Thinner For Scale Modeling

It has been a while since i last posted something related to paint. So today, i like to write something about thinners for thinning enamels and paint.

For enamel paint, you will need thinners like the one shown in my photograph above. It is always good to use the same brand of thinners together with the paint. For example, you should use Humbrol thinners for Humbrol paints. There may be other compatible thinners, but you may run the risk of unpredicted situation if you use the wrong type.

To avoid any problems, always use the same brand of thinners and paints together. This will ensure that the paints will thin and mix well. Always remember that inferior thinners may impair your scale modeling result. So, get a good and compatible brand.

Thinners are also excellent for cleaning brushes and removing dirt and oil from painted parts. Use it sparingly though, pour a small amount of thinner into another container and use it for cleaning purposes. I normally reuse and dispose off it when it gets really dirty.

Thinners are flammable and strong-smelling. Do not forget to work in a well-ventilated and cool area when you are using thinners during the building of your scale model. No fire sources should be near your work area. Work safely.

That's about all for now. Happy scale modeling.

Humbrol Enamel For Scale Models

Humbrol Enamel is another type of paint which i use to paint my scale models. I use it togther with Tamiya and Testors paint. You will need a small screw driver to open the small tin of enamel. This is not as convenient as the screw on cap type of bottle.

Anyway, the quality of the paint is very good. I always use this paint if i want to prime my scale model with a base coat as it drys up smoothly. Always remember to stir well before using any enamel or acrylic paint to get a good mix. If you dip your brushes in directly, you will get big chunk of paint on your brushes. This is very wasteful and also makes it more difficult to paint your scale models. You can just use a simple toothpick to stir up the paint before using.

Testors Model Master Enamel For Scale Models

I usually use Testors Model Master Enamel for painting larger surfaces of scale models and figures . Enamel paint covers and adheres well on any scale models. The colors are accurate and dry with beautiful Matt finishes every time.

Enamel drys up hard. Make sure your environment has minimal dust during painting. If not, you will see pieces of dust particles on your painted scale models after the paint dried up. You will need to clean and repaint the scale models again if this happens. Thinner is needed to dilute or wash off enamel paint, which is harder to handle as compared to water soluble paint.

Also, remember to work in a well-ventilated room because both the enamel and the thinner have very strong smell.

Tamiya Acrylic Paint For Scale Models

Tamiya Color Acrylic Paint is one of the best paint for painting scale models and figures. The paint is easy to handle as it is water soluble. The texture is smooth and the paint drys well too. The best part is, the brushes can be easily clean up with water and not the strong smelling thinner. The photograph shows the Dark Yellow paint which i used to paint scale models for figures and vehicles of the Afrika Korps.

Rowney Cryla Artists Acrylic Colour For Scale Model Figure Painting

This is the Rowney Cryla Artists Acrylic Colour brand which i used to paint the faces of the scale model figures. It is water soluble. Therefore it is very easy to work with. You can easily mix up different shades of colour to your taste. If you make an error during painting, you can easily wash the paint off with water if the paint had not dried up yet. Normally, this paint does not dry up very fast, so you can paint and repaint the faces until the colour looks natural to you.