HarryB1961 | 27 Sep 2012 1:27 p.m. PST |
You`ve heard the story many times. Im returning to the hobby after a break of many years and am trying some of the `new fangled` acrylic paints. They`re causing me some headaches and frustration as the techniques needed are totally alien to me. I was thinking of going back to familiar territory and re-stocking with humbrol enamels, however ive read on other posts that they are not as good as the `old days`. Can anyone enlighten me as to faults now found with modern humbrol enamels apart from the obvious solvent/smell/toxins issues ? Thanks guys. |
MajorB | 27 Sep 2012 1:45 p.m. PST |
As far as I can tell, Humbrol enamal paints are just the same as they were 30+ years ago when I first started using them. To be fair though I usually only use enamel for undercoating nowadays. As for acrylic paints, I'd recommend you try Coat d'Arms paints. The same painting techniques that I used with enamel paints work fine with Coat d'Arms. You have just have to remember to use water as a thinner rather than white spirit! |
platypus01au | 27 Sep 2012 2:21 p.m. PST |
Harry, I was in the same position as you some years ago, and I persisted with acrylics. And I'm glad I did. Once you master block painting and dry brushing, you will never go back. Cheers, JohnG |
Ben Waterhouse | 27 Sep 2012 2:55 p.m. PST |
Yep I can recommend Coat d'Arms as well. |
Yesthatphil | 27 Sep 2012 2:58 p.m. PST |
They now use a greasier solvent and a premixed pigment. So they need more thorough mixing than in the old days and only dry matt if fully mixed. Then they usually need thinning back down. They are still excellent for primer/undercoats before switching to acrylics, watercolours or oils and the browns are good base colours. I dislike the 'electric' look of acrylic blues (especially Vallejo) – so if the blue is a dominant colour, I usually do this in Humbrol (say, Matt 25, e.g.) and the slower drying time makes them better for really complex freehand work. But otherwise I am mostly using acrylics over a Humbrol undercoat (with watercolours and oils for special effects)
Hope that helps
Phil |
the ed is a douche bag | 27 Sep 2012 3:15 p.m. PST |
I too have returned after 30 years
Coat d'arms get my vote; like Humbrol acrylics too.Main problem with humbrol is colour range – too plane/train/boat-centric. They used to make Napoleonic colours back in the day
|
Lardie the Great | 27 Sep 2012 3:35 p.m. PST |
Only use humbrol varnish now (and only recently returned to matt, as for awhile it was at best satin and worst lifted paint) I'd keep trying the acrylics maybe get Kevin Dallimore's painting guide (the first book) look on amazon or book depository. Far greater range of colours, Foundry must have over 200 different colour/shades and Vallejo even more and I think it's kinder to brushes. Most acrylics dry with a shine so you'll need a coat of gloss (for protection) and then a coat or two of matt. |
IronDuke596 | 27 Sep 2012 3:41 p.m. PST |
On the 24th there was thread about the frustration of using acrylics. My repsonse and others partially answers your question: "After long sojourn from the hobby I returned about five years ago and was advised then that acrylics were the way to go
less fumes easy mixing with water etc. I tried them and was not happy with the thin coverage even with much stirring (as with enamels). Also, I am not a fan of layering piant. I have returned to enamels and am very happy with the one coat coverage that they give. To each his own." I think the enamels are still good quality and they do have most of the napoleonic colours
just not in specialised sets anymore. Welcome back to a fine hobby. |
Timotheous | 27 Sep 2012 5:21 p.m. PST |
One thing you have to watch out for with acrylics(as I have learned to my chagrin) is that there are different varieties of acrylics, esp in the craft paint aisle. Some of these are not suitable for painting miniatures: gloss and transparent colors just aren't good for the minis. |
badwargamer | 27 Sep 2012 8:53 p.m. PST |
They probably sell less, so you will need to give them even more of a stir! Acrylics vary a lot. Some are thicker and remind me of the way enamels flowed. I use a lot of 'Anita's' craft acrylics as they are cheap and cover well. Not everyone's cup of tea. Try and persist. Lots of advantages. Being able to just use water to thin and clean brushes. Brushes lasting longer. Spills easier to mop up. |
wrgmr1 | 27 Sep 2012 10:51 p.m. PST |
