"Using tamiya enamel paint" Topic

I'm one of those loony traditionalist types who still uses enamel paint over acrylic.

Problem is, enamel paint is quickly disapearing and in my area its getting harder and harder to find some.

Most of my paint stock is humbrol. It's my favorite, its what I've almost always used, some of my selection dates back to the 1970s and is still good (talk about longevity) and it was heart breaking to see the humbrol rack in the one store where they held some to disapear (altough the fire sale they held eased off the pain…1$ per pot? yes please).

Now there was still the option of a limited selection of testors…but I've always been disapointed by it so I looked for an other option…

Found out another store held some tamiya enamel. Not a big selection but at least I could get a few things…Always use more black then any other colour.

So I bought a rubber black pot and a flat blue one. Black one somewhat disapointed me but I figured I'd not mixed it properly, used it like a testors while I shouldn't have, no big deal, my fault, gave a second coat and it was settled.

Then recently I got around to using the flat blue. Colour is perfect, just what I wanted, not necessarly for that particular project but It'll be just what I need when I get around to painting my 18th century french infantry.

Thing is…the damn thing just wont dry properly.

Its been more then a week and whern I pass my finger hard on it, I still get some blue on my finger and inevitably get some paint off the model.

Now theres some things I didn't do. I'm used to humbrol that is unbdeterred by anything so I've never taken the care to wash the minis or prime them…

So all this for my question: Is it that tamiya enamel requires primer before application like bloody acrylic paint? Or is it just that I should've washed the minis with soap before hand? Or last option, will washing the mini and then lightly sanding it be enough or do I REALLY need to put some primer on?

For you brave and kind souls whom might answer, do note I'm curious on both plastic and metal materials.

Thanks for your time.

G'day, Butchbird. I miss Humbrol as well, mate. I have a reasonably reliable supply available via mail order, but they are going to, or have, dropped some of my go-to colours.

Tamiya seems to have designed the paint for airbrushing. I've never been able to get a decent brush finish without doing two or three coats, using either their enamels or acrylics- though their "Smoke" (X-19) works a treat over bare-metal chain and plate armour.

As for alternatives? I can only hope Humbrol lasts longer than I do.

You need to stir the Tamiya a lot & really well. For brush painting, I put just enough into my paint holder and add a few drops of water to thin it, as it will thicken quickly (slightly thinned also helps with the brushing.) For priming I use gesso…

Try Revell as a substitute for Humbrol who are dropping colours from their enamel range. An internet search should also turn up many lists of equivalent colour codes between the two ranges. Here's a couple of examples:

PDF link

PDF link

You need to stir the Tamiya a lot & really well.

I do, mate, using a re-purposed, battery-operated "coffee stirrer". Tamiya sprays very well, especially using lacquer thinner, but I've never got the trick of brushing it.

Thanks for the links, Billy. Revell has only started to get back on the shelves/web pages in the last few of years, so I'll give it a try.

Humbrol enamels… that takes me back… :)

Airfix enamels anyone ? Are they further back or contemporary with Humbrol ?

Late 60's or early 70's, I think, Dagwood. I know they were on the shelves in the local hobby shop the early 70's.

Butchbird, you can try baking the painted figures. Find a used, if you can, slow cooker (crock pot), set to Low, or 170-200 F/77-100 C, for 30 minutes. This typically will cure/dry any oil-based paint. This works for both plastic (thermal plastics melt at 300-400 F/150-200 C; metal figures melt at around 700 F/370 C); plastic figures will become soft, but they will not melt, or deform.

Inexpensive, sandable, automotive spray primer works superbly. It is solvent-based, but when it is dry, it accepts acrylic paints, and I suspect any other paint will cover it very well, also. Cheers!

Humbrol was the one in the teeny tiny paint can, right? I was so afraid of enamel when I was a kid. Tamiya acrylics allowed 11 year old me the confidence to build and paint models. Funny how I wasn't afraid of glue (the brain melting kind)…