Backdrop Paining With Latex - Possible?

[BCR751]

I'm just starting to paint my backdrop.  I'm using artist's acrylics.  So far, I've painted about five feet of backdrop and have already gone through almost three tubes of paint.  At 8 bucks each, this could get really expensive.  Then I thought, why couldn't I use regular latex paint?  Our local Home Hardware store can mix up virtually any color.  It is certainly less expensive and comes in greater quantities.

I've not heard of anyone using this stuff so there must be something wrong with the idea.  Please weigh in......

Doug

[davefoxx]

I haven't built a ton of backdrops, but I always used latex paint, mixed by the home center, on the ones that I did.  A lot of modelers that I know do the same, because, as you found, the cost of the acrylics in the tube would become astronomical.  Plus, you're not going to be constantly mixing new batches and risk a mis-match.  Go buy a cheap gallon of your favorite sky colored paint, perhaps blend it with white or light gray from the bottom up to create haze in the distance, and post pics of your result.

DFF

[mark dance]

That's what I do.  I use the same latex paint for hillsides on the bdrop as I use for scenery to help match the colours.  The acrylics are reserved for fine details.

md

[BCR751]

Plus, you're not going to be constantly mixing new batches and risk a mis-match. 

This was also a big concern for me.  I can't tint paint worth a poop.  Each time I tried to match what I'd done previously, it never did turn out right.   I went to our local Home Hardware and looked for some of those paint sample thingys that matched each of the areas I painted and found some almost perfect matches.  This is what got me thinking about using the latex.  I did hear somewhere that latex paints don't cover over themselves as well as acrylics so I thought this could be an issue when doing things like foreground over distant hills/mountains. Is this a valid concern?

Doug

[Scottl]

I use latex as a base, and mix tints as needed from it with tube and craft acrylics.  They mix without any issues.  The cheap craft store ones are often best because they are already flowing, vs tube paints that have to be mixed thoroughly.

[Catt]

I buy sky blue latex for my sky and do any detail work with bottles of craft acrylics bought at Walmart and other stores some of those paints are only 50 cents a bottle.

[BCR751]

Here's one of my first attempts using the craft acrylics.   I used about half of three different tubes to get this far and it's only three feet long, hence my wondering about using the latex. 

Doug

[Scottl]

You are sure on the right track, excellent work.  I have used craft paint for the distant hills and forest, and variations in the mix that occur just add further realism. 

[Santa Fe Guy]

Good work thus far. I have used cheap craft store paints for my backdrops and they turn out okay. I guess it depends on how much you need to do.
Keep up the good work.
Rod.

[hegstad1]

Get ahold of this book if you can.  Very, very good.  Explains using cheap, gallon size, cans of paint.  One color for sky and one for ground cover and then tinting with craft paints.

https://kalmbachhobbystore.com/garden-railroading/12425__Painting-Backdrops-for-Your-Model-Railroad

[Scottl]

I really learned a lot from his techniques.  There were several articles in Model Railroader that cover the key elements of backdrop painting and color mixing.  His scenery book has good chapters on backdrops too.