3 Types of Paint Recommendations for Repaint Gunpla

Many types of paint make me a little confused about which paint to use to repaint my Gunpla. Apart from types, there are also a lot of paint brands for this hobby, so I'm writing this as my paint too.

As an initial warning, I advise you to do the repaint process or paint the gunpla and other model kits better in a ventilated room or outdoors and it is also advisable to use a mask. Because paint is quite dangerous for the lungs ".

What is Paint?

The paint consists of three parts, solvent (diluent), carrier (carrier) and pigment (color pigment). The most important part of the paint is the pigment because basically the paint is the color molecule itself.

However, the color molecule cannot attach itself to a surface without a carrier.

Solvent itself is a diluent that is used to make pigments and carriers remain in a liquid or dilute state. If paint is applied to a surface, so that the color (carrier and pigment) sticks, the solvent must evaporate first, or we often call it "waiting for the paint to dry".

Solvent is what makes the different types of paint become, Lacquer paint, Acrylic paint and Enamel paint. The stronger the solvent, the more paint that can be diluted with the solvent.

Recommended Paint Types For Gunpla Repaint

After I explain about the paint above, now I will continue about the type of paint that I recommend to repaint gunpla which is divided based on the type of Solvent.

Oh yes, another warning, Bandai himself doesn't recommend paint the gunpla, because it has the potential to damage the ABS material. But, not a recommendation doesn't mean you can't, hehehe.

1. Lacquer paint

The solvent or diluent used in Lacquer paint is an organic solvent, or it can be called the strongest solvent of the three types of paint. Lacquer paint has the most pungent and dangerous odor of the three types of paint.

This Solvent Lacquer evaporation process tends to be very fast, so the "dry" paint is also very fast compared to the other 2 types of paint. This type of paint sticks very well to the surface of the gunpla, so it will be quite difficult to remove this paint without damaging the plastic part of the gunpla.

This type of lacquer has the advantage of being able to fit into small and narrow gaps so it is excellent for painting the detail parts of the gunpla model kit.

Before starting the painting it's a good idea to do a primer that matches the lacquer paint first, for a good coloring.

Lacquer type paint on the market

Spray Can Paint or Canned Spray Paint brands Tamiya, Duplicolor, Plastikote, Gunze Sangyo and Mr. Color. Spray Can brands ditton and Pilox also include Lacquer type paint.

Thinner Solvent brand for Lacquer paint

To dilute this type of lacquer paint, I personally suggest one brand with the paint, but if there are obstacles in its procurement, my friends can make it, mr. Color Thinner, Thinner Xylene, Toulene, Methyl Ethyl Ketone.

2. Enamel Paint

Enamel paint uses a solvent that comes from gasoline which makes it dry for a long time. This type of paint can take weeks to dry completely. Enameled gunpla surfaces tend to be softer than lacquer paint.

In the painting process, Enamel Paint produces a thick layer of paint. Because it has dried for a long time, the paint will often follow the pull of gravity, so that sometimes there are parts that are more lumpy.

To take advantage of the long drying process of this enamel paint, it is advisable to apply it with a brush. Apart from the long dry process, the Enamel Paint is also thicker and follows the direction of the brush strokes.

Enamel Type Paints On The Market

Tamiya Color Enamel Paints, Enamel Paints Testors and Humbrol Enamel Paint.

Thinner Solvent for Enamel Paints

Can use Thinner Lacquer Tamiya or Mr Thinner. Color.

3. Acrylic paint

Acrylic paint is often referred to as water-soluble or water-based paint because it can use a water solvent. This type of paint can be thinned and removed using a water-based solvent. However, for better results, it is recommended to use Thinner Acrylic.

Many Gunpla modelers say that acrylic paint is the thinnest of the three types of paint. It is advisable to add more details to the peg gunpla section.

For durability, Acrylic paint requires a topcoat of the Lacquer type so that the paint can last longer.

Acrylic type paint circulating in the market

Tamiya Color Acrylic Paint, Acryl master model, Acrylic Paint Mr. Color, Mr. Hobby Aqueous hobby color, Humbrol acrylic and Citadel.

Thinner Solvent brand for Acrylic paint

Thinner Aqueous Hobby Color, Thinner Tamiya Acrylic X20A, can use Thinner mr. Color, Thinner Tamiya Lacquer

Apart from solvents, carriers and pigments, in paints there are also "regulating agents" that affect how