Paint Research

Happy New Year guys, may we all have a Prosperous New Year. Before 2012 comes, I would like to share my research about Paints, specifically for Plastic painting.

There are types of paints we use in our plastic model when painting.

1. Lacquer - Alcohol Base
2. Enamel - Oil Base
3. Acrylic - Water Base

Note: Of course, you cannot mix any combination of those paints.

When painting, you should know what to paint first. In this, always remember LEA. L = Lacquer, E = Enamel, A = Acrylic. For example you wanted to do Enamel Wash in your plastic parts, of course you'll be needing a Gloss Coat on the plastic before doing the wash. Here comes the LEA method:

1. Gloss Coat = Lacquer
2. Enamel Wash = Enamel
3. Flat Coat/Gloss Coat = Acrylic

For those who can't find any Lacquer Gloss Coat. You can use the Acrylic one. You just need to think of these PROS and CONS:

Lacquer

PROS

• Very Quick to dry
• Beautiful Gloss
• Nice in airbrushing
• not easily to scratch when dried

CONS

• Harmful to body when inhaled
• Hard when used for hand painting

Enamel

PROS

• Beautiful like metal finish
• Nice when used for hand painting
• Good for Panel Wash

CONS

• Very slow to dry
• May damage the plastic
• a bit Harmful to body when inhaled

Acrylic

PROS

• Beautiful on flat finish
• Can removed by water

CONS

• Not that good when used for air brushing
• Easy to catch fingerprints
• a bit slow to dry

You can also look at this chart I made.

Note: You read the matrix as;

          Enamel over Enamel = OK

          Acrylic over Enamel = OK

          Lacquer over Enamel = NO

          Enamel over Acrylic = NOT BAD

          Acrylic over Acrylic = OK

          Lacquer over Acrylic = NO

          Enamel over Lacquer = OK

          Acrylic over Lacquer = OK

          Lacquer over Lacquer = OK

I hope this helps you a lot. I am new in painting too, I always keep in mind that less mistakes much better result. Happy New Year 2012 and Love more GunPla!

Thank you for viewing.