Acrylic vs. Enamel

I am new to the modeling scene but have been on this site for awhile, and was curious as to the differences between Acrylic and Enamel paint. Are there downsides to one or the other? How about final look of the dry paint? I noticed that my Testors Silver Enamel comes out much more metallic looking than the Testors Acryl Sivler, is there as big a difference with other colors? And for my final question which would you recommend using?

I prefer enamels over acrylics for bodies, glossy finishes and such. But the Tamiya lacquers have them both beat... - Mark

You need to be at ease with an airbrush, but once you have the system down, CobraColors.com lacquers beat the crap out of anything else you can finish a body with.

As to the acrylic v enamel question, though, it depends on the application. Oil-base enamels are nice for detail painting, but the acrylics seem to cure better, at least in my experience.

So based on that, I tend to use acrylics for engine blocks and seats, while I use enamels to pick out instrument panel trim and battery terminals, for example.

Don't think I'll ever again waste my time with anything other than lacquers for the body, though.

i use acrylic because enamel is just too hard to clean (airbrushing) you have to use paint thinner

BTW: thanks Scale-Master ill have to try the Tamiya

There are downsides and upsides to all types of paints. Without going into great depth, I'll just share personal experience.

I find that lacquers (Tamiya sprays if I am lazy, Cobra Colors if I am doing it up right) are hands down best for the bodies. I hear the Testors lacquer spray system is good, too, though I've not tried them yet.

I find that acylics are just about the best thing for everything else. They airbrush easily, brush easily, and toothpick easily. However, acyl metallics just never seem to look right, so...

Enamels out of the jar are what I use for metallic colors I brush on. Silver, brass, gold, steel; these are all colors in Testor's little 99c square jars that I love and use constantly.

Testors ModelMaster's lacquer metallics (airbrush only) look amazing, too, but they're lacquers, as are Alclad II metallics. These paints are just stunning.

Every once in a while, I'll use enamel out of a spray can, but only the flat colors. Like flat black, or the semi-gloss Euro-Gray II or whatever it is I use as Willimo's Patented Honda Interior Gray.

The thing is, I find enamels dry to slowly spray on, airbrushed on, or just brushed on, to be any use. Acryls dry faster, and lacquers dry faster than you can shake you noodle at. This tends to translate into ease of use, and so I guess that's what it boils down to. Try a couple jars of each, se what you like better, and go from there. The initial investment in a couple jars of whataver kind is rather low, so you won't mind replacing them. It's a lot better than getting 100 of one type and deciding you don't like it.