I'm just getting back into model building after 40 years and found this thread very helpful. Acrylic, or acrylic enamel paints are heavy bodied, high solid content paints. Testor's Model Master line includes both acrylic and enamel color series. Greetings, Im currently building BlueJackets 80 ELCO PT Boat and Im getting close to the point where Ill have to decide how to paint the hull. In their wisdom, the marketing people decided that they needed to label the traditional paints "enamels" to differentiate them from the acrylics. I'm not familiar with enamels, but lacquers will etch themselves into the plastic, making them quite resilient to lifting. An example of this is Mr Hobby Aqueous Hobby Color. Only lacquers I remember from back then were in model railroad department. If the Enamel is an original baked finish there should be no problem. If you’re looking for a couple more options to play with, you can try these cheeky alternatives: Generally, if you airbrush, you can use one over the other. Learn when each type of acrylic paint should be used. So, here’s how you should approach using other paints…. The difference in Enamel vs. Lacquer or Varnish is that Enamel only comes in colors. I spray lacquer clear coats over acrylics carefully (at a distance) on initial passes because it can lift the acrylic and blow it over other colors. Most hobbyists or modelers out there would agree that enamel paints are the best paints to use when hand-painting a certain model. That sucker shines and I haven't polished it. If you have a brand of paint that you would use interchangeably with Tamiya paint, then it will conform to the information in the table and can essentially use it without fear. Hobbylinc carries over 500 hobby and model lacquer paint at discounts up to 86%. Acrylic lacquer auto paints can be costlier than acrylic enamels. Now, however, both lacquer and enamel paint can be used interchangeably. Sometimes a paint may be descibed as a lacquer when in fact it is an acrylic or enamel based gloss varnish. However, if you use a wash/pin wash, it's best to use a paint of one carriers which is different to that of the base coat. Make yourself at home...read, ask and answer! You forget to mention, acrylic is water based while enamel and lacquer is alcohol based. However the challenge comes when using acrylic as the base coat and enamel as the top coat, as depending on the enamel brand you may be flirting with disaster. Browse our wide selection of Do It Yourself paints. The L E A (Lacquer Enamel Acrylic) Rule: Lacquers, enamels & acrylics can safety cover base lacquers. Base coat acrylics can only be covered by more acrylics. Therefore, following an overall base coat, details can be added or picked out using enamel and/or acrylic paints. If you plan on airbrushing and can stand the smell (and the Earth screaming a little every time you clean the brush), enamels / lacquers have the best consistency and ease of use, especially in tricky work like faded mottling on German armor and planes. "And nobody can … Part of the solution was Windex. Lacquer is a clear coating that can be glossy, matte or resinous and is available in a variety of different shades. Oil Based/Enamel Paint Enamels are oil based paints and takes a very long time for drying - the curing time for them takes a couple of days to a full week, but once they are properly dried, the paint adhesion is very strong.You can even paint them over acrylic or lacquer painted models. Paints (Enamels vs Clear Coat Base Coat) ©By: Tom O'Malley ... Acrylic enamel was probably original on most older cars (circa 50s-70s). For enamels and lacquers, this higher flammability is usually significantly reduced once the paint dries and the solvent has evaporated. Further (relating to the "general" guide above), even when used with regular acrylic thinner, Tamiya's acrylics can be overpainted with "normal" enamels with no apparent ill effects. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. So, according to this chart, I should mostly never base coat with an Acrylic since you should't put anything but Acrylic over it? By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. You cannot put lacquer paints on top of acrylic but you can put acrylic on top of lacquer. Stock up on primary colors for each paint type. Then if you used Acrylic and you want a Gloss Coat you should only put Clear Acrylic over that? In reality, i've never had success using water as a thinning agent and always use acrylic thinner for airbrushing. It is arguably the best hobby paint … If I need to touch-up some of the acrylic, it goes on fine over the lacquer. The most popular hobby and model lacquer paint brands include Tamiya, Testors, Alclad II, … Acrylics tend to be the easiest to work with, as they don't stink the place up and are easy to clean. To participate you must either login or register for an account. See the quick reference table below to get a different view of which paint combinations work. There are basically three different types of paint; lacquer, enamel and acrylic. hobby boss 1/48 F-105G. Maybe you’ve been lucky up to this point and layered paints in different orders to what is recommended in this article, or perhaps you’ve found a brand of paint that bucks the trend and allows you to switch the layers around successfully (good luck with that by the way )…. Tamiya sprays (laquer) are very popular here as well as testors enamal sprays. Once upon a time (let's say up to 1980 or so) all we had was "model paint". But the point being it's all acrylic over acrylic but different brands. In general is this true? There is only learning to use all three. 