Lacquer paint and other tips please?

[SamBred]

I'm new to the model hobby...on my second build now. I went to hobby shop to get some paint and I realized they have so many brands and types. I got mostly enamel paint and enamel spray paint and also the guy recommend this acrylic paint for a gun metal color I wanted...I also picked up to colors I wanted but got them in a lacquer from model master by accident or because I didn't know...now my questions are I would like to know some simple easy tips on when to use acrylic and when to use enamel and when to use lacquer and I know the difference between acrylic and enamel but know nothing about lacquer...can I get some help? Should I return the lacquer? My last model I used all enamel paint.

[Ace-Garageguy]

My guess is that you may really like lacquer, depending on exactly what you got. 

In general it dries much quicker and is easier to apply without getting runs. Since it dries quicker, you usually don't tend to get as much dust in it either.

Testors Model Master line is a quality product overall, but it's important to know if you have the "one coat" metallic paint, or the basecoats that are intended to be clearcoated for optimum gloss.

Testors Model Master lacquer line has around 70 colors that match OEM real car colors, but I believe all or most of them require a clear top coat.

Edited July 17, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[SamBred]

Which paints will not stick to which?

[Ace-Garageguy]

Which paints will not stick to which?

To the best of my knowledge, most everything will "stick" to everything else.

One rule to live by is that you can usually safely put enamel over lacquer, but not lacquer over enamel. This is not carved in stone and some materials may behave differently from what you expect. Lacquer over enamel will often cause crazing or lifting or wrinkling that looks like you hit it with paint stripper.

I know absolutely nothing about any of the "craft" paints or what some guys refer to as "acrylics".

THE single most important rule is: TEST FIRST on a scrap body or something else BEFORE you commit to painting a model with any combination of materials not specifically designed and intended to work together.

 

Edited July 17, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[SamBred]

Yeah definitely test them out and I guess I'm gonna learn as i go, thanks 

[High octane]

I've been using lacquer paints for my bodies for many years with great results. I only use enamels for brush painting engine blocks, small parts, and detailing., etc. The lacquers that I use are Tamiya, Testors, Black Gold, Dupli-Color, and MCW and they're all compatible with each other.

[slusher]

I have used Testors lacquer clears over Testors enamels and Krylon and Rustoleum enamels. 

[SamBred]

My spray paints for the build are testors spray enamel and the only acrylic I got in a jar was gunmetal color and its Tamiya and the lacquer paints I got in small jars are model masters and they are Chrysler engine red for engine block and a flat black color...I just grabbed colors I needed and wasn't thinking about different paints. I also forgot a primer for my body.

[SamBred]

Why use enamel and not lacquer or vise verse or acrylics and not enamels...when is the best time to use the different paints? Or isn't there one?

[Mike_G]

I use lacquer for almost everything, except I like Testors spraycan flat black for wheelwells and the undersides of hoods and the like.