Enamel or Acrylic, what is your paint of choice?

[Guest]

I sometimes wonder as we rehash the same arguments over and over again, and this one staggeringly is running on two consecutive threads at the moment despite being talked to death many times over, just how much modelling we could have done in the time we have put into these discussions.


Makes you think. Well it should do.

[Guest]

My honest reason for using acyrlics over enamels? I just find it easier for me. I suffer with my hands (due to the damagd nerves in my back) and make a mess with tinlets lids and pots.


The debate about smell, im not sure is totally valid, if i open up a tinlet of humbrol, i am not instantly attacked with a smell, infact theres no smell unless you stick your nose in it and sniff!


There is however a more heavy smell when airbrushing, due to the use of thinners, but as patrick says decent equipment eleviates that.


Enamel will ALWAYS be harder once cured than acrylics, thats a fact. They do take a little longer to dry, but if the person using them is happy then whats the problem?


Paint is paint. Saying you cant do things with enamels, you cant do things with acrylics is ridiculous and pointless. Theyre paint, both will do the same things, with an adjustment of technique. The result will be similar, and in most cases this is acceptable. Exactly the same has happened in the motor trade, with oil based 2k to water based paint.


I have a bunch of tinlets, i dont use because of my hands, but enamels have their purposes ifthe user feels they will work for that particular application.


Mig jimnez in his masterclass (who creates acrylics predominantly) shows the use of acrylics to paint with, but then pulls a tin of humbrol out to use for a smoke effect, his words? He finds the enamel paint gives a better effect in this case over acrylics.


So there it is, both have their uses, and enamels wont be dissapearing in my opinion. I dont use them because i make a mess.


As i stated before, if they put the enamel in a dropper bottle, id probably use them more.


I also get dismayed to watch two people i respect on here become agitated by paint! Stop it you are better than that!

[Guest]

Everyone in life has a point of view.


If you like using enamel,great.If you like using acrylic,great.


We are all here to enjoy an hobby and get lost in the love of building/painting kit's.


Whatever methods are used is not important.


Happy modelling.


Ralph.

[Guest]

My paint of choice would probably be enamel, however in reality I almost exclusively use acrylics because of their ease of use. I used some silky matt black recently and thought I would use some enamel. It took at least two days to dry fully! The equivalent acrylic was touch dry in an hour.

[Dave Jay]

It seems I have unintentionally caused quite a furore for which I am deeply sorry. I agree with debate but when it turns in to a slanging match where people get personal with it, then it's simply not worth it. OK I started the thread which I bitterly regret but I could not see from the outset what the outcome would be, if I had known, then I wouldn't of effing bothered.


All I wanted to know is whether enamels are done with and whether there was a better alternative.


Thanks to most for their feedback and input.


But..............................................


There are times when...................................


I WISH I DIDN'T BOTHER.

[Guest]

It seems I have unintentionally caused quite a furore for which I am deeply sorry. I agree with debate but when it turns in to a slanging match where people get personal with it, then it's simply not worth it. OK I started the thread which I bitterly regret but I could not see from the outset what the outcome would be, if I had known, then I wouldn't of effing bothered.
All I wanted to know is whether enamels are done with and whether there was a better alternative.


Thanks to most for their feedback and input.


But..............................................


There are times when...................................


I WISH I DIDN'T BOTHER.

Don't worry Dave! Happens on here all the time!


Personally I can't see the problem - if you have articulate passionate people discussing a topic, then you'll get strong opinions. It's the same in any club, pub or cafe - at least here we don't shout!


But perhaps we should all be docile sheep for fear of speaking our minds?

[Guest]

Makes you think. Well it should do.

So right Richard. I shall not waste my time any more.


Laurie

[stona]

Does anyone else remember the good old days ? when all you could get was Humbrol , Airfix or perhaps Gloy or Revell paints . We were all kids just making our models and not giving a stuff what we were using (all enamels BTW) It was such a happy time - Tony

I certainly do. Drying time was an issue then as I always tried to finish a model before I started it. On the positive side, the fingerprints in the paintwork matched the gluey ones on the canopies. Tacky paint seemed to help the decals stick, just ever so slightly in the wrong places


Laurie it's not just about toxicity or a lack thereof. It's whether you want to inhale an aerosol of paint particles, whatever they are. That's why I keep saying that we should all be protecting ourselves whatever system we find best.


Alclad can provide a great demonstration of this. I sprayed a very small amount without bothering to turn on my extractor. It was a sunny day and the 'metallic' particles glittered like 'C-beams in the dark near the Tannhauser gate' as a famous skin job once said. Normally they would have been invisible.


Cheers


Steve

[Guest]

Laurie it's not just about toxicity or a lack thereof. It's whether you want to inhale an aerosol of paint particles, whatever they are. That's why I keep saying that we should all be protecting ourselves whatever system we find best.
.

If you care to look some replies back Steve !!! That in essence is what I have stated.


Now for a long sabbatical I am just fed up with being misquoted.


Laurie

[Dave Jay]

Sorry for causing such grief. I'm out of here.

[spanner570]

Here we go again following the same old tired routine. How many times have we watched this type of thread deteriorate into what we read here.......


I don't blame Dave one bit for typing......."I'm out of here." Who can blame him when he just asked - as he saw it - a simple question?

[Guest]

Oh come on mate dont take it to heart being on here and lots of other forums I knew this would happen but you had already posted it so I couldnt warn you dont leave its really great here and its not your fault you just posted a question which, lets say gets a few normally good natured people a bit tetchy, please dont do anything rash I for one would miss you.

[Guest]

Dont beat yourself up Dave. I dont think ANYONE blames you for starting a thread.

[Dave Jay]

I shall remain but only as an onlooker, I will not start any new threads except when and if I complete a model. I will not bother to reply to posts or even rate except to those on here that I absolutely respect (you know who you are).


I took a risk on being on here as I abhor social media and I believed that modellers were of a different ilk to those found on faceache and twatter, but and the end of the day people are people and they will always show themselves for what they are be it good, bad or indifferent.


All I ask now is that a moderator puts an end to this godforsaken thread.

[Dave Jay]

Oh come on mate dont take it to heart being on here and lots of other forums I knew this would happen but you had already posted it so I couldnt warn you dont leave its really great here and its not your fault you just posted a question which, lets say gets a few normally good natured people a bit tetchy, please dont do anything rash I for one would miss you.

Thanks Ken