Paint Types: What's the Difference?

[@jangelbrich7056]

Thanks for this walk-through. I remember from 50 years ago when my father introduced me into plastic modelling, we only had Humbrol Enamel - and I did not know of anything else for decades after that. And when I used an airbrush for my first time (doing all my work with real brushes), I only found that this did not work the way I was used to ... but there was no one to explain to me why not.

[@timastley8182]

Can I check that turps works ok as a thinner for enamel paints like Humbrol?

[@MetroHobbiesAus]

Yes, turpentine will thin and clean enamel paints. No problem :)

[@Luke-en2tk]

Great video, the Tamiya acrylic paints are alcohol based though not water based. I'm tempted to stock the AK paints as I'm looking for a decent brush on solution to stock

[@warwicksworkshop9511]

Max said that the carrier in Tamiya paints is water soluble, which is correct. Semantics at this juncture though, really. Pro Tip: You can thin Tamiya acrylics with lacquer thinners and they behave just like a lacquer.

[@Luke-en2tk]

@@warwicksworkshop9511 yeah I'm sure he knows his stuff it just sounded a little misleading as some of the others are water based. Yep I already stock the Tamiya lacquer thinners for the acrylics, it slows the drying period

[@JohnMcGillivray-u4b]

You are correct, look on the Tamiya acrylic jar & you will see a hazard division symbol. This paint thins with methylated spirits and laquer thinner .

[@peterbrown3608]

Tamiya have one other range of paints, specifically aimed at their RC range of vehicles, those being specifically for Polycarbonate. What type of paints are those? I think they're usually only in a spray can, as they're aimed at RC vehicles they might be more hard wearing?

[@warwicksworkshop9511]

They don't say what type they are but I suspect lacquer. You can add a plasticiser to any paint, theoretically, to make it more flexible. I've used SMS 'Flex' with all the brands of lacquer paint brands with great success, both on PC and ABS.

[@MetroHobbiesAus]

Hi Peter, Tamiya PS paints are a synthetic lacquer that is formulated to bond to polycarbonate and remains flexible once dry. They are not necessarily harder wearing, I've found they are actually a bit softer when fully dried. They are normally painted on the inside of a clear RC body (so it doesn't scratch off)

[@peterbrown3608]

@@MetroHobbiesAus Way back in the late 70's I built a couple of RC cars, Wild Willy's, I forget what the other one was called. Back then the bodies were just like normal plastic model kit bodies; I have the Fiat Abarth 1000 waiting to be built which has the clear polycarbonate body. Things have changed a lot.

[@rodgerkelly]

Thanks for the easy to understand explanation. By the way, the background music is too loud and distracting!