You can try artist acrylics like Liquitex soft body. Not many colors but good coverage. |
HarryB1961 | 28 Sep 2012 1:47 a.m. PST |
Thanks everyone, it`s great to be back even though ive got a very steep learning curve to surmount. One thing i can say for sure is the standard of painting out there is simply stunning. Looking through TMP`s galleries proves it. Back in the day, there were good painters but the quality now is much higher. Is the vast range of miniatures specific acrylics responsible for this i wonder. |
MajorB | 28 Sep 2012 2:00 a.m. PST |
Most acrylics dry with a shine so you'll need a coat of gloss (for protection) and then a coat or two of matt. Coat d'Arms acrylics don't dry with a shine, they are quite matt. As for varnish, acrylic paint is essentially a plastic polymer medium and thus is pretty hard wearing. No need for varnish. One thing you have to watch out for with acrylics (as I have learned to my chagrin) is that there are different varieties of acrylics, esp in the craft paint aisle. I only use the cheap "craft" paints for painting terrain. |
Schlesien | 28 Sep 2012 6:35 a.m. PST |
I find them thinner than they used to be. Need more mixing. Other than that, I still like them. |
heavyhorse | 28 Sep 2012 6:27 p.m. PST |
I started out long back in the dim past when you painted your linberg ju-88 with testors enamels..well things have changed and so have paints..I still like humbrol style enamels for pastic kits with washes and drybrushing and acrylics with inks and dry brushing for everything else..just my 2cents worth |
IUsedToBeSomeone | 29 Sep 2012 2:53 a.m. PST |
HarryB Welcome back to the hobby! if you would like to try a couple of Coat D'arms paints then email me at mike@blackhat.co.uk and I'll put a couple of sample pots in the post to you. I find acrylics so much easier to paint with than enamels
Mike Coat D'arms / Black Hat Miniatures |
HarryB1961 | 29 Sep 2012 3:32 a.m. PST |
Thanks again everyone. I will take you up on that Mike, that`s a very kind offer. Coat D`arms paints certainly seem to be popular. |
rabbit | 11 Oct 2012 1:46 p.m. PST |
One thing to note with Acrylics is that while many are water based and can be topped up with water from the tap, some are alcohol based (tamiya for one) and while they will dilute with water it is not as easy as using alcohol. Isopropyl or rubbing alcohol is used as their base and this can be bought as a hand cleaner or as a solvent, you can dilute with ethanol (booze alcohol) too. Some acrylic base coats like GW chaos black or skull white do not take Tamiya brand acrylics well. I have not tried the Army Painter base coats but suspect they are going to be the same. rabbit |
Gunner Dunbar | 11 Oct 2012 4:24 p.m. PST |
This is the stragest idea to me, I can't stand painting Humbrol with a brush, I only use it for airbrushing, Acrylics (with the exception of Tamiya) are perfect for brush painting, I prefer Valejo and GW, but I haven't used Coat D arms, I just can't keep a piont on my brush with Humbrols, no problem with acrylics though. |
heavyhorse | 11 Oct 2012 9:19 p.m. PST |
wow after being out of gaiming and painting for 20 years.. paint companies are being bounced around and I have no point of refrence
I used to use polly s and winsor newton inks but I am wondering where to even restart now |
Nigeywoo | 06 Feb 2014 5:08 a.m. PST |
I've only been a wargamer for 7 years
turned to the hobby after a personal tragedy meant I need something small and intricate to concentrate my attention onto and swallow alrtge amounts of time
7 years later I am truly obsessed
In just this time I have noticed how painting style evolves.. from scale to scale and paint to paint.. I have been massively influenced by two guys at my Wargames club (you know who you are) who are simply AMAZING at miniature painting
the ouutput they produce, regardless of scale or period is truly beautiful
. So, influenced by them I use only acryllics
Enamels are just too inflexible, too difficult to mix properly and leave the house stinking
I always undercoat in Black Matt Primer (even for white figures!!) and block paint and dry-brush.. I also use a lot of ink wash, but in clearly defined areas of a figure
I use a range of different suppliers including Velejo, GW, Coat D'Arms as well as some FOW boxsets, Tamiya Earth range
I find them all great for different things
I think that it is not so muuch the paint that matters.. its the style |