In this final advanced airbrushing tutorial, Jay Blakemore shows how to get the best out of enamel paints and in particular Humbrol varnishes, which have recently acquired a poor reputation among some sections of the modelling community.
Above: This Eduard 1/48 scale Macchi Mc.202 Folgore suffered no damage to the decals during the flatting process. Here too, the finesse of the finish can be judged by the soft sheen noted across the wing root and fuselage.
Many current modellers use acrylic paints and/ or varnishes to finish their models, though this has not always been the case. On the surface it seems to make perfect sense to use fast-drying, odourless alternatives to the slow-drying, strong-smelling and toxic enamels of yesteryear, so why do some modellers still insist on using enamels and why am I among their chief advocates?
It is my intention in this article to look specifically at Humbrol enamel varnishes and to hopefully dispel some of the adverse comments/ reviews and modelling myths associated with these products on internet chat sites and other forums. Indeed, Humbrol varnishes seem to have garnered a terrible reputation. I personally have been successfully using Humbrol enamel varnis…