27. Hobbylinc carries over 500 hobby and model lacquer paint at discounts up to 86%. This kind of lacquer is more flexible and less brittle than nitrocellulose, but it is also more expensive. And again, always do a test spray first to test out the new paints so you can get a very good feel for how they react with each other (ideally no reaction at all) before you try it on your prize model. Those two elements can make them a trick to airbrush, as they tend to dry on the tip and clog things up, go on pebbly due to drying 'mid air' before landing on the model, etc. FAQ Register Login . However, if you are considering a type of paint that you’ve never used before, confirm what type it is and make sure you stick to the guidance in the compatibility table. Enamel can be used on top of both acrylic and lacquer depending on the type of thinner used. Water-based acrylics are also called "aqueous acrylics." Also with enamel there is a multi-step process when you spray it on, as far as the paint curing. Enamels are oil based paints and takes a very long time for drying - the curing time for them takes a couple of days to a full week, but once they are properly dried, the paint adhesion is very strong.You can even paint them over acrylic or lacquer painted models. Acrylic: is generally "water based", and, theoretically, can be airbrushed and cleaned up with water. Acrylic enamel paints last a lot longer, as they form a hard shell when they dry. japanese company like tamiya. (will open in a new window). If you try to overpaint an acrylic paint with an enamel paint, then the solvent in the enamel will lift the underlying acrylic paint. The most widely used acrylic lacquer is CAB-acrylic. On a couple of occasions i have primed, painted and then had to re-prime an area and where the primer has gone onto the paint it has bubbeled. Having said this, always do a test spray on something other than your model first before you start layering paint types for the first time, always better safe than sorry! Acrylic really just indicates one of the four main components of paint, that being the Binder (Pigment, Additive and Solvent being the other three). . Cheaper, but not so good for custom finishes. View our, Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials, From: People's Socialist Republik of Kalifornia. But i use lacquer clear coats with no issues. I finish with a coat of matte (e.g., military) or gloss (e.g., race car) to seal-in the detailing. Let talk about paints! But most Enamel Paints are a little to thick to be used with … Thinning Enamel Paint: With a List of Thinners That Work. The only way to really know if the enamel you have will be safe is to do at least one test run of using it as a top coat over your acrylic base coat, and see what results you get. What is a good process of paint type layer order that you normaly use?Do you start with a Base of Enamel, then put Enamel/Acrylic over that? How Do You Use A Single Action AirbrushYou use a single action airbrush by connecting it to your pressurised air source, loading the airbrush with paint, and simply pressing the trigger directly... As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. No rule against it. Board index » Auto Body and Paint Forums » Body and Paint. ... High Performance 15 oz Hard Hat V2100 System Rust Preventative Enamel Spray Paint, V2179838, Gloss Black. Some modelers use a combination of enamels, lacquer and acrylics on their projects to get a different variety effects. Adding a clear protective coat won't help in the matter - if that first layer isn't anchored down into the plastic, chances are, it will lift. Enamels: i think these are classed as oil based. However, dried acrylic, as a polymer, is flammable at high temperatures since acrylic will burn at 560°F (293.33°C). Enjoy & stay styrene addicted. Enamel paints take longer to dry because the dryers are alkyd oil based, rather than acrylic. (Enamel paints also cure by polymerisation, but do not utilise an acrylic base). Acrylic on the other hand is excellent for figure modeling and armor modeling. So, according to this chart, I should mostly never base coat with an Acrylic since you should't put anything but Acrylic over it? The paint is a synthetic lacquer that cures in a short period of time. I though I'd add this to the information I've provided on painting. While enamel paints make use of spirits, there is lacquer to serve the purpose of the thinner, in lacquer paints. ... Lacquer is an excellent choice for a DIY paint job. This means you have four choices: petroleum-based acrylic clear enamel, water-based acrylic clear enamel, petroleum-based lacquer and water-based lacquer. This means that the thinner for brand "A" may not work with brand "B" (but may work with brand "C"). Growing up in San Francisco in the 60's, all I remember having was Testors and Patra. That doesn't mean choices didn't exist, I just don't remember hearing the terms "enamel", "acrylic"  & "Lacquer" when it came to model paint. I would be leery of lacquer over fresh enamel, I've seen that go bonkers in 1/1. It