Model Master acrylic vs Tamiya

[Plasticmodeler702]

I have been using tamiya acrylic mini paints for awhile now, and its time for a restock, wondering if the model master is better? I always see it in scale auto magazines and such, just wondering your opinions on this...

[suicidehummer]

At my LHS, Tamiya has only basic colors, while MM has many different, and quite exciting colors. Though I'm always hearing of Tamiya colors that sound interesting, too on this site. So it really depends on your LHS, and overall, I believe you go to MM for colors, but Tamiya for quality.

[Plasticmodeler702]

Thanks man... I don't really go to my local hobby shop, I use ebay, hobbylinc, towerhobbies sometimes, modelexpress, and a few others.... Its just alot easier for me, local hobby shop is a good 40 minutes...

[MPWR]

I use both regularly. For acrylics, they're very different formulations.

Tamiya acrylic is about the easiest medium I've ever found for airbrushing. However compared to other finishes, it's relatively soft and fragile. Any number of things will attack it, from window cleaner (great for cleaning your airbrush when spraying Tamiya) to strong decal setting solution. I use it for airbrush only, as it's hard to brush paint it well.

MM Acryl by comparison is a much tougher, more durable finish. It still airbrushes easily, but not quite as effortlessly as Tamiya. It can somethimes gum up your airbrush nozzle while spraying, and it's difficult to clean afterwards. Acryl never comes completely clean when I airbrush, so after using it for a while I have to disassemble it and clean it with laquer thinner. Acryl brushpaints well. For painting bodies, I'd rather use Acryl because of its durability- but I've found it harder to get it to go on smooth.

For both, I've had much better airbrushing results once I switched to each's proprietary thinners for diluting- but I don't use it for cleanup.