Back to Basics

An Introduction to Paint

- Rick Greenwood

As a modeller, have you ever stopped to think about the vast selection of brands and paint shades that are available to us? For many finding that correct shade of RLM76 is a quest akin to finding the Holy Grail. To others is simply doesn’t matter, as long as it looks right.

There is a plethora of paint brands out there, so how do you choose what to use?

Several factors may influence each modeller’s decision to purchase any given paint line, such as availability in their country, price, smell, or ease of use. To this end, we are going to look at a minor selection of some of the brands that inhabit my workspace, and venture into their virtues. The article will not, however, enter the debate about colour accuracy in each range and leave this as it should be - up to the individual modeller to decide what looks right for them, as we all perceive colour in different ways depending on how the brain interprets the information sent from our eyes.

Solvent Based Paint

For any modeller of a certain age, Humbrol is synonymous with painting model kits.

Their range is quite extensive and Airfix reference the colour call outs in kit instructions solely to this range of paint. Humbrol are probably best known for their enamel range but also produce a range of non-toxic acrylic water-based paint too. Popular brands of enamel paints are Xtracolor, Colour Coats, and Testors alongside Humbrol to name but a few.

These paints are mineral spirit based and form a hard shell once the carrier (mineral spirit) has evaporated. This can take days or even weeks to harden fully, which can be considered the major disadvantage with enamel paint.

Spraying the paint can lead to good smooth glossy surfaces on your model, and in some cases the entire range (Xtracolor) are gloss finishes. They are easily thinned with solvent thinners such as those available from Gunze/Mr Hobby and Tamiya.