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I'm just wondering if any of you model experts have had any experience with the paints that come in these Airfix starter kits. Our AAL cadets started building their Aldi kits on Friday night (strange that they all chose the Gnat) and the paint straight from the pot wouldn't adhere to the model parts. I thought there might have been some mould release agent still on the parts so sent them off to thoroughly wash them with soap and water and rinse them off before attempting to paint them again. The same thing happened again so I'm concluding that it's the paint. Does it have to be thinned even for brush painting and several light coat laid down? As it is all their great efforts appear to have been in vain so they have to start over again next week. Any ideas anyone.

Regards,
RHB.

Best advice......the money saved on the purchased kits should be invested in quality model paints. I have heard that the paints supplied with these starter kits is not the best of quality.
TOR
PS: maybe some Mr Surfacer primer might help if the kit-supplied paints are to be used.

I've only ever used that paint for detail painting which it is good. Never used it for anything other than that

Thank you fellows. From what I saw last Friday evening it didn't even seem to work too well for detail work. I'll be buying some quality paints this week and add them to the collection we already have and also revitalise some of those paints that have deteriorated over time. I'm unfortunately on arvo shift this Friday but the other two officers can supervise the cadets and they can learn how to look after their own paints at home. Again, many thanks.

Hi Ross

I tried these paints out on two of those little Airfix "Starter" kits in a failed attempt at modelling with my daughters. Well, to be fair the kids were not the failures but their anal dad! I was taking over too much I fear - "Dad, I want to do that!". Well, let's face it some of the tools and glues do present some hazard (yep, the control freak coming out of me again!). Those Airfix paints are an absolute disaster. The Airfix glue is pretty strong stuff too - literally dissolving the styrene to weld the parts together. The girls did have some fun painting the interiors of a little Red Arrows Hawk and a two seat Vampire. Quite nice little kits - far better than the Airfix of old we had to deal with (and loved!) as kids.

I will get the girls to have another go at these kits perhaps next holidays when it's warmer (mum insists modelling has to be done outside and I there is no room in my "man cave" for the girls to do any modelling, so outside it is). Honestly can't see my girls turning into modelling nerds like their ol' man quite frankly! I'm more getting them to try this for a bit of fun, bit of concentration and the whole hand/eye/spatial skills thing. They are of course curious as to how dad puts his models together.

Give some acrylic paint a go - Gunze/Mr Hobby or Tamiya. They brush nicely and are brilliant for airbrushing.