Good Enamels For Dry Brushing

[“Dallas” Kenny X]

Hey folks- I was a Model Master Enamels diehard for dry brushing for a long time. I always thought their paints were great for that and always got good results.

So I can’t get those anymore… and that sucks. I’ve been dry brushing with Tamiya acrylics, and Vallejo, and they both work great. There’s just one problem…

They don’t smell.

Please don’t thing I’m weird. I just happened to like how Model Master Enamels smelled. I wasn’t emoting paint jars into a bag and huffing it, mind you. Just dry brushing with it. Totally using it as-directed. And I guess I get an olfactory memory thing happening where the smell reminds me of a simpler time, back when I was a kid, building models, painting them with that enamel paint and a brush -of all things, and it sends me to this Happy Place That I can’t really get into any other way.

So guys, is there an enamel out there that works just as good for dry brushing like Model Master did, which also smells good?

Seriously, I promise I’m not huffing model paint.

[stikpusher]

Testors still has their 1/4 oz square bottle enamels, but not a wide color selection in that line. Humbrol has a great range of enamel colors, but they can be hard to find. And lastly Revell enamels are now available here stateside.

[“Dallas” Kenny X]

Thank you Carlos. I’ll look into Revell and Humbrol. For whatever reason, I never really got in with Testors. Model Master, yes. But not Testors.

[BattleScale Collectica Show]

types.....thinks about it, types some more, then deletes.

[tcoat]

I have found the AK line of paints to be a good replacement for the MM ones. Although actually an acrylic they act much like an enamel.

[stikpusher]

Jul 21, 2024 18:46:19 GMT -5 tcoat said:

I have found the AK line of paints to be a good replacement for the MM ones. Although actually an acrylic they act much like an enamel.

AK makes two lines of paints currently. 3rd Gen which is an acrylic similar to Vallejo, and Real Colors that is a lacquer. Neither is ideal for dry brushing like enamels are. 

[john3m]

I picked up a few bottles of a paint that was recently added to my hobby shop shelves. Called Real Colors from AK. It paints very smooth and the nice thing, being lacquer paint it has almost zero odor. I have a problem with any oil base paint I get sick so I need lots of ventilation when using them. this paint has virtually no odor and the surprising thing is how quickly it dries. I don’t have a lot of experience with it right now, so I’m not recommending it. Perhaps someone else has used it more than I have and knows if there are any pitfalls in the paint?  I’ll try dry brushing with some and reply back.

[deafpanzer]

I am very curious and I'd like to learn more about this. Most of my paint is Vallejo and they are pretty old so I have been looking to try something new. I still use Vallejo for details and figure paintings but they don't spray well anymore.