I don’t have an airbrush yet, and won’t have one for a little while. I therefore paint my models using both hand brushes and spray cans, depending on the color and the area I have to cover.
After one year back in the modeling business, I’ve had good experience with Rustoleum, but terrible with Behr (despite being advertised as good on plastic… my a*se). I haven’t tried Vallejo and AK yet.
What brand would you recommend? Any particular technique i should know about the use of spray paint?
It surely depends what you’re painting. For example if it’s cars I’ve never had a problem with Tamiya, so reliable. Similarly with planes. Ships – I have no idea. AFVs are way more complicated and for every 10 modelmakers you’ll probably get at least 30 different opinions, but in my experience I’d say you really need an airbrush although (as a dinosaur) I’ve managed with brushes most of the time.
Good point regarding the kind of models. I paint 1/35 and 1/32 plastic and resin civilian models.
I know an airbrush would be best, but it’s not in my budget right now, and I’m also limited with room, and on top of that, I have young kids who easily break stuff…
Rustoleum is fine. Often basic colors like flat white or flat black will be a much better value for you than hobby spray paints. Any rattle can paint will work on plastic - for instance if you’re doing a car and want to use automotive lacquer. The key is that you have to use a compatible primer as to act as a barrier between the paint and the plastic. I found this out the hard way using Floquil model railroad paint.
Thanks for the advice. The Behr paint i mentioned above is supposed to be a primer+paint, but i realized after spraying that whatever primer they mixed in, it doesn’t work. Now I know!
There are some portable cheap compressors on aliexpress (less than 20 euros) that can be coupled to an equally inexpensive airbrush. Not the best solution, probably not suitable for fine detail but good enough for basic airbrushing, with better control than spray cans.
I’ve seen those combo and I’m afraid I’m going to waist my money. But I’ve also read rather positive reviews about some of them. So, if I face more misfortunes with the rattle cans, this combo might be worth a try until I can buy the real deal.