Tamiya spray paints

[berr13]

I'd like to start using some Tamiya spray paints, but I have a question for you all before I buy for specific projects: what's the difference between Tamiya metallics, the various "mica" colors, and the "clear" varieties? If I'm not mistaken, they make a metallic red, a couple of mica reds, and a clear red...how do they differ? Thanks, guys!

One other question--has anyone ever tried the Tamiya "light red"? Is it as pink as the cap looks?

Edited May 2, 2014 by berr13

[slusher]

Clear reds and clear blues in Tamiya or Testors are really to be painted over gold, silver or desired color. Metallic are if you want a metallic finish. Tamiya is some great paint. You really have to go by the paint caps and trial and error on colors you like...

[Longbox55]

The Mica colors have a much finer metallic to them than the regular metallics.

[afx]

You can also adjust the shade of the final finish color by using light or dark primers. The same finish color sprayed over gray primer makes the finish quite a bit darker than the original color. And Vice versa when it is sprayed over white primer it comes out brighter.

[Erik Smith]

Mica is finer than regular metallics but a little more coarse than pearls - to my eye...

As stated above, the clears are meant to paint over a base.

The metallics are kind of Bass Boatish - very large flakes for 1/24 scale.

The light red is pink - the final hue depends on the color of primer or base.

[om617]

Just remember to buy TS paints and not PS for model kits.

[berr13]

This is great...you guys are providing me with what I need to know! Another thing I'd like to know is how long should a final paint coat dry before applying a clear coat?

Edited May 3, 2014 by berr13

[Ramfins59]

I'd wait at least a day or 2 after the colorcoats before spraying a clearcoat.

[High octane]

I paint the clear coats the day after the color coats and never had a problem.