Dotti is a bit of a test bed and this continues as the paint goes on. I'm pondering if I need more acrylic paint and less enamel in my life. Water-based paint seems like a better thing, it certainly smells less.
Anyway, after priming with Halfords best red oxide colour, I've sprayed the model using Vallejo for no other reason than it seemed like a good idea. I'm told this paint outsells Humbrol in Europe so there must be something good about it. I'll admit I've used some of the earth shades for weathering in the past, but this is the first time I've used it as the main colour.
Thinned with car windscreen was, a tip picked up from plastic kit modellers, it flowed well and has given a nice finish. Some of the red oxide shows through in places as planned and I highlighted with a mix of base colour let down with beige.
I'm happy with the results this time so I'll be trying it again. Sadly, supply isn't easy (I got mine from Ian Allan in Birmingham) which precludes its use in magazine projects.
6 comments:
I've been using Vallejo paints almost exclusively (a few pots of RailMatch acrylic as well) as I find they work really well, especially when brush painted (none of the horrible streaks you see with some paints when the thickness isn't right). They also have a range of paints, called Model Air, that are already at the right consistency to airbrush which takes some of the complications out of airbrushing.
I'm not quite sure why you think there are issues with getting supplies though. Many UK model shops stock them; especially those that stock war gaming kits. Plus you can buy any colour from the entire range (as far as I can tell) on Amazon. With a combination of trips to Wargames Emporium in Sheffield and Amazon I've yet to find a colour in the range I couldn't buy.
One good High Street stockist is the general cheapish chain called Boyes. They are more to the north of you. The best locations between you and Bourne are Melton Mowbray (a god pie stop) and Grantham. Look at their website for other locations.
None of the model shops near me, with the exception of Ian Allan in Birmingham stock Vallejo and I'm not ordering single pots mail-order. I'm just not organised enough for that!
I'd also struggle to get the stuff at shows. I'm always surprised by that as I'd have thought this would be an easy product to move around. Maybe railway modellers can't be weaned off the "accepted" ranges? Or, simply, most of them never paint anything...
Its worth trying out Games Workshop acrylics. They are I find good quality, work well in an airbrush and, importantly for you, readily available in most towns as a lot of toy/model shops also sell GW products. I can even get them here in Buxton.
They also have amusing names...
Games Workshop paint is on my list. As you say, they are readily available in most towns, and do have amusing names. I have a RC fishing boat with a "Snot Green" hull!
I also use them almost exclusively. I don't know why they haven't made more inroads to railway modelling. They are easily available at Wargames and Military Modelling shows.
I usually use ebay, deals to buy 10 paints are usually good value. I use Couldson Models on Ebay and am a very happy customer.
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