We regularly get asked about whether it is safe to use a solvent based paint like our Premium Acrylic Lacquers in conjunction with other paint types like oil based enamels or water based acrylics.Â
The answer to this is yes, provided that you take adequate steps in ensuring that the other paint is dry before applying the next type over it. I personally have used enamels and water based paint both under and over our solvent based Acrylic Lacquers and have never come across an issue ever.Â
The team at FineScale Modeler recently uploaded a video doing a number of test examples using our Acrylic Lacquers with Humbrol enamels and Vallejo water based acrylics and their tests further prove that a lot of the 'rules' of using paint that you may see online are just myths.Â
Watch their video below to see for yourself, and remember, keep on modelling!Â
- Scott
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Scott, I regularly airbrush acrylics (Vallejo, AK Interactive, Hataka and Lifecolor) both over and under SMS and Hataka lacquers, and touch wood, Iâve yet to have any adverse interaction. If I am being cautious with a lacquer overcoating an acrylic, I might first give the model a coat of Tamiya TS-79 or TS-80 clear (which are, of course, lacquers in their own right). As it clearly states in the FSM video, the ideal approach is to build up the coats anyway and not âdrownâ the surface. As the solvents in SMS lacquers can be quite âhotâ, I suspect that applying an excessive volume all at once might cause an issue with an acrylic.
Cheers,
Greg