Thinking critically about craft hobbies and the subjectivity of what is "best"
Recently, I have gotten into the hobby of assembling, detailing, and painting plastic model kits, specifically Gunpla (the term combining "Gundam" and "Plastic"). As my first craft hobby, I've done lots of research about what the community considers the "best" in terms of habits, techniques, and tool/paint brands.
The Reddit community r/Gunpla has been invaluable in assembling a compilation of collective knowledge for me to put to use. Eventually, I put together and detailed my first Gundam kit, the High-Grade RX-79 Ez8.
Hurray!!! Excellent!!! There's one problem, though. This hobby is expensive. While High-Grade kits usually cost $15-$25 (which is a pretty good price), the paints used to detail these kits are an expense in and of itself, costing around $10-$15 per spray can. Sure, you could go for an airbrush, costing you about $200~ and potentially saving you more money on buying paint in the future, but good airbrushing takes skill and time to achieve the finish you want. A far easier and more accessible alternative is through spray cans.
However, the downside is that hobby spray cans usually pile up fast; they only carry 100ml of paint, making 1 can last only 1 kit. This becomes an issue when painting multiple parts with different colors, not including the use of primer, topcoat, decals, and panel liner. On average, you're dropping $50~ just to customize one High-Grade kit.
Naturally, I went looking for cheaper alternatives for an already cheap alternative with the larger community. As it stands, r/Gunpla is avidly against using industrial spray paints (Krylon, Bonsy, Rust-Oleum) as a substitute for hobby spray paints (Tamiya, Mr. Hobby), even if the former is significantly cheaper. Common reasons include:
The paint used in industrial-grade paints damages plastic
Industrial spray cans cause paint pooling
There is little to no spray control in those types of spray cans
Here is one example of many Reddit posts where the question of using industrial spray paints is answered with these points.
As a beginner, hearing so many repeat the same issues made me completely averse to the idea of industrial paints. Alas, was my wallet fated to suffer the cost of only buying hobby-grade spray paints?! After even more research, I found one reliable Gunpla blogger who wrote an entire post on why and how these sentiments about industrial-grade paints are actually inaccurate.
According to blogger Matanglawin on his personal blog, X marks the Gundam Spot, the finish using these types of paints is comparable even to airbrushing quality if you know how to properly use them. As a critique of the larger collective opinion on industrial paints, Matanglawin provides instructions on how these paints should be used (from his direct experience), noting that most of the issues stated before are from using these types of paints as you would hobby paints.
Plain and simple, hobby paints and industrial paints have different properties that require different techniques to get good results. Matanglawin asserts the need to spray farther and lighter as making all the difference.
To my surprise, I had found a blogger who addressed the echo chamber and elitism regarding paint brands. Many hobbyists can often repeat an opinion without ever trying the types of paint themselves. It was an essential reminder that subjectivity plays a huge part in deciding what is considered "best" in a craft hobby. So yes, indeed, my wallet may live to see another paycheck.
The next time I need the larger community for information, I'll keep in mind that even the most popular information requires a level of critical thinking. Matanglawin's blog is also a treasure trove of Gunpla hobby tips for beginner hobbyists. I, for one, will be taking my time reading through his opinions to help expand my own knowledge.
In reflection, this discovery was a clear reminder of a common phrase that makes this hobby so appealing to me in the first place: "Gunpla is freedom."
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