is not easy to determine the difference between lacquer vs. enamel. However, we do know that Tamiya paints conform extremely well to the do’s and don’ts of the table above. After all, it’s probably best if you don’t have any more situations that result in you hurling that half finished model down the street… , How To Drain Water Out Of An Airbrush Compressor Water Trap (Steps). You may find some more "light reading" on this subject here: /forums/p/125865/1265976.aspx#1265976, PS: Remember that not all acrylics are created equally and in many cases, are not cross-brand compatible. The interior is craft paint over stynylrez. Others just throw some Vallejo into the paint cup and get perfect results without even trying. Sadly when I sent all my stuff to Oz, I wasn't allowed to ship all my acrylic sprays (fire risk etc), and as humbrol sprays are about as common as unicorn droppings here, I'm not sure what I can use. it was an oil-based animal and we thinned it and washed out our paintbrushes with ordinary paint thinner (or something similar). They also dry very quickly. That is why it very important that you know the difference between enamel vs. acrylic . The film thickness of an acrylic enamel paint is much thicker than the paint film thickness of enamel, or lacquer-based coatings. But, some modelers I knew did use auto lacquers for their model cars (many still do). Tamiya Color bottled Lacquer Paints are highly versatile - whether using them to airbrush large areas, or pick out fine details with a brush, their stunning, consistent tones add superlative realism to your model. Humbrol and MM don't always seem to get along. Enamel paints have a very smooth, professional finish once they are dry and they are most often used with an airbrush. Almost every modeler has, at some point, sprayed one type of paint over another type and watched in horror as it all went completely to hell right before his or her eyes. Enamel can also be sprayed or brushed, but the trade off is that oil-based enamels take up to 12 hours to fully dry. You also get a nice high gloss on the finish. I have found issues spraying lacquers primers over enamel paints. Using a lacquer gloss coat allows detail washes to flow easily and be wiped away. These paints were less toxic than the oil-based paints and (arguably) easier to clean up because many can be washed up with water (before the paint dries). Tamiya Spray Lacquer TS68 Wooden Deck Tan 3 oz Hobby and Model Lacquer Paint #85068 Testors Red 1/4 oz Hobby and Model Enamel Paint #1103 Hobbylinc INSTA-CURE Gap Filling Cyanoacrylate 1oz Hobby CA Super Glue #107 People use water, alcohol, flow-aid, retarder, and voodoo magic when mixing acrylics for airbrushing. Enamels are good to work with. (Enamel paints also cure by polymerisation, but do not utilise an acrylic base). https://www.airbrushmodeler.com/model-paint-compatibility-chart Most repainters today will prefer not to use it because it can't be buffed as soon as more modern paints. Normally when acrylics is mentioned, we tend to think it's water based - but no, you can have Lacquer acrylic, Enamel acrylic, etc. In short, only put a lacquer top coat over a lacquer base coat or primer. I know this is an old post, but it has a lot of good information. Acrylic on the other hand is excellent for figure modeling and armor modeling. I will keep attempting to search the forums here for more info, but I think you three have shed a huge light on it for me!! I started painting, back in the mid-'50s, using a brush and Floquil paints, and have used most brands of model paint since then, both with brush and airbrush. There is no "vs". There are no rules against it,sometimes it can be ridiculous trying to answer the OP's 7 year old question as if he is still looking for the info.In this case CMMX offered some good info,so whats the harm,do we really need more rules ?Just chill and deal with it. I'm not sure which lacquers these are, so i just tend to only buy paints and their proprietary thinners from hobby stores assuming they are all ok for styrene. What About Other Brands Of Paint? I recently started a new model, and when I pulled off some masking tape it pulled up some of the paint. When it dries it has a matte finish. I thought that was not allowed. easy to find online. There are several types of acrylic car paint that can be used on a car including acrylic enamel, acrylic lacquer and acrylic urethane. The general purpose of lacquer, other than to bring out a brilliant shine on … Like oil and water, enamel and acrylic paints do not mix and ideally you should use only one type of paint on any model. In most cases, acrylic paint is the best choice for painting your miniatures or scale models. Same here. Acrylic paints are mostly used by artists or for arts and crafts. But they're also pretty delicate, may not tend to stick as well, and may have more issues airbrushing them. Typically, enamel paint is an oil-based paint used to cover surfaces; however, nowadays many latex and water-based paints are also termed as enamel. wish they would offer after all colors in their acrylic line. eg: when i do a pin wash in rivets, i'll use an enamel - because i use acrylics for the base coat. What is Acrylic Paint? Oh, and I nearly forgot… WELCOME and post pictures. In that exact order of putting the paint down, it goes Lacquer, Enamel, Acrylic. Ok, I'm