Craig Townsend said:
Devon,
My go to acrylic paints are Vallejo Model Air & Badger Model Flex. I really like both of them as airbrushing straight out of the bottle. The MRH paint guide has the good color matches, but the link to the Testors copy is a bit outdated and new colors have been added recently.
I premix my colors into the 20ml dropper bottles so they are ready of go. Yes it takes a bit of time to mix them up to get the correct color matches but I think it’s worth the mixing time instead of using enamel paints. I’m always trying to use acrylics as much as possible. The only thing that I have to watch out for with acrylic is the tip dry with the airbrush, but I think I have that covered well now by quick wipes with a q tip.
I’m also a big fan of the cheap acrylic craft paints for weathering as well.
Vallejo sells railroad specific colors under the Micro-Mark label. It’s the same paint but just relabeled and in bigger bottles.
The real reason I like Vallejo paints is that I can find them locally. I have a local game store that sells Vallejo paints if you buy 5 or more you get 10% off, 10 or more 15% off.
I am having trouble getting the colors I need for the formulas I have. Model Masters, Badger, and Vallejo all had one or more of the colors I needed back ordered or out of stock at just about any place I looked. I have used both Vallejo and Badger paints and like them. I did finally get the Badger modelflex paints I need on Ebay. Like you I plan on mixing large quantities at one time so I have them all premixed for this project (three locos and a caboose).
As far as all around best acrylic paint for airbrush use I will still stand by my claim of Createx. I have some ideas on how to mix what I need with some close colors. If I can then i will get large quantities of it and mix plenty. What i really like about Createx is I use the transparent paints usually over a white base. What it allows with transparent paints is for some cool layering and adds depth to paint.