Modelling Paints

Model building paint is probably one of the best hobbies that anyone can take up. The most time-consuming and satisfying part of building scale models is painting them. The payoff after spending hours painting miniature figures is when you finally manage to make them appear realistic and beautiful. But one thing that is essential for a successful paint job is a good model paint kit.

Given how much time and effort it takes to paint and add details to miniature figures, it is vital to use paint that gives you a saturated finish and is also durable. The paint should be able to withstand the passing of time, humidity and any accidental scuffs or exposure to water. Moreover, depending on what type of paints you use and how extensive of a paint job you want, the cost of painting models can vary wildly. Read this article to find out more about model paints. Having a better understanding of model building paint will help you make the right choices while you shop.

Types of model paints for you & your children

It might not seem too difficult to choose the appropriate paint for miniatures and models. But it is absolutely possible to choose the wrong one with all the choices out there. If you know exactly what you should consider when selecting a specific paint, choosing paints is going to be a bit less painful. You will be able to choose the best miniature paint or model paint for your needs with a better understanding of paint and what things impact their performance. Here is everything you need to know about the four most common types of model building paints.

Acrylic paints

These days, acrylic-based paints are more common than any other type of paint. One of the key benefits of this model building paint is that it has an inherent water-resistant quality to it. Also, adding a layer of sealant can make it almost completely waterproof. Moreover, this model paints acrylic work on a large variety of surfaces, including glass, plastic, cloth, and paper. Furthermore, acrylic paints are constantly getting better. Newer acrylic paints have better viscosity and better colour saturation. Even then if you feel like you want to get rid of the paint and want to coat the subject in a completely new paint job, removing acrylic paint is not that difficult.

Enamel paint

Enamel paints are, basically, oil-based paints. One inherent quality of oil-based paints is that they are water-resistant. Also, this model building paints dry quickly in the air and form a thick layer of coating after drying. Enamel paints usually come as thick concentrates. In order to use the paint, you will have to mix the paint in some sort of volatile oil-based solvent. There are paint thinners for this purpose. Another benefit of this model paint is that they are durable. However, it is tricky to use enamel paints if you need to make any complex patterns.

Marker paints

If you are looking for an easy to use model paint without the fuss of mixing or using a brush. Then you should probably consider buying marker paints. These are not much different from the normal marker pens. But the level of precision that you get using a marker is limited by the size of the tip. You can get any finer than the tip of the marker. Some markers will let you refill the colour. This model building paint is easier for beginners. Since you don’t have to deal with liquid paint, the chances of you messing up are unlikely. The obvious downside is that it won’t give you any versatility. People tend to grow out of marker paints shortly.

Spray paint

Unlike airbrushes, spray paints come in self-contained cans. Because you don’t need a separate compressor unit for applying this paint, spray paints are easy to work with. These model paints are becoming popular because they are easy to apply. However, there are some downsides to using spray paints. One is that you have to cover all the portions of the model other that you are applying the paint on. Also, compared to other types of model building paints, spray paints are costlier and offer less coverage area considering the higher price.