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Humbrol Painting Tips

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admin 3 years ago Getting Started
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Basic Painting Tips


Always stir the paint to ensure a uniform mix throughout the container. We recommend stirring in a figure-of-eight motion for a minimum of 30 seconds or longer. You can never stir too much.

Some parts of your model kits are best painted before being glued together. Always scrape any paint from the surfaces to be glued to ensure a good bond; the glue's effectiveness is much reduced on a painted surface area. Always apply paint sparingly on important detail so as not to obscure it, or thin the paint down first before applying.

When applying several coats of paint always make sure that the previous coats have thoroughly dried, or a fine 'wrinkling' effect can occur. When painting large areas using a brush, it is better to use a larger brush to eliminate any brush strokes. After using your tinlet of paint always clean around the neck of the container before putting the lid back on. This will give a better seal between the lid and tin.

If you are painting using any technique, product or material for the first time, we always recommend experimenting on either a sample piece or a small non-visible area of your item before painting the whole area.

Please Note: All Humbrol products must be used at room temperature for them to mix and work correctly.

Which Type of Paint Should I Use: Humbrol Enamel or Acrylic Paint?


Humbrol Enamel paint is solvent based, dries to a hard finish and come in a wide range of colours and finishes.

Our Enamel Paint can be used on a wide range of surfaces including most plastics, wood, glass, ceramics, metal, cardboard, sealed plaster, sealed hardboard and many more.

Humbrol Acrylic paint is a fast drying paint containing pigment in acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylic paints can be diluted with water, but become water-resistant when dry, making then clean and safer for younger painters and modellers.­

Our Acrylic Paint can also be used on a wide range of surfaces including most plastics, wood, glass, ceramics, metal, cardboard, sealed plaster, sealed hardboard and many more.

Please Note: All Humbrol products must be used at room temperature for them to mix and work correctly.

Humbrol Products: Drying Times
 

Paints

  • Enamel Gloss Paints: Surface dry 1 - 2 hours, Fully dry in 24 hours
  • Enamel Matt & Satin Paints: Surface dry  20-40 minutes, Fully dry in 24 hours
  • Enamel Metallics: Fully dry in approx 10 days
  • Acrylic paints: Fully dry in 1-2 hours, please allow longer for Gloss and Metallic finishes
  • Acrylic Sprays: 15-30 minutes
     

Sprays

  • Fluorescent Sprays: 15-30 minutes
  • Multi-Effect Sprays: 15-30 minutes
  • Metal Cote Sprays: 30-60 minutes
  • Glass Etch: 15-30 minutes
  • Crystal Clear: 15-30 minutes
     

Weathering

  • Weathering Powders: Dependent on the application
  • Enamel Wash 10-20 minutes
     

Glues

  • Poly Cement: Surface dry in 10-20 minutes. Fully dry in one hour
  • Model Filler: Surface dry in 1-2 hours. Fully dry in 24 hours
  • Balsa Cement: 20-30 minutes
     

Application

  • ClearFix: 24 hours
  • DecalFix: 20-30 minutes. Do not force dry decals as they may crease or shrivel
  • Maskol: 15-20 minutes
  • Enamel Thinner: Paint drying times may vary with the addition of Enamel Thinners.
  • Acrylic Thinner: Paint drying times may vary with the addition of Acrylic Thinners.
     

Finishing

  • MattCote: Surface dry in one hour. Fully dry after 24 hours. Drying times will vary according to ambient temperature and humidity. Recoat after 24 hours.
  • SatinCote: Surface dry in one hour. Fully dry after 24 hours. Drying times will vary according to ambient temperature and humidity. Recoat after 24 hours.
  • GlossCote: Surface dry in one hour. Fully dry after 24 hours. Drying times will vary according to ambient temperature and humidity. Recoat after 24 hours.
  • Clear: Surface dry in 30 minutes. Recoat once dry.

All drying times will vary according to ambient temperature and humidity. Please Note: All Humbrol products must be used at room temperature for them to mix and work correctly.

Humbrol Products: Thinning


Humbrol Enamel Paint:

Humbrol Enamel Thinners
 

Humbrol Acrylic Paint:

Water or Acrylic Thinners
 

Clearfix:

Denatured alcohol or Methylated Spirit
 

Humbrol Mattcote, Satincote and Glosscote:

Humbrol Enamel Thinners

Please Note: All Humbrol products must be used at room temperature for them to mix and work correctly.

Humbrol Paints: Airbrushing


Airbrushes vary in specification, so it's useful to do some test spraying on spare plastic or cardboard to get the right application before spraying your model.

Humbrol paint needs to be thinned for airbrushing: 1 - 2 parts paint to 1 part Enamel/Acrylic Thinners is usual. Remember, the thinner the paint the more coats you will have to apply.

Keep the paint in the pot uniform at all times when spraying by constantly stirring. This will ensure a consistent finish.

Always spray parallel to the surface being sprayed and don't spray too close as the paint will become heavy and start to run and sag.

Always clean your Airbrush immediately after use to prevent clogging with Humbrol Enamel Thinners, Humbrol Acrylic Thinners or water depending on whether you have used Enamel or Acrylics Paints.

Enamel Paint = Humbrol Enamel Thinners.
Acrylic Paint = Humbrol Acrylic Thinners or water.

Humbrol Matt or Satin Products: Becoming Glossy


When Humbrol Matt or Satin paint dries glossy this is due to the matting agent not mixing properly with the paint, usually caused by the paint not being stirred thoroughly or regularly enough. However, this can easily be rectified by applying a coat of gloss varnish, which will dissolve the matting agent. Your Humbrol Paint can then be re-applied.

Please Note: All Humbrol products must be used at room temperature for them to mix and work correctly.

Humbrol Matt or Satin Products: Misting


The white misting effect which can occasionally be seen when using Humbrol Matt or Satin products is actually caused by deposits of the matting agent, usually caused by the product not being stirred thoroughly or regularly enough. However, this can easily be rectified by applying a coat of gloss varnish which will dissolve the matting agent deposits. A coat of Matt or Satin varnish can then be re-applied.

Please Note: All Humbrol products must be used at room temperature for them to mix and work correctly.

Humbrol Paint: How to Clean Your Brushes


Cleaning Enamel

After using Enamel paints clean your brushes with Humbrol Enamel Thinnners. Enamel thinners are also used for thinning Enamel paint, most commonly when airbrushing.
 

Cleaning Acrylic

After using Acrylic paints wash your brushes with water or Humbrol Acrylic Thinnners. Water and Humbrol Acrylic thinners can also be used for airbrushing when using Acrylic paint.

If you aren't sure of the difference between using water and Humbrol Acrylic Thinners please watch the video below. 

Humbrol products used in this video:

Humbrol Acrylic Thinners - AC7433
Humbrol Acrylic Paint

Please Note: All Humbrol products must be used at room temperature for them to mix and work correctly.

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