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garhkal Sovereign Protector
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 14212 Location: Reynoldsburg, Columbus, Ohio.
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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2022 4:54 pm Post subject: Acrylic or enamel paints for minis?? |
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So when you get minis, which is your favored paint type? What tricks do you use, to clean the brushes after use? _________________ Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk! |
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Ziz Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 26 Feb 2022 Posts: 112
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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2022 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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Let me chime in as a model builder.
First off, give the figures a gentle wash with dish detergent and an old toothbrush. I say "gentle" because you don't want to break off things like lightsabers or other weapon tip protrusions. Pat them dry with a paper towel, then let them air dry for a day or so.
Next, spray paint them a flat white or light grey primer coat. That will give you a more uniform color base rather than the raw metal. Go easy on it though as you don't want the primer to fill in details. Mist it on in several passes, about 6-12 inches away, and NEVER start on the subject - start off to one side and pass by it, then stop when you're off the subject on the other side. The initial blast of paint tends to make pools and drips.
Now that the color is more uniform, it's easier to see where sculpting blemishes, flash and mold lines are. Flash is those flat bits where the mold halves weren't super tight. This is the time to go in with files and a hobby knife to clean up those trouble spots. Give them another shot of primer when you're done.
For painting, enamels will give you a tougher finish but acrylics are easier to work with. Enamels need paint thinner to clean up, acrylics are water-based. If you're not the artistic type, go with acrylics. If you've worked with enamels before, you might want to thin them a touch to make them flow easier on pieces this small. Try a few different thinness mixtures until you find something thinner than the straight paint but not watery - you're looking for something the consistency of milk or coffee creamer. Lighter colors might take two or three coats to get consistent coverage.
Get yourself a good set of fine point brushes and have at it. And if you feel like you screwed up and want to start over, oven cleaner spray is a great paint stripper. Spray some in a plastic food container or soda cup, throw the figures in for 15-30 minutes, then go back to the initial cleaning process and start over.
Final step is to hit them with some kind of clear coat to protect them from the constant handling running your game and moving them in and out of storage between sessions. Flat is typical, but semi-gloss works better as it will reflect a bit of light at the right angle. |
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TauntaunScout Line Captain
Joined: 20 Apr 2015 Posts: 981
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2022 2:01 pm Post subject: |
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Acrylic. One in a blue moon I bust out some enamels for very specific uses but it's basically all acrylic all the time, round here. |
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garhkal Sovereign Protector
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 14212 Location: Reynoldsburg, Columbus, Ohio.
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2022 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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Just asking, as i still have lots of my modeling enamel paints, from the days i made 1:35 WW2 tanks and such.. _________________ Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk! |
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Ziz Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 26 Feb 2022 Posts: 112
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2022 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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The main thing to keep in mind with enamels is the cleanup with paint thinner. You need to plan your painting sessions to give yourself the extra few minutes to clean up. Acrylics cleaning up with water is much faster and more forgiving if you forget to clean up right away. |
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garhkal Sovereign Protector
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 14212 Location: Reynoldsburg, Columbus, Ohio.
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 3:09 am Post subject: |
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I know, from the days of painting 3 separate panthers, 3 shermans, and a pair of Pac-88's! MAN those were the days. _________________ Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk! |
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TauntaunScout Line Captain
Joined: 20 Apr 2015 Posts: 981
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2022 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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garhkal wrote: | I know, from the days of painting 3 separate panthers, 3 shermans, and a pair of Pac-88's! MAN those were the days. |
If you like them and are good at using them, enamels have their merits. They do cover well. And they're more durable once they cure than acrylics are. |
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garhkal Sovereign Protector
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 14212 Location: Reynoldsburg, Columbus, Ohio.
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2022 2:13 am Post subject: |
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And you don't need to worry about laquiring them over... _________________ Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk! |
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Dr. Bidlo Commander
Joined: 24 Nov 2021 Posts: 440 Location: Arizona, USA
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2022 2:20 am Post subject: |
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I used enamel paint when doing dinosaur models when I was in Kindergaeten... when I learned about acrylic, I really learned how to paint. Enamel = messy, toxic, glossy, lacking fine detail. Acrylic = quick drying, easy to use, easy to clean, infinitely more adaptable. When you are finished painting in acrylic, just give is a good matte lacquer coat for protection. Just my bias. |
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TauntaunScout Line Captain
Joined: 20 Apr 2015 Posts: 981
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2022 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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Dr. Bidlo wrote: | Enamel = lacking fine detail. |
Most people use toxic stuffs to clean the brushes but you're really supposed to thin it with a runny fire hazard, and clean the brushes with Dawn and water. Thinned enamels don't lack for detail.
I used enamels for model kits from pre-K to 6th grade. When I finally got my first miniatures, after pining for them from 2nd to 6th grade, I used enamels with poor results. Switched to assorted acrylics of varying qualities and rarely look back!
There is something nostalgic about those horrible fumes though!
Nowadays there is also a bonus of Army Painter making special Star Wars themed acrylic paints. |
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Dr. Bidlo Commander
Joined: 24 Nov 2021 Posts: 440 Location: Arizona, USA
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2022 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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TauntaunScout wrote: | Dr. Bidlo wrote: | Enamel = lacking fine detail. |
Most people use toxic stuffs to clean the brushes but you're really supposed to thin it with a runny fire hazard, and clean the brushes with Dawn and water. Thinned enamels don't lack for detail.
I used enamels for model kits from pre-K to 6th grade. When I finally got my first miniatures, after pining for them from 2nd to 6th grade, I used enamels with poor results. Switched to assorted acrylics of varying qualities and rarely look back!
There is something nostalgic about those horrible fumes though!
Nowadays there is also a bonus of Army Painter making special Star Wars themed acrylic paints. |
Truly, that biased response was from my opinion as a kindergartener, so I am sure it is somewhat misguided. I just have never attempted to go back to enamels, but I am sure they have their place. |
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Ziz Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 26 Feb 2022 Posts: 112
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2022 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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Again, speaking as a modeler, it's not a matter of one being absolutely better than the other - each has their ups and downs.
Metal minis aside, I've also found that certain paints work better on different materials. Enamels are better for plastic while acrylics are better on vinyl or resin. There's also a lot more available in enamel spray paints than acrylic ones. |
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garhkal Sovereign Protector
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 14212 Location: Reynoldsburg, Columbus, Ohio.
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Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2022 1:52 am Post subject: |
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Which is why i have lots OF enamels.. Mostly Tamiya paints.. _________________ Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk! |
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Ziz Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 26 Feb 2022 Posts: 112
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Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2022 1:55 am Post subject: |
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Tamiya is acrylic. Testors is enamel. |
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fogger1138 Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 25 Feb 2021 Posts: 104 Location: Maine
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Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2022 9:42 am Post subject: |
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Ziz wrote: | Tamiya is acrylic. Testors is enamel. |
Neither of those are exclusively true. Tamiya has an enamel line and Testors has an acrylic line (although it looks like it's going away, sadly). |
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