Skyline Z tune and Tamiya enamels

[Lurchio]

Ordered my Ztune Skyline form models in motion today (they have a sale on) and the p/e set as well.
Neither are currently in stock so I'll just patiently wait. I've read on Hiroboys forum that some people already have them so at least it's out!

I've also orderes myself a range of the Tamiya enamel paints.
I've heard other people say that in some instances they are better than acrylics - any thoughts as to why?
At a pound a pot I thought I'd give them a try as I was ordering some TS sprays anyway.
They didn't have any X-20 thinner though.
What should I use to clean my brushes?
I used to use Humbrol enamels as a kid and it was just white spirits back then - should I use this with tamiya enamels or is there a better product?

Thanks
Lurchio

[Lurchio]

OK, should maybe have searched first - lots' of threads exist on this subject.
Som ep[eople love the enamels others hate them - oh well when they arrive I'll make up my own mind!

Would still like to know what to clean brushes with though!

[Sticky Fingers]

To be honest with you I imagine white spirit/turps will get the paint from your brushes!

[Lurchio]

Thought it would be but it was worth checking if there was a specialist product - it's been at least 15 years since I've used enamels!

[danowat]

I used to model 20 years ago, and back then pretty much all that was available was enamels, and boy did I hate them with a vengence back then.

Luckly I found out, when I recently started modelling again, that you could get acrylics, and I would never use anything else.

Enamels, are horrible, sticky, thick, they stink the place out, take an aaaaggggeeee to dry, in fact some NEVER dry just remain tacky forever, I could never get them to cover the item very well, and to top it all I hate the smell of white spirit that you have to clean the brushes with.

With acrylics, they dont smell, you can clean the brushes with water, and they dry in a little over an hour, I would love anyone to show me some advantages of working with enamels, I sure as heck can't see any.

Dan.

[Lurchio]

It's strange how some people hate them and some love them.
I musdt admit I hated them as a kid and love the tamiya acrylics now.
Hiroboy said that he only uses enamels and his kits are awesome - doubt i'll get any comment from him though!

[g00eY]

i like acrylics for their easy cleaning and enamels for their thickness. acrylics are easier to thin, and enamels require thinner to thin the paint and clean the brushes(or something like it).

[Fkouch]

Originally Posted by Lurchio

It's strange how some people hate them and some love them.
I musdt admit I hated them as a kid and love the tamiya acrylics now.
Hiroboy said that he only uses enamels and his kits are awesome - doubt i'll get any comment from him though!

Just give him a P.M.

Personally I use both Acrylics and enamels. Enamels are great for brush painting because they flow better and level out when they dry reducing brush strokes. However they do take ALOT longer to dry than acrylics and clean-up is a lot messier.

I also use enamels for doing panel lines and window trims so that I can clean them easily without damaging the bodies paintjob.

Cheers

Farrokh

[bhop73]

I use Testors thinner for all brands of enamels. I've had the same bottle for a couple years. All the goop settles on the bottom, so as long as you don't shake it, or flip it upside down, it'll last for a long time.

[Tony J]

Yes I agree with the testers thinner for the enamels to clean brushes, and yes it will last for a long long time. I use plain tap water to clean the acrylics with no problem. As for me I use both types enamel and acrylics, they seem to do just as everyone has said Ac=thin finish,En=thick finsh, use this to your advantage to get different feels to your parts and stuff. I have good luck at mixing enamels when you need a slightly different shade or tone than the next guy. I would bet that if you mix a few colors you will like it, you'll get a color that nobody else has and when you set your model next to another car you won't look like paint by number styles. As for the Tamiya spray paints, if you try to spray over a different type of paint or primer the paint has crackeled on me every time, good luck on whatever you do!

[Lurchio]

Originally Posted by Fkouch

Just give him a P.M.

Farrokh

Yeah tried that - Personally I think it would be easier to get a response from God almighty!

[mickbench]

Where did you oder your Tamiya emamels from?

[Lurchio]

Originally Posted by mickbench

Where did you order your Tamiya emamels from?

www.modelsforsale.com

Love this website!

[mickbench]

Originally Posted by Lurchio

www.modelsforsale.com

Love this website!

Ah well that has just really peeved me off, as I was told that nowhere in the UK sold them. And that shop (online) is just down the road from me. I ordered a bucket load of them from china thinking I would have problems getting them again, so I stocked up, and now there is a mail order supplier right down the road from me.

Kudos to you mate for finding someone in the UK, I like the Tamiya Enamals. They cover really well when brush painted. I think you will like them, but don't airbrush them, and you do need some thinner. They are too thick to be used from the pot. They look small, but with a mix of thinner they go a lot further, as I was recommended a mix of 40% thinner and 60% enamel. TBH, I used the bronze enamel on my S2000 with a around a 20% thinner mix and 80% paint and they were still VERY thick, but they brushed loverly, as the paint stayed wet longer, and when dried the part looked sprayed. I was impressed, and I liked the screw cap idea. Humbrol enamel tinlets are hard to open and close correctly, the tamiya enamels were easy to use.

Oh - the Z tune looks to be a great kit. I tried to build the same car using an SAS resin kit, but I messed it up. Will get this kit instead.

[Lurchio]

They've only just got them in.
I order lots of stuff from this site, their old kits are great and I get a discount because I've ordered so much from them.
The only thinkg I didn't get was some thinners although everyone seems to say you can use any enamel thinners so I'll pick up some Revell or something.

I'm looking forward to giving them a go and making up my own mind!