Oil based paint or water based acrylics?

If you crafting plastic model kit (like Gundam or the fans coin it as Gunpla), at some point of our crafting experience, we would go to the process of coloring our kit as part of finishing it. The only difference among us is either we opt for hand paint or spray.

Most of Gunpla builders are airbrush user where various tones and hues can be presented neatly or massively depending on what the builders are building. However, due to the high cost of owning and maintaining a proper set of air brush kit (and a good air compression), I choose to hand paint all my Gunpla kits to date.

Hand painting is common among war game figures painters (e.g. Warhammer) and war vehicles model kit builders. You hardly find any Gunpla hand painters here and I guess most builders don't like brush stroke caused on kit surface when we can opt for neat color layer by air brushing.

I opt for hand painting because I don't have physical space to store that chunky air compressor and spending too much on hobby is not my lifestyle. I personally think that hand paint can produce superb paint quality with practice over time, just look at master piece below,

This is a hand paint craft

Another reason of choosing hand paint over air brush is personal aesthetic that cherishes imperfection. Vulnerability is beauty and realistic. Such value is based on Japanese concept of wabi-sabi and the product of such culture value is kintsugi. Don't you think those neatly painted Gunpla looks more like toys (yes, I know, in the eyes of laymen, it is still toys).

They say art pieces are reflection of its creator thus, I choose the path of less taken...

After knowing what those Warhammer painters are using for their figures, I finally decided to buy a few bottles to see how Citadel water based acrylics works on Gunpla. The reason that made me hesitated was that the price of it. A bottle of Citadel acrylics costs RM 15 which is double that of Mr Color oil based paint which Gunpla builders use for coloring. So, what was the outcome?

I am still a newbie in hand painting

As all Gunpla builders has know, Mr Color series is oil based paint thus the color is thick and bright, suitable for 1 layer paint job. I am not sure whether it is an acrylic or not because when I google around, acrylic does melt with water but Mr Color is not. Probably it is due to its oil based nature? Citadel paint although looks dull, that is because I am currently painting on first layer and Citadel coloring does has layering procedures to kind of finishing what the ultimate presentation you want, look at the table below,

Confusing? Yep, I am still learning it. Besides this, Citadel is water based paint so whenever you don't like your color, you can just wipe it of with water as compare to specific alcoholic solvent for Mr Color. For those who is current about prolong inhale of paint as you are painting your model, Citadel is not smelly while Mr Color is...addictive for those hard core (not healthy la...).

You can currently get the cheapest Mr Color series at Modelland Workshop near KOMTAR while the only place to get Citadel paint on Penang island is RNG board game shop which location is provided with corresponding hyperlink attached. Feel free to give it a try on Gunpla and let's discuss how do you feel or use it! =)