Metallic paints: Tamiya vs Gunze Sangyo vs Humbrol

[Roca46]

Hi mates!!

I'm planning to buy a few metallic paints. I used only Tamiya at the time but I don't know about the quality of Gunze or Humbrol, are those better than Tamiya? I mean the realism of the metallic particles and in general the finish. I know that maybe alclad is the best for metallic paints... but those metallic colors are used a lot on Tamiya's kits and the alclad paints are more expensive than the others...

Just I would like to know your opinion about it... a few pictures of Gunze or Humbrol metallic should help me to give me an idea of the comparison.

Thank's!!
Roca.

[MPWR]

I've been surprised at how little difference there is between different metallic paints. For years I assumed that for metallic finishes, MM Metalizer was tops. But having used it on several builds lately and evaluating it as objectively as possible, I can't really tell a difference between it and Tamiya acrylics in the same colors. I can't say I've ever seen any single brand of paint that has really looked better than others. In my opinion, color choice is far more important (and makes far more difference) than brand choice. Alclad chrome is a special exeption- but for everything else I say use what is easiest for you. Tamiya acrylics can be particularly nice, as they are very easy to mix with other colors to give different tones/hues/characters to a metallic finish.

Ignore all color names and color guides, both on instructions and paint bottles. Examine pics of the real thing, decide what a finish looks like to you, and pick a color (or combination of colors) to simulate it. That's the real secret to a good realistic looking metallic finish.

Just pick your favorite.

[Roca46]

Originally Posted by MPWR

I've been surprised at how little difference there is between different metallic paints. For years I assumed that for metallic finishes, MM Metalizer was tops. But having used it on several builds lately and evaluating it as objectively as possible, I can't really tell a difference between it and Tamiya acrylics in the same colors. I can't say I've ever seen any single brand of paint that has really looked better than others. In my opinion, color choice is far more important (and makes far more difference) than brand choice. Alclad chrome is a special exeption- but for everything else I say use what is easiest for you. Tamiya acrylics can be particularly nice, as they are very easy to mix with other colors to give different tones/hues/characters to a metallic finish.

Ignore all color names and color guides, both on instructions and paint bottles. Examine pics of the real thing, decide what a finish looks like to you, and pick a color (or combination of colors) to simulate it. That's the real secret to a good realistic looking metallic finish.

Just pick your favorite.

Yes.. I think you have reason, thank's a lot for your opinion!

Roca.

[Eric Cole]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Ignore all color names and color guides, both on instructions and paint bottles. Examine pics of the real thing, decide what a finish looks like to you, and pick a color (or combination of colors) to simulate it. That's the real secret to a good realistic looking metallic finish.

Just pick your favorite.

Excellent advice.... if it looks right, then it probably is right.

[aacikgoz]

in my opinion, none of the three is the best..

try to find some Alclad paints, if you apply them correctly, it looks like metal, not metallic painted..

[Some_Kid]

It depends man you kind just have search the field. Some tamiya acrylics are very fine metallics, like gunmetal, metallic gray, flat aluminum. If you want to paint something silver, like a body perhaps I recommend Tamiya Gloss aluminum lacquer, its very good stuff though an airbrush. If you choose the automotive paint route most of the time you will want to stick to pearl paints because the finer flake will look better in scale. Mr. Color has some good metallics but as I have experimented with Creos Cranberry red Pearl I find that you can't thin the paint too much, if you do, when you spray the paint it will mostly look like pigment rather than metallic. You can't spray it without thinner because A. You will most likely get spider webs, and B. The flakes won't lay down well enough to look like a smooth finish. So you have to find a balance between thinning and paint.

I am a huge fan of metallic paints. I am more maticulous about fine metallic paints than anyone. When I check out duplicolor pearl and metallic paints at autozone I will spend half an hour just staring at the cap of the spray can inspecting the flake. Duplicolor has some nice pearls if you are interested in spray can, but i would suggest only using them as basecoats and then use a tamiya spray or some other fine hobby pearl or metallic paint over that basecoat. This way you have alot of depth in the pearls and metal flakes, while still making it look to scale.

Testors enamels also has pretty good metallics, like stop light red metallic, orange pearl, and their turqoise metallic paints. But the cons of this are longer drying times and limited options for clear coating.