Createx Acrylic Paints

[Radretireddad]

Hey gang. I want to give anyone who hasn’t tried them yet a heads up about some Createx paints I’ve been trying lately. I was specifically looking for a pearl white for my current build but I’ve also been experimenting with a few other colors I recently picked up. The results I’ve been getting using my regular technique have been outstanding and unlike their Tamiya counterparts, they fully harden when dry. If you’re looking for black, their wicked black is the absolute blackest black I’ve ever seen. They should change the name to lights out. Hobby Lobby stocks some of their range but their full selection can be found on their website. There are loads of very cool metallics, pearls, transparent and opaque colors that offer endless custom mixing possibilities and they’re economically priced. Highly recommended! Finished build results coming soon.

[Bugatti Fan]

It's well worth a bit of lateral thinking and not be hide bound to what model making paints are on offer. Those Createx Acrylics Brian suggests look interesting and will have to see if they are available in the UK.

I have used different artists paints on my models to great effect over the years. There are a number of good makes of artists paints and waterproof inks for brush and air brush like Winsor&Newton, Rowney, Liquitex, and Reeves products that are high quality and been around for years. Lakeland make good ranges of coloured pencils and pens. I have recently used some 0.7mm Posca  Acrylic fine tipped pens to do a fair bit of the paint job on my Janis Joplin Porsche which was mostly hand painted with various artists acrylics.

What with all the various dedicated and general modelling paints available these days, the model maker never had it so good.      Back in the bad old days it was good old Humbrol, Pactra 'namel, Aifix and Testors that were the only paints I can remember, and ofvcourse the AMT spray laquers.

 

[johnyrotten]

Createx makes nice products, I've been having lots of success with it. Certain colors are also on clearance at hobby lobby, so that's a plus. Their clear coats are pretty nice, and they have video tutorials on YouTube if you get in a pinch.

[Beans]

Agree 100%.  I struggled for years trying to dial in my airbrush to spray well.  

Switched and tried createx and watched a few videos, mixed some up and boom, worked like a charm.  

Only issue I had was on me and not realizing that the pearl white needs to go over a white base coat.  Pearl white over grey primer made a cool silver though.

[TransAmMike]

Yep, Createx is good stuff used correctly.  I have several model cars and a truck or 2 sprayed with Createx with excellent results.

[Jim Dodson]

Are  the Createx products low oder? Can I get away with using them in my airbrush without going to the trouble of setting up my spray booth ventilation system? Thanks in advance. Jim

[Radretireddad]

7 hours ago, Jim Dodson said:

Are  the Createx products low oder? Can I get away with using them in my airbrush without going to the trouble of setting up my spray booth ventilation system? Thanks in advance. Jim

Yes. No promblemo with the odor.

[Radretireddad]

Pearl white is indeed opaque so white primer is a must. The only other thing I discovered is that the test coat I applied to a scrap body rubbed off with water so I’d avoid wet sanding. The sheer variety of colors in their entire range has solved the color decisions in a lot of my future builds.

Edited April 5 by Radretireddad

[Andrew McD]

I believe the Createx website specifically states that one should not wet sand their paints.  

Early on when first attempting to use an airbrush I experimented with Createx with very mixed results.  Tip dry problems and paint spattering issues were a constant headache.  Keep in mind that I was new at airbrushing, a skill I still have not mastered, but I did manage to paint a couple of models with their pearl colors and was very pleased with the results.  I understand that their new 4021 reducer (reducer is their word for thinner) has been formulated to reduce tip dry problems.  I don't know what the experience of others may be but I found thinning to the suggested ratios on their website resulted in paint that was much too thick to spray effectively in the 15 to 30 psi range that is typical for model airbrushing.  As with all hobby airbrushing it seems Createx paints have a learning curve, one that I found to be frustratingly steep.  Having said that I am considering having another go with Createx as I especially like their pearls.  Hopefully the 4021 reducer and a bit more experience with the airbrush will produce more consistent results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Radretireddad]

On 4/26/2025 at 7:26 AM, Andrew McD said:

I believe the Createx website specifically states that one should not wet sand their paints.  

Early on when first attempting to use an airbrush I experimented with Createx with very mixed results.  Tip dry problems and paint spattering issues were a constant headache.  Keep in mind that I was new at airbrushing, a skill I still have not mastered, but I did manage to paint a couple of models with their pearl colors and was very pleased with the results.  I understand that their new 4021 reducer (reducer is their word for thinner) has been formulated to reduce tip dry problems.  I don't know what the experience of others may be but I found thinning to the suggested ratios on their website resulted in paint that was much too thick to spray effectively in the 15 to 30 psi range that is typical for model airbrushing.  As with all hobby airbrushing it seems Createx paints have a learning curve, one that I found to be frustratingly steep.  Having said that I am considering having another go with Createx as I especially like their pearls.  Hopefully the 4021 reducer and a bit more experience with the airbrush will produce more consistent results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve found the right thinning ratio is determined by compressor psi setting and airbrush needle position more than anything else. I like to apply fairly heavy yet uniform coats which requires the paint to cover evenly and not run or sag. Even though the Createx paints are noticeably thicker in the bottle than say Tamiya acrylics, a 50/50 ratio seems to work well. As always, experimentation and good quality components are indispensable.

[Mike 1017]

I bought a .066 Needle and Tip Comb for my Paasche Talon. I have no problems using Creatix right out of the bottle. Large Needles and Tips are recommended for most Acrylic Paints

Mike

[Dragonhawk1066]

I have been using Createx for a few years now and love them! One should not wet sand the colors, but after at least 72 hours of drying/curing the clears can be carefully wet sanded. While Hobby lobby has a smaller selection of their paints, spraygunner.com seems to carry their whole line. I have a couple of tutorials concerning the clears on my youtube channel if anyone is interested.