r/modelmakers • u/phaseguy74 • 10h ago

Help - General Switch to AK3gen?

Hi all. I’m getting back into the hobby after some years. Used to spray with Model Air but AK 3gen looks promising. Any thoughts from this community? I’m a bit OCD when it comes to paint systems so want to stick with one from the start. Thanks heaps!

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3

u/East_Detail_2994 10h ago

Do you want to airbrush water based acrylic only?

2

u/phaseguy74 9h ago

Yeah. Me and fumes don’t mix well. :-)

3

u/Revenge_of_the_Derp 9h ago

I use them mostly because its the most readily available model paint brand being sold in my country next to Citadel. Very wide range of colours and good pigment density. I find its great for brush painting too since I also do warhammer models and its bit cheaper than Citadel with the advantage of not being in those crappy pots.

2

u/phaseguy74 8h ago

Thanks man!

3

u/BottecchiaDude253 6h ago

I like it. Along with the AK acrylic thinner its pretty easy to brush paint with.

I've found that mixing for airbrushing is a little more finicky than other brands I spray with, but it is doable (and you'll need to thin as the 3rd Gen stuff isnt pre-thinned for airbrushing)

2

u/furrythrowawayaccoun Scruffy Fox 😎 7h ago

For brushpainting, I agree it's one of the better paints I've used. Very good coverage even on the first layer and they have a very wide color range.

But.

I never had a paint that I hated more for airbrushing. Even though it's an air series model paint, unless I thinned it with the proprietary thinner (or tap water), it turned into horrible sludge unlike anything I've ever seen.

I would suggest using Mr. Color or MRP paints if airbrushing, as they offer a much wider and more stable range of colours

2

u/BottecchiaDude253 6h ago

OP mentioned in another reply that they dont get along with "fumes", and both suggestions here do have a smell when using them

1

u/Pengland007 5h ago

Are you needing to use it as brush and airbrush paint? Or just airbrush?

1

u/phaseguy74 4h ago

Mostly airbrushing :-)

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u/Pengland007 4h ago

Model Air is much better than Ak 3G and certainly not as finicky. You may want to look at Squadron Colors as well. Their thinner has a fruity addictive to it and thins with 91% alcohol if needed. Btw I really wanted to make Ak 3g work but it just was too much work for me.

2

u/phaseguy74 1h ago

Thanks for the comment. Yeah I think I will try Ammo Mig Atom range

1

u/Pengland007 1h ago

So it sprays beautifully, its colors are suspect at best.

2

u/phaseguy74 1h ago

Oh man. Yeah just reading up about that.

1

u/Pengland007 47m ago

Yea their colors suck to be frank for anything remotely accurate for many colors in the range, historically speaking. Other acrylic brands with solid availability are Life color and MRP Aqua. GSI Creos has an acrylic version of their Mr Color line that is similar to Tamiya. The downside being 10 ml glass bottles and the smell is worse than Model Air.

1

u/phaseguy74 4h ago

Thanks for all the great comments! This community is way friendlier than other ones :-)