Model Forum / General / Models / August 2005

                 I would assume that "mixing"means exactly
that...putting the 2 products together.You certaintly cant paint over
one with the other and create a good finish.I only use Acrylics,I have
never used enamels.I use Acrylics in combination with  Oil paints to
create the effects that i want.
                Best of luck with your return to modelling.

You can use acrylics and enamels together - the only problem
is curing time.
Acrylics dry and cure much faster than enamels, so it's easy
to put on say, an acrylic
primer coat, and be overcoating it with enamels after 4-6
hours.
Enamels take much longer (48-72 hours, depending on
conditions) to cure,
and can react when overcoated with acrylic. They can also
cause cracking to appear
in the topcoat as they continue to cure.
For speed, it's easier to stick with one or the other to
apply the main finish.

If getting into modern techniques such as washing, use the
opposite of the topcoat:
that is an enamel wash over acrylic, or an acrylic wash over
enamel.
For this, I find enamel (or oil paints) create a better wash
medium than acrylic, so I will apply a gloss clear
acrylic varnish over an enamel main scheme.

Just be sure to allow enough 'cure' time.
Hope this helps.