We currently Stock TAMIYA and HUMBROL paints.

In Tamiya we stock :

• Enamel Paints*
• Acrylic paints*
• Thinners
• Primers
• Decal solution
• Glues
• Plastic Sprays (TS colours and AS Colours) (AS colours are specialised AIRCRAFT colours in spraycan format)
• PS sprays for ploycarbonate bodies
• much more

*When purchasing Tamiya paints, remember that X- colours are GLOSS, and XF- colours are MATT finish. eg. X-1 is gloss black, and XF-1 is matt black.

In Humbrol we stock

• Enamel paints only
• Liquid Masks
• Thinners
• Clear Coats
• more…

Just about everything the discerning modeler needs. We hope to add more brands to our offering in the near future!

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Scale Model Basics: Acrylic vs Enamel Paint

Reading a post about paint can be a lot like, well, watching paint dry. But as that’s actually a big part of the scale model experience, we’re hoping you’ll bear with us. While enamel paint has been around for donkey’s years, a tried and true tool for model makers everywhere, the more modern acrylic has fast become the paint of choice for many.

As with anything in the world of scale modelling, take your creative license and run with it.

But is one actually better than the other? We’re here to highlight the pros and cons of each, with a couple of handy alternatives thrown in for good measure. So strap in, put on a nice pot of tea or coffee, and follow us on this riveting paint splattered journey…

First Things First: Let’s Talk Chemistry

Yeah science! To truly understand how these paints act the way they do, we need to know the why. Essentially, all paint is a combination of four distinct properties:

Pigment: The powder that provides colour and opacity

Binder: Holds the pigment particles and provides good adhesion

Solvent: The medium that disperses the binder, pigment, and additives (e.g. water, oil)

Additive: Modifies the paint properties (e.g. driers, flow control agents)

The main difference between acrylic and enamel paints then, comes down to the solvent used – acrylic using water, enamel using oil. Now onto the main event…

Acrylic: Built for Speed

PROS	CONS
Quick drying – touch dry within 10-15 minutes Easy to thin (water, alcohol) Easy to dry brush with Useful for glazes and washes Extensive range of colours available Easy to clean from brushes Non toxic, no fumes	Harder to get good coverage, so needs more coats to obtain appropriate depth of colour Leaves unsightly brushstrokes Don’t adhere well to very smooth surfaces, so a primer is required Not hard-wearing, tends to peel Hard to remove

Enamel: The Slow and Steady Option

PROS	CONS
Gives a consistent covering which holds the colour well Give a nice hard coat finish, with no sign of brush strokes Can be applied without a primer Easy to remove from models using spirits	Long drying time – ~ 24 hours Oil separates after extended shelf life, so requires remixing Harder to airbrush with – requires more thinning Less colours available Much more toxic, gives off fumes

As you can see, there is no clear-cut winner. Acrylic is the faster, more popular option these days, but enamel is definitely not without its merits.