I'm a recent convert having finally given up on inconsistent performance of Humbrol enamels after half a century of usage. I've invested in Mr Hobby color and Tamiya paints, but in my limited experience I can find no great difference in how these perform.
I'm wondering what's your preference guys?
For me there's little in it, one advantage Tamiya has is their availability from my LMS, Mr Color has to be acquired online
Miko
Japanese paint
-
BWP
- Got in under the wire
- Posts: 778
- Joined: April 28th, 2011, 2:23 am
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
Re: Japanese paint
Tamiya make several different ranges of paints -- acrylics, lacquers, and enamels.
So far as I am aware, Mr Color only make lacquers.
Personally I only have experience with the Tamiya acrylics. I have found that they (usually) brush poorly, unless you thin them with a lacquer-based thinner. (Not the default Tamiya acrylic thinner; personally I use the Gunze "levelling" thinner.) The lacquer adds "bite" to the paint leading to pretty good coverage. Using an airbrush the regular thinner is fine (although again you can use the lacquer thinner if you like) and they spray pretty well. You can thin them with water but I've not personally had great success when doing so.
Lacquer paints have the "bite" built-in, of course, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they brush well. I get the impression that lacquer paints always work better from an airbrush. It may (and probably does) vary by brand.
So far as I am aware, Mr Color only make lacquers.
Personally I only have experience with the Tamiya acrylics. I have found that they (usually) brush poorly, unless you thin them with a lacquer-based thinner. (Not the default Tamiya acrylic thinner; personally I use the Gunze "levelling" thinner.) The lacquer adds "bite" to the paint leading to pretty good coverage. Using an airbrush the regular thinner is fine (although again you can use the lacquer thinner if you like) and they spray pretty well. You can thin them with water but I've not personally had great success when doing so.
Lacquer paints have the "bite" built-in, of course, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they brush well. I get the impression that lacquer paints always work better from an airbrush. It may (and probably does) vary by brand.
-
dogsbody
- Onto the Clever Stuff, Now.
- Posts: 134
- Joined: May 1st, 2011, 12:18 am
- Location: The Backside of Beyond ( Northeast Alberta, Canada )
Re: Japanese paint
With Tamiya acrylics, you can also get their Paint Retarder and add a bit of that. It slows the drying time for brushing and it also works when airbrushing. The Mr. Color Leveling Thinner also works well.
CHris
CHris
"What young man could possibly be bored
with a uniform to wear,
a fast aeroplane to fly,
and something to shoot at?"
with a uniform to wear,
a fast aeroplane to fly,
and something to shoot at?"
-
Softscience
- Staring out the window
- Posts: 7491
- Joined: April 5th, 2011, 4:34 pm
- Location: Maryland, near Washington DC
Re: Japanese paint
If you're spraying, then they both perform about the same. With MLT, they're even compatible with each other. I prefer Tamiya just because I've been using it for so long, and I know what I'm getting myself into.
Thin with MLT, as suggested above. You can also thin Tamiya with Isopropyl (which is what their brand thinner is). Do not try thinning Mr Color with Isopropyl, you'll get a giant gummy mess
Neither paint is really suitable for brush work, but as Chris says, Tamiya's retarder makes that possible. Don't try to brush Mr. Color
Note, all comments are regarding Tamiya acrylic. I have not tried Tamiya's new Lacquer Painto line.
You can find and listen to an episode of Sprue Cutters Union podcast, where they go WAY into the weeds on the chemistry of these (and other paints) and why they work the way they do.
Thin with MLT, as suggested above. You can also thin Tamiya with Isopropyl (which is what their brand thinner is). Do not try thinning Mr Color with Isopropyl, you'll get a giant gummy mess
Neither paint is really suitable for brush work, but as Chris says, Tamiya's retarder makes that possible. Don't try to brush Mr. Color
Note, all comments are regarding Tamiya acrylic. I have not tried Tamiya's new Lacquer Painto line.
You can find and listen to an episode of Sprue Cutters Union podcast, where they go WAY into the weeds on the chemistry of these (and other paints) and why they work the way they do.