Oils?

[tyrantqueen]

Out of pure curiosity, I ask whether there is anyone who has used (or uses) oil paints for custom paint jobs? What are the advantages/disadvantages? I know that oils tend to have a strong smell and take much longer to dry than say, acrylics.

Anyone tried it?

Opinions please ;D

[Himmapaan]

Not on models, but I've painted paintings with oils before, if that's of any use. ;D But I do know of many who paint models with them (again, horses, chiefly). The best advantages are that colours and gradations can be blended, rather than needing to be painted in layers as with acrylics (although you'd probably still be painting several layers anyway). Oil colours can also deliver a richer, deeper, more translucent finish.

The disadvantages, as you say, are that they take absolute ages to dry. I've also heard mild horror stories of layers of oils beneath the surface which haven't dried properly seeping through over time.

I think they may be worth troubling over for large models (i.e. Sideshow upwards) if one is inclined, but may be an unnecessary hassle for small models and figures. Acrylics and pastels are plenty good!

[tyrantqueen]

Thank you for responding