Tamiya Enamel - Any good?

Are Tamiya Enamel paints good to work with, such as brush painting small details, and do they remain thin? Arcylic paints are OK to work with, but you have to keep thinning them over time as they do start to get a little thick.

Plus someone on this board mentioned about hobbyworld, and I can buy Tamiya Enamel for just over 50p a pot. That's over half price for many arcylic paints. If I order nearly then entire set of enamals from this place I can get them all for £30... That's not a bad deal..!!

Plus, due to me running out of paint and have problems finding some more, I'm now taking the advise and stocking up..!! Enamels can't be found in the UK, so if I'm ordering these, I'm buying lots to make the postage worthwhile.

http://www.spc.org.uk/tools/tamiya_enamels.jpg

For the past 2 years I only use Tamiya Enamels, IMO they are far better than arylics and vastly better than humbrol enamels.

And yes, i get mine from Hobbyworld (and Joeclaw), they are small so I would order say 6 bottles of the popular colors like Flat Black XF1 and Semi gloss black X18.

They also airbrush very well (any enamel thinners works so don't bother ording loads of small jars of that)

Enamels are good. Due to them being oil based, rather than cellulose based, the thinner doesn't evaporate so easily, and they stay thicker.

I have a good selection of both, however, I would say my preference is acrylic so I don't need to wash the brushes in turps, I can just use water.

It's a personal preference. Check out either, and see what you prefer.

Humbrol enamels are readily available and, while they aren't the same colour/ quality, you can probably get one or two from your LHS, and test them to see what they are like.

Also note - the enamel bottles are generally smaller then the Acrylic (although the 'tiny bottles' in the UK are about the same), so that is why they are often cheaper.

Saying that - if you use airbrush, the enamels actually spray a lot better than acrylics.

BWheel - Did you mean they stay thinner - as this is what I want the paint for, as arcylic is starting to get thick. I keep thinning it down, I like to work with thin paint.

Also - Hiroboy, what is this "joeclaw"? I searched, and found someone called joeclaw. Take it he does supply of hobby stuff via this forum?

Thanks

Personally, I actually prefer Humbrol enamels over Tamiya ones, especially metallics that rub off much much easier than similar Humbol metallics.

Personally, I actually prefer Humbrol enamels over Tamiya ones, especially metallics that rub off much much easier than similar Humbol metallics.

Really... Humbrol enamels are EASY to get, I tried the silver spray and it never ever dried. It was cheap and I thought I could paint a model car engine with it. I didn't have an airbrush, and when compared to TS-30 it seemed a good idea at the time. I used it on a test bit of plastic and didn't like it at all..

I could always get a pot from a shop down the road that sells humbrol enamel.

Also - Hiroboy, what is this "joeclaw"? I searched, and found someone called joeclaw. Take it he does supply of hobby stuff via this forum?

Joe is a member here, who lives in Hong Kong and has been very helpful with, picking me up some Tamiya Enamel supplies over the years, Drop him a PM maybe able to help out?

I didn't see those bottles in years. Why it isn't distributed in america anymore ?

I was talking about small cans that I either airbrush or handbrush. I wouldn't touch Humbrol sprays with a stick.

You mean the little tinlets. Not tried them before. The spray is rubbish, I agree. What is stange, is that humbrol spray where I live is in all toy shops, craft shops and even some larger department stores.. As well as revell /humbrol products.

Now getting Tamiya stuff - that's not so easy..!! Wonder why tamiya is harder to get in the UK. Must be something to do with importers or something odd...!!

You mean the little tinlets. Not tried them before. The spray is rubbish, I agree. What is stange, is that humbrol spray where I live is in all toy shops, craft shops and even some larger department stores.. As well as revell /humbrol products.

Now getting Tamiya stuff - that's not so easy..!! Wonder why tamiya is harder to get in the UK. Must be something to do with importers or something odd...!!

Probably because Humbrol paints are made in the uk. However I have noticed that in the last ten years or so Tamiya paints have been harder to come by. Luckily Dominos (my LHS) is pretty well stocked.

Cheers

Farrokh

Tamiya enamels are great. They are quite on the thick side out of the bottle which is perfect for brushpainting. For airbrushing they need to be thinned, either turps or lacquer thinner will do the trick. Humbrol are good too but I hate the little tins.

The Tamiya enamals are great and i wouldn't use anything else unless i really had to.
They give alot better finish then arcylic paints as most take longer to dry leaving you more time when brushing parts with a brush

I've been trying airbrushing the tamiya acrylics for some months now and i just can seem to get it right..2 hours ago i have tryed to spray a enamel from tamiya ( abootle which i have for 2 years) and the result is a LOT better tha with acrylics. Yes it's vapours are more toxic and the clean up is messy, but hey.. with the windows open it's not that bad. I guess it's all a matter of taste.. just try a lot of paints and use the one that suits you best. For me it's definatly enamels.

Old thread by me.. Since posting this I've got some Tamiya Enamels and they are good, but take a long long time to harden...!!

Perfect for brush painting though..

yes.. they are great.. i'm just into the tamiya enamels because they were just way to thick..but a little thiny called tamiya enamel thinner is so great.

I haven't polished the enamels yet (i used the spray can's) How long do you wait before you start polishing them ?(i always clear coat and use tamiya compound)

i personally have used humbrol paints for years, never tried tamiya enamels, but seems to me everything else they make is top notch so why not give em a try, plus i can't get a hold of them here in the US.