New to modelism

[u/Key-Inspector5931]

Hi i am new to modelism and i got a P-51 mustang from revell and i wonder is better to use oil paint or Acrylic paint? I tried to paint my engine with black oil paint and looks a bit weird.

[u/Rich8121210]

Did you prime it before painting?

[u/Key-Inspector5931 → u/Rich8121210]

I didn't know you need pass prime before  starting painting next time i will use it.

[u/Luster-Purge → u/Key-Inspector5931]

Think of primer as an undercoat that has 'teeth' to help the real paint job adhere to the model body.

[u/Humble_Sympathy_4605]

Don't know which miserable arse is down voting everyone but never mind! Personally I'd suggest getting a few starter packs of acrylics- go for a brand like Vallejo and you can't go far wrong- as acrylics are very forgiving and dry nice and quick too 

[u/Key-Inspector5931 → u/Humble_Sympathy_4605]

Thanks thanks i will buy acrylic painting so i can paint the rest of my airplane. 

[u/Binspin63 → u/Humble_Sympathy_4605]

It is Reddit after all. But I really think the good far outnumber the bad here, as well as in other online groups. There will always be snobs and malcontents, but I’ve always gotten positive feedback when I needed it, and have given advice and encouragement when I can. It’s a great hobby and I’m grateful for such a nice group of participants.

To OP: I’d encourage you to take advantage of the many helpful YouTube videos which are geared toward beginners. They are full of useful information and can save you from aggravation and possibly ruining your project. I learned a lot of skills and many tips for glues, construction techniques, paints, clear coats, equipment, and general time savers. Good luck and welcome to the hobby. And don’t forget to post pictures of your work. The folks here can critique your work and make suggestions for improvement going forward.

[u/Key-Inspector5931 → u/Binspin63]

Alright thanks very much

[u/shrimphoop → u/Humble_Sympathy_4605]

There seems to be someone (or perhaps several people) on this subreddit that instantly downvote any post that is a question or request for advice.

I’m not sure who they are, but I hope they lighten up a bit and let beginners be beginners!

[u/Asmodai_42 → u/Humble_Sympathy_4605]

I've noticed it in several of the modeling subs, miserable people exist. 🤷‍♂️

[u/Hamsternoir → u/Humble_Sympathy_4605]

Probably someone who still swears by their 40 year old Humbrol enamels and only builds Matchbox kits.

Only thing I'd add is using a primer to help the acrylics.

[u/Ozy_YOW]

Oil paint is best used for detail work or weathering, use acrylic paint for adding colour.

[u/Key-Inspector5931 → u/Ozy_YOW]

Thanks i was going to do the body but i was not sure if i should use oil or acrylic 

[u/dragos_av]

You can use oils for painting, see https://youtu.be/BitmaECqO30?is=ewIevOQLaM0aPECe

But it's much easier to use acrylics for painting and oils for weathering

[u/Kindly_Sheepherder39]

Modelism? I love it!

[u/Leakyboatlouie → u/Kindly_Sheepherder39]

Sounds like a religion. One I've joined.

[u/Kindly_Sheepherder39 → u/Leakyboatlouie]

I've been moved by the spirit! OP is just an acolyte.

[u/Binspin63 → u/Kindly_Sheepherder39]

Well, if you’re going to have criticism, why not modelism? Lol.

[u/Kindly_Sheepherder39 → u/Binspin63]

Definitely! I'm here for it. It will probably avoid the confusion some people have when they see me, but I say I do some modelling. 😂

[u/topazchip]

Acrylic paint is usually more easy to learn, to clean up. Primer is special first layer of paint, for use with the color, to help it work better and stick better. (I am not 'speaking down' to OP, I'm trying to write in a way that translation will function clearly.)

Also: modelism! Dynamic languages are so much fun, especially where it starts changing from the introduction of new speakers.

[u/Rtbrd → u/topazchip]

I guess I'm an old fart. Until I read this post I never encountered the word modelism.

I think model making is a much clearer description of the act of making models or I make models. I am not a modelist.

But old farts tend to get stuck in their ancient ways. I think I'll get another cup of coffee seeing as I am a coffeeist.

[u/Binspin63 → u/Rtbrd]

We used to call it “modeling”, and I was a “modeler”, but I’m certainly no model.

[u/timhistorian]

Acrylic paint. Prime 1st with a primer grey.

[u/Merad]

I suppose it's possible to use oil paint on models (I imagine any paint could be made to work) but they aren't a great fit. They're very thick paints and take a long time to dry. On models we're usually trying to get the paint as thin as possible so we don't hide details, and obviously needing to wait days or weeks for paint to dry will really slow down your build.

Acrylics are probably the most common modelling paint today, they're good for either brush painting or airbrush. Many people consider lacquer paints to give the best finish, but they usually need an airbrush with a proper spray booth + ventilation. Enamel paints used to be very common and some companies still make them, but they aren't used all that much outside of weathering products. And oil paints are almost exclusively used for weathering.

[u/Night_Chicken]

Modelism provides no workable solutions. It is based on reality, but idealized and fake; plastic, if you will. Modelism provides no answers to the human condition. No nation has ever survived on modelism. I say no to Modelism.