Application of Tamiya Bottled LP Lacquers vs Testors Enamel?

[Lone Wolf]

I'm interested in trying out some Tamiya bottled LP Lacquers (for brushing on small parts) but am curious how well, or not, they apply, go on, or "lay down" compared to Testors bottled Enamels or Lacquers?

For me, the Testors enamels go on fairly easy and smooth. Their lacquers have given me mixed results, where the less than ideal results are likely from me not loading the brush heavy enough (I know lacquer paints in general, dry faster than typical enamels)?

Are the Tamiya bottled lacquers also "sensitive" to quick drying, also requiring heavy brush loading? Are there any other issues with them you've noticed? With none local to me, I'm planning (unless told otherwise) on ordering a qood selection of colors, yet don't like wasting money.

Thank you.

[Fat Brian]

About any of the Japanese hobby paints are better than Testors. I've almost completely switched to Mr Color brush lacquers and Tamiya acrylics. Having gloss black and silver paint that actually dries has been a big deal.

[Lone Wolf]

Thanks for the reply, and I hear you (especially about the quality Japanese paints,  which is one of the reasons I've been switching over).

That said, I'd love to hear from some(one) who's currently using the bottled Tamiya LP Lacquers, please?

I also forgot to ask in my original post,  if these Tamiya lacquer brush paints cover better than the (very thin TS-14 gloss black) spray lacquer I've used recently? My instincts are telling me they should cover better, but I don't have 100% accuracy when guessing.

[bobss396]

I haven't used an enamel brush paint in 20+ years. I have been using the Tamiya X series acrylic paints exclusively.

[Bainford]

I use the Tamiya bottled lacquers quite a bit lately. I find they airbrush very nicely. The paint covers well and lays down very well. I have much less experience spraying lacquers than enamels, though I shoot lacquer much more these days. I have been a life-long Testors (enamel) user, and still quite like them, but the new Tamiya bottled lacquers are much more user friendly once you make the adjustment to lacquers. I find I shoot them at less pressure, slower passes, and closer to the model. I am still a bit on the learning curve, but find them predictable and forgiving. I have thinned them with standard hardware store lacquer thinner, though now use Mr Colour Levelling Thinner almost exclusively (the same things I thin Testors with, actually). I have not experienced the dry tip and spitting that I found when spraying many decanted lacquers, but much of that problem is the result of shooting decanted paint.

When it comes to brush painting Tamiya lacquers, I have done this very little, just some occasional small details. It covers as well as Testors, perhaps better. The quicker drying time can be useful for small detail painting, but will likely require an adjustment of technique when hand painting larger parts. You may find that they are sensitive to quick drying relative to the handling of Testors enamels.

If Gunze Sangyo Mr Colour paints were available locally, I would definitely give them a try, too. And then there is Tamiya's new bottled enamel paints. I have bought a few to try, but have yet to give them a go.

[NOBLNG]

I have quite a few of the LP lacquers and prefer to airbrush them. I will brush them on small parts if I don’t want to dirty the airbrush or head out to the garage to spray. They are quite thin and fairly “hot”. They will remelt Tamiya primer, so when brushing it, I prefer to put it on bare plastic. I like to do one really light coat, then a heavier one after it has dried.

[Lone Wolf]

Thanks for the input guys. I hadn't even thought about trying their enamel bottled paint, until now. I may have to bite the bullet so to speak and try a smaller "test order" of both?