New Humbrol Dropper Bottles

[zuludog]

I would like to introduce my Grandsons to kit making, including painting them

I see that Humbrol have replaced the pots of acrylic paint with dropper bottles

Can this be used for brush painting?

Is the paint the same?

[Ratch]

Yes it can be brushed. Vallejo paint - Model Color and Model Air - both come in dropper bottles and you can brush the Air too, its just a bit thinner. Just because its in a dropper doesn't make any difference.

[zuludog]

For years I used enamel paint as that's all there was

When I recently returned to model making I thought I'd try acrylics, but I'm not impressed - or rather I am impressed, but for the wrong reasons

I have tried Tamiya, AK, Mr Color, Meng, and Vallejo Model Color acrylics, and they were all dreadful for brush painting

The only acrylic that worked was Humbrol, and that needed thinning

I will stay with enamels, but it looks like my Grandsons will be using Humbrol in the dropper bottles

Though I think I will try a dropper bottle myself, to see what it's like, and is still more or less the same as the stuff in the plastic tubs

[Ratch]

I used Humbrol enamels for forty years, and then SWMBO complained about the smell and I switched to acrylics. No they're not the same as enamels, you have to acquire new skills or methods of working with them, but they're not useless. I use a multitude of brands - whatever is suitable for what I'm building. Yes, some paints perform better than others. but that is personal preference. For example; I know Peebeep swears by Tamiya, but I find them not good for brushing, nice through the airbrush, but I find their range of colours limited. Vallejo is my brand of choice, but I also use Humbrol, Hataka, Andrea, AK-Interactive and Life Color (plus some others like Alclad). Don't be afraid to experiment and find what works for you.

[peebeep]

For example; I know Peebeep swears by Tamiya, but I find them not good for brushing, nice through the airbrush.

 

 

Mostly for airbrushing for which they are very good. I only use brushes with it for touch ups or small details that can be done in one brush stroke. The problem with Tamiya acrylic is that it sets quickly and attempts to brush it out turns into goo. I'm informed by others that using Tamiya's own brand retarder transforms it for brush painting.

[Geoff Savage]

I went down to Margate yesterday and had a great time at the Hornby factory! Thanks guys, a great experience and a really great sausage roll!

And in the shop I discovered the acrylic dropper bottles. Now I am no expert so asked the assistant if they needed to be thinned for airbrush? He said they did not, they are airbrush ready.

In fact there is an airbrush symbol on the bottle with a tick next to it which suggests this is correct.

However, having bought a couple of bottles, and having shaken them as instructed, the paint comes out like toothpaste. That's not going to find it's way out of my airbrush!

So was the assistant correct and the paint is faulty? Or did the assistant make a mistake and it's not airbrush ready?

Thanks

[RougeTrooper]

From my experience with Humbrol paint in these dropper bottles, is there is a big issue with consistency of the paint. The first one I got, I had no issues with airbrushing straight from the bottle. Second one too thick, so watered it down. The next four bottles all different viscosity.

Having said that they are very workable with a paint brush, but I personally did't purchase them for the use with a brush.

Maybe they have used what stock they had left from the pots to put in the dropper bottles, who knows but the manufacturer and maybe Humbrol didn't know the manufacturer was doing this.

I personal feel there is a big QA problem some where.

Any paint can be used through an airbrush, it just needs to be thinned if needed.

[Jay 1707822856]

Call me old school but if I'm honest I prefer the pots and just use what I need on a brush.

I can see where the dropper bottles come into their use but still prefers the pots.

Can't comment on the airbrushing as I prefer the brush finish.