Scale Model Paint Guide | Best Paints for Beginners

Have you ever done an episode on the quality of all the different brands? I am new to this and already tired of getting kits that have poor parts, poor instructions etc... There has got to be one or two brands that are better than others. Thanks

Great video again ! However I wouldn't mind seeing you do the same thing for North Africa . Both for the DAK and the Allied AFV and Aircraft . North Africa is its own animal in the paint world . Thanks for making these helpful videos

sorry to spoil your RLM color scheme , there is no such thing RLM colors it is a made up from Model companys to safe money for the RAL permit to get the RAL number. All Paints/colors for pre world war 2 and during the WW are RAL coded colors . RLM Numbers where used for the Prototzpes/Production Aircraft used or even for Aircrafts existing only on drawings soon to be build . RLM 109 is for BF 109 RLM 79 is fro he Arado Ar 79. The color coding used by the time is the RAL system .

Hey great video. Just got back into modeling after a looooong time off. Painted a model with acrylics and I am now looking to put on some decals and weather. I've read a bunch about applying clear coats on the base paint before weathering and decals. Some say use enamel on an acrylic base and others say to use acrylic clear on acrylics. Is there a difference? I used Vallejo hobby spray.

When doing Russian armor, you forgot to mention the winter cammo (snow white) colors.

Thanks

Hi Hank. Could i ask for advice on an airbrush? Saw an amazon a deal for a Gaahleri with 0.38 and 0.5mm needle. I particularly like the pistol component since i easily get cramped fingers (which is what I suspect will get from more traiditional airbrushes. It might be a bit more $ to spend, but I don't mind. It's on sale for 69 now (damn, was 53 yesterday). Would appreciate your thoughts!
Cheers and happy building!

Great information. Made choosing products easy.

What am I doing wrong with the Mig ammo paints? I’m terrified of using my airbrush now. I use Mr surfaces and the paint is still watery goo. Tried paint brush still garbage

I wouldnt categorize air brushing as a "beginner" thing

Also this helps a lot

Lift waffle paints :D

Thank you for all the tips! Just one recommendation as for buying the relevant chemicals. Amazon, at least in the UK, is no the cheapest place to buy all the kit. I've noticed that here the Tank Museum is the go-to place for all things modelling, especially Tamiya. The paints are usually half the price compared to Amazon. The things I couldn't find there I was able to acquire from ScaleModelShop, also cheaper than Amazon. All in all, from the initial basket worth over £60 I was able to go with alternatives for just over £40. Not sure if the US you can find cheaper stores than Amazon but in the UK I would shop around. Thanks again!

hey love the video. are these paints are good for paint brush too?

Do you not think paint manufactures are ripping us off if you were to buy the range of some manufactures say 200 17ml bottles you're only getting about 3.5 ltr of paint for 300/400 bucks then they have the cheek to thin them and slap Air on the bottle anyway just a thought 🥱

Great! Though as someone with very little interest in WWII, this is basically a 10-15 minute guide. ''Thinners, Primers, & Varnishes' chapter was very helpful. The 'figures' part was helpful too.

I will say, as someone just starting out, it feels a bit alienating when the guide is so geared towards painting with airbrushes (I get that's what you use, and investing in an airbrush is probably ideal, but it's not the most accessible for folks just starting off). Are these paint recommendations still suitable if one doesn't have an airbrush?

Aren't thinners basically Turpentine?

couldnt you add shadows by playing with the primer coloring? priming with a light color primer the whole thing and adding shadows with dark primer, then adding the base coat which depending on the color under it will make shadows naturally?

Do you still plan on doing a feature on British colors?

Wow! Constant hand movement...little distracting.

love the brickwork in ur house, looks like a hundred year old townhouse recently renovated...nice. I was an electrical contractor, i loved working in these types of buildings

When building models and storing them how hot can the environment be?

Do you use some sort of paint booth with the air brush? Wife might freak if I’m spraying paint in the living room?😂

As a Brit. I'm flabbergasted lol.

Hey Hank, in your model collection vid you mentioned aftermarket decals; I cant find them on Amazon-is there a reliable source you can recommend for decals and photoetch?

Just depends on what your doing and what works for you.I use both oil and water based.Try different things😊

hi mate where do you get your paint stand from

Just getting back into modeling in my mid-life crisis years (could be worse things, right?). Anyway, I am really learning a lot from Hank already, like in his mistakes to avoid video. I enjoy his teaching. I just hope its okay that my brew is coffee. Lots of it. Cheers!

Can you also talk about different types of paint like enamel vs acrylic, water vs oil, pros & cons on application etc?

I learned a lot.

What kind of PSI & paint:thinner ratio do you use for your AMMO paints? I'm working on a 109 at the moment and I'm experiencing some difficulty in getting them to lay super evenly compared to the Vallejo and MMP stuff I've used prior to this.

And sometimes the thickness of the paint is not to scale with the model and it smothers some of the fine details.

Does anyone know what color wash I should use on a bf 109 e3 painted in RLM 02 and RLM 71 on top and RLM 65 for the bottom.
Im not sure if I should use a blue type of wash on the blue underside or a more neutral.

Very helpful. Thx.
Note: colors like Tamiya interior green or AM AM Chromate zinc green for US cockpits
Citadel Leadbelcher for all guns

Just got back into the hobby and found your videos really helpful….you say you haven’t built many RAF models and I know it isn’t in your era of interest but I can highly recommend Airfixes Vulcan bomber,I did it as my third build and found it perfect for my skill level (relative newcomer after twenty year break ).and as well as having Parkinson’s disease I find the hobby very therapeutic although it can get a bit stressful when the tremors start .

what Armor Div were you in?

I'm new to modeling. Is there a venting system/gadget/gizmo/etc of some sort that would allow me to airbrush in my office?

I use mig mainly now, but I recommend Tamiya paint for new people. It's not fully water based, but significantly easier to use.

Thinning is easy, just top the bottle off and done.

I realise this video has been around for awhile but I only stumbled over it today. Really helpful to me as someone getting back into the hobby after decades of distractions. Thank you so much for posting this and I am really looking forward to putting your advice into practice.

I am slowly re-entering back into the model building hobby after a 30 year hiatus now that I have retired and settled into a high rise condominium suite. My issue is, I have to stop using organic solvent based paints like Humbrol as my daily use go to paint system and switch to acrylic. I was never a big fan of Tamiya acrylic paints but would be willing to try Villaggio Acrylic paints. . Thank goodness I never sold off all my airbrushing gear and have already started using it again. I still will be occasionally be using lacquer based metallizing paints so a large lighted fume extractor box with charcoal filtration in my new home is mandatory otherwise I may have problems with my nearby neighbors.

great videos, I'm restarting model building after a 35 year pause , thanks for the great info a lot has changed in that 35 year pause.

I'd like to do my first model or two (willy jeep you recommended) without an airbrush if that is possible. How do I thin these paints if I am brushing them on? Any advice for physically brushing vs air brushing?

What do you think about AK materials?

You have given a lotta people a lotta info. Even experienced modelers. Love organization. You did great.

Hey there how are u. Would u be willing to paint my micro machine Vaders tie fighter to screen accurate ??? I would pay

Super helpful, thanks so much

Great section on skin tones. Looking forward to your hints on black/brown and even Asian skin tones.

Greetings from Ireland!!! Excellent videos, love your content. Getting back into after a long time. Quick question, do you first build your models and then paint, or do you paint on the sprues first?

Colours are nice, But... more useful would be how to setup and use the Airbrush and manual paint brushs. <*> also, I find the waving around of the hands annoying and distractive.