?
Mr. Hobby has a water based range along with solvent based range so yes but best to double check!
Great video. May you have any thoughts on using Water Based Acrylic Spray Paints such as "MTN WATER BASED"? kindest regards.
I think I got Dane Bramage from lacquer paints
Does anyone know if GaiaNotes has a paint chip guide?
I've not seen one Jonathan, in fact for most of these companies they are pretty rare. They only one I have is a special present from the owner of Acrylicos Vallejo and he mentioned that they are very expensive to produce. I mostly choose either in person and guess by the bottle top or via their image on the website - not ideal but then I can just once I have them. :)
@@PaintonPlasticbyLincolnWright Hey thank you for the reply. I sort of figured that it didn't exist, but just thought I'd ask.
Thank you very much.
Keep up the great modeling!
@@jthespiceoflife sure thing, most welcome!
@@PaintonPlasticbyLincolnWright I did end up finding the Gaianotes catalog online from their website and they did help a bit. Just thought I’d mention it as it helped me see all the colors they offer.
What’s Laquer thinner composed of?
a mixture of solvents able to dissolve a number of different resins and plastics.
Basically the same as cellulose but with finetunings , i would not use these on tamiya xf paints though , 50/50 ipa and demineralised water is how i thin these
wow this is such a revelation
thanks!
can you paint acrylic on top of laqcuer primer?
Yes!!
@@PaintonPlasticbyLincolnWright thank you... 😊
@@PaintonPlasticbyLincolnWright sorry if im going to ask another one again... , its hard to find videos and forum posts as a beginner about this.. but what can I do to make a Mr Surfacer/hobby 1000 or any range of it black/darker? They say darker primer makes good for darker theme... Im not sure if I mix Mr surfacer/hobby 1000 with any other black lacquer is advisable... thank you again.....
We are making a book and I’ve outlined all the products and steps, hope this help as well. I’m very excited to share, you can sign up for the announcements on my website if you are keen - www.paintonplastic.com
Nice 👍
We spent years and years with enamel, no respirators protection nor even windows, open in the winter, just saying. I'm even more confused now,
Thanks for this. ;)
Most welcome 🙏
zero tip dry? ok im sold lol
Right? Oh man... tip dry on larger models.... uggghhnnnn :D
even more confused, sigh, will need to re-watch
many other water based Badger, Golden, etc....the hazardous fumes and garbage trash disposal is not worth it.....
Listen to the guy! 😂
Put that Easter egg in there for you Andy!
Kinda stupid that people think that acrylic paint is only non toxic water based or latex based paints. While outside the artist community its actually more normal that acrylic paint is solvent based. There are so many acrylic paints that are solvent based more than what are water based. Acrylic laqcuers (Xylene and acetone based) , Acrylic enamels (oil based) and alcohol based acrylics (Propylene Glycol based)
sitting here wearing clown makeup cause i didn't realize tamiya is technically an enamel lol. dont know what i thought their enamel thinner was for.
Correction, "tamiya is technically an enamel" is not correct although they do also offer an enamel line of paints. The standard line of X and XF Tamiya paints are Acrylic lacquers. Hope it helps!
@@PaintonPlasticbyLincolnWright thanks for the correction Lincoln
this is so great... nice job, thank you sir!
You're very welcome Mike!
Who listens to the manufacturer's recommendation? I mean that's why we have the rule of thumb of what types can and can't be painted over other types. /end sarcasm
Oh they are usually quite accurate and helpful.
Smell better than they taste lol
The best paints are the ones you like the best. Someone telling you what is best is redundant and asinine.
You must be the life of the party
OMG...Is the meaning of life really necessary? I just want to choose a paint...
For a water paints I need a primer?
general advice on forums say spray a very thin layer of primer.....