[Why are there so many types of paint?] - Basic course by Battalion Commander Kojima
Hello, this is Battalion Commander Kojima.
This time, I would like to organize and explain the types of paint and their characteristics.
I'm sure you've all had the opportunity to visit a hobby shop and look at the paint section.
Have you ever been in a situation where you were unsure which paint to buy because there are so many different types of paint, not just colors but also lacquer and acrylic paints with different properties?
First, roughly speaking, paint is
The color components of "pigments" and "dyes"
"Synthetic resin" is a component that forms a film on the surface of the object.
It is dissolved in a "solvent".
This solvent is generally written as "organic solvent", but
Lacquer, acrylic, and enamel each use a different type of solvent, and are the names of types of paint that are diluted with that solvent.
Now I would like to talk about the characteristics of each paint.
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■ Lacquer-based paints
The Mr. Hobby series from the long-established GSI Creos was a pioneer in the domestic market, and is still the representative series that sells the largest number of colors today. Gaia Notes and Tamiya have also entered the market, and it could be said that it is the largest faction in the hobby paint market.
Features
- With three companies participating, there are a wide variety of colors available
- Beautiful luster (if glossy)
- Beautiful coloring
- Dries quickly
- Strong odor (pungent odor)
- Strong coating
The latter three use strong solvents, which have a strong smell, evaporate quickly, and stick strongly to plastic surfaces, so lacquer-based paints are the reason to choose them, especially for character models with movable joints, as the paint is less likely to peel off even if you move them around vigorously to change poses.
For car models, where beautiful finishes such as gloss and color are required, I don't think anything other than lacquer would be chosen.
On the other hand, except for a few genres, it tends not to be used for brush painting because it is difficult to reproduce the gloss and color with a brush, so I think that in most cases it is basically assumed that it will be airbrush painting.
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■ Acrylic paint
This is also known as water-based acrylic paint.
This is a water-based paint that was first sold by Tamiya and GSI Creos (then Gunze Sangyo) in the 1980s.
The recent revision of the ingredients used in Creos' water-based hobby colors has improved their quality, which has also played a part in the success of acrylic paints.
Features
- Coating strength is inferior to lacquer-based paints
- The shine and luster are inferior to lacquer.
- Drying time is slower than lacquer
- As it is advertised as being water-based, brushes and tools can be washed with water after use.
- Low odor and therefore safe
- Many users enjoy both brush painting and airbrushing.
I've written twice that it is inferior, but that doesn't mean it's no good. It's not a disadvantage for models that don't need to be moved after completion, such as tanks and other AFVs, or ship models, and since they don't need a shiny finish, it's not a problem.
In fact , when applying weathering effects such as painting and then deliberately rubbing and peeling the paint off, you can apply a lacquer-based base coat, then paint the main body color with an acrylic paint, and then peel it off to expose the bare metal, so the "weak paint film strength" is actually an advantage.
Recently, the technique of using acrylic paint for inking and then wiping it off with Magiclean has become common , and I think this is an effective measure to avoid the risk of parts cracking when inking with enamel, as described below.
Even overseas, lacquer-based paints are being restricted in an increasing number of countries, and I have heard that acrylic paints such as Vallejo and Citadel Color are commonly used in ordinary households .
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■ Enamel paint
In Japan, Tamiya enamel is the standard paint, but Gaia Notes also sells several types.
Features
- Good spread when applied with a brush
- Drying time is slow
- Glossy paint has a beautiful sheen even when applied by brush
- Easy to wipe clean for easy correction
- Low odor
- The coating is not very strong
It is not common to paint an entire surface with enamel paint, but it is actually a paint that can be applied very beautifully .
It may not be widely known that the best way to achieve the most beautiful shine on sunglasses for a 1/35 scale figure is to brush on enamel black, but if you have the opportunity, try it out; it will be a chance to reconsider enamel.
Its slow drying time is what gives it a beautiful shine , and it is also suitable for blending, a technique used to create gradations of two or more colors, in which the color penetrates both by tracing the gap between the colors with a solvent before they dry. However, parts that are under high tension with dowels or polycaps, such as snap-fit kits (which can be assembled without using glue), which are popular these days, can crack (solvent crack phenomenon) when exposed to solvent for long periods of time.
For this reason, when using it for inking, it is necessary to disassemble the parts as much as possible to avoid tension before painting, or to use a highly volatile compatible product such as Zippo oil instead of the original solvent to speed up the drying time.
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It is important to understand the above characteristics and make a choice that is appropriate for the kit you want to build and the finish you are aiming for.
Finally, you cannot mix the paints together (it will result in clumps).
Remember to apply layers in the order of stronger paint first, followed by weaker paint.
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Model maker and writer Battalion Commander Kojima
If you want to watch the video, click here: Youtube
Airbrush brand PROFIX
RAYWOOD Co., Ltd.