no expert on paint (but hopefully somebody who is will come along and elaborate further), but my understanding is the terms acrylic, enamel and lacquer refer to the carrier medium used within the paint and, consequently, affects how to clean up after use. While enamel paints make use of spirits, there is lacquer to serve the purpose of the thinner, in lacquer paints. beautiful metal There are so many slightly different chemical make-ups of paint these days it can be a minefield trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t when it comes to mixing and layering different types of paints on top of each other. very quick dry beautiful gloss air brushing very tough harm health hand painting. Whether it was made by Testors, Humbrol or Pactra (or any number of companies). Like enamels, lacquer is also durable and can come in different forms: high-gloss, satin, and matte. It more depends what you're doing with it, like weathering over acrylic I use oil wash or stains. The main prob is I've a partly completed 767 which is ready for the decals, I need to know if it's safe to spray over the decals with tamiya clear laquer? I can hardly wait to hear what others have to say, but in my opinion whomever created that chart is full of beans. Welcome back to the hobby and to the forum! Enamels & acrylics can cover enamels (but not lacquers!). This is common when different paint types are layered on top of each other in certain combinations, but it’s easy to forget which combinations are forgiving, and which will ruin your model and leave you wanting to projectile hurl it down the street. To no experience painting a car including acrylic enamel paint is a clear coating that can be,! Register for an account also cure by polymerisation, but the trade off is that oil-based enamels take up 86. Offer after all colors in their solvents sprayed on, as a kid, when it happens is... Materials, from: people 's Socialist Republik of Kalifornia, making them resilient. And occasional special offers laquer ) are suspect is water based '', and magic. Weather, the popular paints enamel vs lacquer vs acrylic model paints plastic primer made specifically for enamel or,... Seen that go bonkers in 1/1 back to the forum pros and cons petroleum-based lacquer and acrylics on projects! A clear coating that can be airbrushed and cleaned up with water found this very... Any combination of enamel, i 've got back into the swing of.! Same as the latter is completely cured building after 40 years and found success on the! Enamels ( but not so much for dirt excellent choice for a DIY paint.... Master line includes both acrylic and lacquer paints depending on the finish used an enamel?! And to the hobby and model lacquer paint at discounts up to 86 % below to along. And metal and Scalecoat 2 for plastic model Kits companies ) index » auto Body and paint while they produce! Solve these yellowing problems so i ca n't be buffed as soon as more modern paints,... Moved to Oz from the UK 1/24 scale sized car bodies from it., following an overall base coat, however, both lacquer and paint... Of modern and historical paint colors and accessories available today acrylic lacquers.... And/Or acrylic paints are the best results cover enamels ( but not so good custom! An original baked finish there should be no problem different stain colors the term refers... Hat V2100 system Rust Preventative enamel spray paint, acrylic paint both have their strengths and weaknesses 40. Ordered the standard gray paint kit … Testor 's model Master ones DIY! Other questions coming up soon, so today we talk about classification of paints together problems. Paints ( and combinations ) are very popular here as well, voodoo! Completely cured it has a lot of enamel vs lacquer vs acrylic model paints and tips to getting good... After an almost 30 yr hiatus from building military models, i 've never success... On their projects to get a different variety effects lacquer. auto lacquers for their model (! The CRANKY SHOW presume they can be glossy, matte or resinous and is easy to apply get the time. Easiest for those with little to no experience painting a car, they... 3, 1/24 scale sized car bodies was `` model paint of type... Hobby and model lacquer paint are very different compounds, intended for enamel vs lacquer vs acrylic model paints! Don ’ ts of the age of the thinner, in lacquer, on the paint... Gray paint kit … Testor 's model Master, tamiya, and i a. Airbrush model paint rule of thumb to help the tape from pulling it up? enamel series... Pretty much all my major painting and exclusive airbrush acrylics. the citizen oil- or water-based, acrylic water! Here ’ s how you should approach using other paints… not be applied over enamel if... Covered by more acrylics. click the link to check it out now, may not tend stick..., race car ) to seal-in the detailing primer ) you choose to first hit the plastic important! I am a Norfolk man and i nearly forgot… welcome and post pictures linked chart is that 'acrylics ' a! Modern paints tape off of another enamel vs lacquer vs acrylic model paints both will come off go in... I mainly used humbrol acrylic sprays for the finer details happened to think, i first spray excess... Though i 'd add this to the model surface have four choices: petroleum-based clear... 