Hey Carlos - Airbrushing Humbrol Enamels!?

[Stuart]

Hi Carlos, (and anyone else)

What are your thoughts on airbrushing with Humbrol Enamels?

As I've just got my first airbrush, I've been thinking about starting out with them as I have more than anything else - Are they any good or would I be better using something like Tamiya acrylics?

I was suggested MRP but I'm not sure I want to touch lacquers until I have some extraction.

Cheers!

[Stikpusher]

Humbrol enamels airbrush beautifully! They are my first choice in most cases. I think them with Testors airbrush thinner, which seems to give any enamel paint more bite to adhere to the plastic.
Tamiya may clean up a bit easier, but you can’t beat Humbrols color range, adhesion, and durability. I have never tried Humbrol’s own enamel paint thinner, so I can’t comment on that. But like all other enamels, it responds well to generic paint thinners that you can buy from any hardware or paint store. I presume that there are similar stores in the U.K.

[Stuart]

Thanks Stik - glad to hear it. I have about 50 odd tinlets so it's good to know they are usable. I do have their own thinners but to be honest it's just bog standard White Spirit which I can get anywhere over here. What sort of ratio do you use with the Testors??

And do you use their clears?

[Stikpusher]

I don’t use Humbrol Gloss Clear. I still am working they my bottle of Future and probably have at least another several dozen builds worth in there. I have used their Satin and Matt Clear coats and love those.
As far as thinning ratios go, I’m usually in a 2 parts paint to 1 part thinner starting point and will adjust from there, depending upon the viscosity of the paint. As you know, there is some variation there. As a general rule, you want your paint thinned to around the consistency of milk. Experiment a bit to see what I mean. And grab an old build to use as a paint test mule for both colors and techniques.

[Stuart]

Thanks Carlos - most helpful.

I've ordered myself some pots and pippetts for mixing, and once those turn up I'll give it a go.

[Stikpusher]

Stuart, especially with Humbrol paints, I strongly suggest that you get some of these Tamiya stirring sticks. The blade end is perfect for mixing the paint in the tin/pot, and the spoon end gives you nice precise drops for transferring the paint into your mixing container. Used in conjunction with pipettes for the thinner, your mixing ratios are exact. X drops of paint and Y drops of thinner.

[Stuart]

Cool! More tools to buy Thanks for the tip Carlos, I'll get some.

I have also ordered one of those paint clear pot things - just to try and keep the fumes down as I'm painting in the house.

[mostrich]

When I got my first AB all I had in my stash were ol' Revell's enamel paints. Bought a bottle of Humbrol enamel thinner (which I still have) and went on my first painting adventure. My Flettner had a single color scheme and so was a perfect victim to my attacks.


I hosed it on pretty thick and you can see a pretty patchy outcome in the straight sunlight. I underestimated the amound of thinner those pigment rich colors need. You can easily thin them by 80% and they still have a coverage like nobody's business. But boy, from the start so much better than any brush painting I've done before!

[BlackSheep214]

Stuart, especially with Humbrol paints, I strongly suggest that you get some of these Tamiya stirring sticks. The blade end is perfect for mixing the paint in the tin/pot, and the spoon end gives you nice precise drops for transferring the paint into your mixing container. Used in conjunction with pipettes for the thinner, your mixing ratios are exact. X drops of paint and Y drops of thinner.

Nice. Something to think about. I use wooden stir sticks.

[Duke Maddog]

I use those dentist spatulas they use for mixing their plaster. I also occasionally use the electric (battery) mixer from Badger.