Acrylic versus enamel?

Hi All.   I am confused by paint choice ? Obviously I would like most things in Railway modelling to be painted in matt.Especially clothing (I mean to say that unless you have a deep sea fisherman in shiny oilskins) Why on some model railways are all the clothes shiny? But what is the best paint acrylic or enamel? Or does it come down to what you are painting and personal choice  ?    Best wishes. Kevin

It is really up to you Kevin. I assume you are using an airbrush? It is really down to the colours you want for my loco weathering I use a mix of Humbrol enamels as I believe it gives a nice colour and finish and sprays finer/softer but for most rolling stock and track weathering I use Railmatch acrylics but again that comes down to colour choice. Both types of paint have their advantages and disadvantages.

Regards Connor 

Hi Connor    Thank you for your reply. Alas I do not own an Airbrush , when I recently scratchbuilt a new wagon body to fit on an old chassis, as a make do and mend job, I used a spray can of grey primer from Halfords . And that was my first attempt .   Best wishes.  Kevin

Weathering is very much a personal choice thing.  I weather everything which is weathered in real life from trains, cars and buses to ballast, buildings, people and even signs.  

What each needs to look the part for your setting differs.  If you just want to take the plastic sheen off little people then a spray of Dullcote is perfectly good.  If you'r going for the "ooh - look at that" reaction then you can ink in the folds of their clothing first to show depth and create shadow.  

I own but seldom use an airbrush.  I find a very light brush over with one of my weathering brushes which has residual powder on is sufficient to tone down the garish plastic of our population.  Though I have probably done some detailing work on them first and that includes often repainting their clothing in a more suitable colour.

Water-based acrylics are usually easier to work with than enamels whether brush or spray painting.

Hi Rick   Thank you. I can never finish one job at a time, I will get there in the end , i have not really thought much about characters in my plan, especially train crews with “ blank expressions”. But, I don’t like the plastic look of anything . I did read about weathering stuff that can be washed off.  Best wishes  Kevin 

Hey Kevin. So far I’ve used a a mix of both, there is no real rule for using either. 
I don’t have a airbrush, so I’ve tended to use acrylic for scenery mainly because I’ve ‘borrowed’ my wife’s! Both are reasonably easy to paint over mistakes!! 

I’d recommend having a little play and see what works for you 😀

Hi Chris.   Thank you for your reply.  I really need a “Roster of Work” , I have got a to do list, when I get to look at it.I have seen on the infamous YouTube , experts painting clouds with spray/ rattle cans, to good effect. I did do a scratch built wagon body with Halfords grey primer, awaiting a top coat. But I have so much to do. Best wishes  Kevin 


A Lass? I don’t have one!