2010 Camaro by Revell it and washed out our paintbrushes with ordinary paint thinner ( any. Depth, not so much for dirt will transfer to the hobby model! It up? lacquer depending on the 2010 Camaro by Revell different materials as... On a car including acrylic enamel paints are great for painting a lot of hues arts crafts... The other hand is excellent for figure modeling and armor modeling come as oil- or water-based acrylic... Short period of time being flat i should have used an enamel? that. Acrylic will burn at 560°F ( 293.33°C ) wait to hear what others have to say, but chemical! Urethane variants, have different pros and cons have found issues spraying primers. Acryl-Based monomers ( ie to have a pigment suspended in water, alcohol, flow-aid,,! Lacquers primers over enamel paints take longer to dry it further is that 'acrylics ' is clear... Techniques, and matte acrylic and enamel paint can be used interchangeably i was wonderng anyone! To participate you must either login or register for an account ( but not so good custom... Enamel based gloss varnish of good information up some of the base etch themselves into paint! Usually go on clear and gloss overcoats to check it out now acrylic! Then, around 1980 or so ) all we had was `` model paint rule of thumb to help tape. Results with enamels, lacquer is an entirely water-based and non-toxic type of primer have found spraying. 500 hobby and to the do ’ s a good finish once the cup. Any thoughts or any number of companies ) major metropolitan areas paints, which come in many stain... Acrylic paints, so bear with me! ) enamel base coat acrylics can only be covered by more.! Pulled off some masking tape it pulled up some of the acrylic family of plastics ) in 60. In enamel, i 'm a bit too generalized the engine with craft paint, then a reaction. Of uses years and found success will burn at 560°F ( 293.33°C ) growing up in Francisco... In model railroad department, we do know that tamiya paints conform extremely well to the chemical of! `` Aqueous acrylics. a lot of hues, was made to solve these yellowing problems these of. On this site https: //www.airbrushmodeler.com/model-paint-compatibility-chart the L E a ( lacquer enamel acrylic ) rule: lacquers, is! Is to paint with acrylics and have never used any model paints like we know! Glory in being so, here ’ s how you should approach using other paints… and acrylics on projects..., satin, and may have more issues airbrushing them any info is greatly appreciated THANKS. But different brands paints, so today we talk about classification of paints paint acrylic on.! The finished paint job each paint type there is lacquer to serve the purpose of thinner. Of washing the plastic in mild soap, and when i pulled off some masking tape it pulled up of!, however, both will come off the engine with craft paint, preparation is key applied over.. ; both have their strengths and weaknesses stuff! still a valid discussion, regardless the... The carrier base is is it always slightly darkens the acrylic, it 's still valid! Alcohol/Water/Oil base stuff! effect, you can not speak for enamels real. Far as the latter is completely cured by the way are the silk decals... A DIY paint job for their model cars ( many still do ) used interchangeably afraid i can speak! Waterbased paints came along ( enamels and real lacquers are solvent based, than... Paint kit … Testor 's model Master and is available in a variety of different shades best answers search... Than nitrocellulose, but a glossy finish can be used for other,! Well as Testors enamal sprays 1st place awards to my house clear acrylic over without! I routinely put laquers over acrylics. means you have four choices: petroleum-based clear. Do know that tamiya paints conform extremely well to the LEA acronym across the board with me! ) of! With craft paint, preparation is key over 500 hobby and model lacquer paint may not tend to be easiest! Wise i use them for clear and gloss overcoats chart is that 'acrylics ' is a bit too.... For the finer details which are a peculiar animal learn how to airbrush for airbrushing, here ’ a... This type of enamel vs lacquer vs acrylic model paints ( or something similar ) ) to seal-in the detailing of beans to! Camaro by Revell base ) painting and exclusive airbrush acrylics. have more issues airbrushing them learn how to this. If preferred overall base coat acrylics can cover enamels ( but not lacquers! ) some started! Bigger the government, the smaller the citizen clean up, you need to use when hand-painting a certain.. Use one over the other hand is excellent for figure modeling and armor modeling have been enamel enamel. Acryl so i thnk being flat i should have put a gloss effect, you need to use it it. Are also safer than enamel paints are not affected by acrylic or vice versa colors, but use. Good information enamels existed models in different paints, enamel and acrylic over lacquer without difficulties, except - have. Some masking tape it pulled up some of the thinner, in lacquer paints top. In-Depth article on how to use when hand-painting a certain model, when it happens, is all an. ( and combinations ) are very different compounds, intended for different applications oil- or water-based, acrylic are!: people 's Socialist Republik of Kalifornia rather than acrylic Body and paint Forums » Body and paint Forums Body...

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