Italeri (Accurate Miniatures) 1/48 SBD-5

[Medicman71]

Looks great!!

[scorpiomikey]

Everythings all buttoned up, and i need to start thinking about paint. After going through my current collection of tamiya acrylics, a lot of them have dried up. This means i need to rebuild my collection.
Im thinking of going over to vallejo model air.
The options available to me are

Humbrol (not a fan, used them as a kid)

Tamiya (yeah getting the hang of them, used them a lot recently, got my airbrush pretty well dialed in for them)

Vallejo (Never used them before)

The only reason im looking at vallejo is because i like the bottles. That little dripper on them is brilliant.
I could rebuild my tamiya collection, or i could try vallejo with its awesome dripper nozzle. Whatever way i go i need to take in to consideration the white. There is A LOT of white on this kit. And ive never had any luck with it. It always goes wet and watery no matter how i try it.
Id like to hear your guys feedback on airbrushing white, what settings worked for you etc. And also if anyone knows good recipes in the brands above for Sea blue and Intermediate blue that would be amazing.
Cheers guys.

[Stikpusher]

Humbrol has the proper sea blue and intermediate blue in their tins, no mixing needed. The Stockholm IPMS site has the formulas for the Tamiya colors.
I still prefer Humbrol as my #1 choice for paint brands if they have the color.
As far as painting white goes, give a flat white primer coat first, then apply a gloss coat afterwards. This will give you a better white paint scheme using most any brand. I have done this with Tamiya, Humbrol, and Testors. Or you can use Tamiya white primer first, and spray on any white afterwards for a brilliant white coat.
I personally don't care for the Vallejo bottles as stirring them is a bit of a challenge. If you pry off the dropper tip in order to stir the contents, it can come loose again later when you're trying to squeeze out paint. Shaking alone does not insure proper mixture of the paint in those bottles.

[scorpiomikey]

Thanks stik. Although im not quite sure what you mean by Flat white primer coat, and then you go on to say tamiya white primer. Is there a difference? Will any white primer do?

[Stikpusher]

Just a light coat, roughly sprayed, of any flat white, gives a light base and some tooth for the top coat of gloss white to stick onto. Like I said, any flat white will work in this role.
Tamiya White Surface Primer is a specific product that you can use as well. It sticks to anything and everything, thins with lacquer thinner, and requires a thorough cleaning of your airbrush after its' use.

[scorpiomikey]

Ok. Sounds good. Ill give it a go when i get some time.

[Stikpusher]

Good luck. And make sure that you have plenty of lacquer thinner on hand for clean up!!!! I can't emphasize that enough.

[jkim]

I am a Tamiya acrylic paint user and I am very satisfied with their paints although their color range is not as extensive as some other manufacturers. I personally don't mind making my own color mixtures now and then. When my local hobby shop started stocking Hataka paints in handy 4-5 color sets, I thought I'd give them a try. They come in little squeeze bottles similar to Vallejo. I had a hard time with the Hataka paints and had to shelve them. I'm not saying that you'll have the same experience with Vallejo that I did with Hataka but before you decide to switch brands, give the brand a try first with a few colors.

As far as spraying white, I've found that a neutral grey paint or primer also works well as a base coat.