Best Model Building Paints for Plastic of 2025

Edward West Avatar
Edward West
Last Updated: 8 Feb 2025

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For hobbyists and enthusiasts looking to create intricate and detailed models, model building paints for plastic offer a wide range of colours and finishes to bring their creations to life. These paints are specially formulated to adhere to plastic surfaces and provide a smooth and even coverage. Whether you're building model cars, planes, or figures, these paints come in a variety of shades and finishes, including glossy, matte, metallic, and more. With their high-quality pigments and durable finishes, model building paints for plastic are a must-have for any serious model builder.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Humbrol No 1 Primer Spray Paint 150ml Cover #TOP 1
Humbrol No 1 Primer Spray Paint 150ml
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Grinning Gargoyle Miniature Paint Set with Brush Cover #TOP 2
Grinning Gargoyle Miniature Paint Set with Brush
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Vallejo 70109 WWII Allies Acrylic Paint Set Cover #TOP 3
Vallejo 70109 WWII Allies Acrylic Paint Set
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Model Building Paints for Plastic

#TOP 1

Humbrol No 1 Primer Spray Paint 150ml

AD6001
No. 1 Primer Grey
150 ml (Pack of 1)
Humbrol No 1 Primer Spray Paint 150ml Cover
Humbrol Modellers Spray Paint - AD6001 No 1 Primer 150ml - Model Paints for Plastic Kits, Fast-Drying Modelling Paint for Crafting Surfaces Including Plastic, Fabric, Glass, Wood & Metal Models

The Humbrol Primer Spray Paint is a versatile, solvent-based paint that dries quickly, taking just 15-30 minutes. This makes it perfect for those who want to enhance their modelling projects without long waiting times. You can easily apply it on a variety of surfaces, including plastic, wood, and metal, ensuring a smooth finish. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced modeler, this paint allows you to achieve a professional look in your projects. With various colours and finishes available, it caters to all your creative needs.

What We Like
Fast drying time
Multi-surface application
Professional finish
Variety of colours available
#TOP 2

Grinning Gargoyle Miniature Paint Set with Brush

GAR-FPS001
Orange
360 ml (Pack of 1)
Grinning Gargoyle Miniature Paint Set with Brush Cover
Grinning Gargoyle Fantasy Miniature Paint Set – Plastic Model Paint Set for Roleplaying Tabletop Figure - 20x Model Paints and a Brush - Miniature Paints DnD Starter Set- Model Paint (Starter)

The Grinning Gargoyle Paint Set is an excellent choice for anyone looking to explore the world of miniature painting. With 20 vibrant colours, including unique shades and essential washes, you can easily bring your fantasy figures to life. The included high-quality brush simplifies painting intricate details, making it easier for you to achieve professional results. The convenient dropper bottle design helps you dispense the perfect amount of paint without mess, allowing you to focus on your creativity. Additionally, the unique washes and metallics enable you to create stunning visual effects for your miniatures.

What We Like
20 vibrant colours included
High-quality brush for detailing
Convenient dropper bottle design
Creates stunning visual effects
Great gift for hobbyists
#TOP 3

Vallejo 70109 WWII Allies Acrylic Paint Set

VJ70109
Assorted
17 ml (Pack of 16)
Vallejo 70109 WWII Allies Acrylic Paint Set Cover
Vallejo 70109 Model Color WWII Allies Acrylic Paint Set - Assorted Colours (Pack of 16) X17ml

The Vallejo WWII Allies Paint Set features 16 vibrant acrylic paints in convenient 17ml eyedropper bottles, ensuring you can easily manage your paint without spills. As a non-toxic option, these paints are safe to use, free from solvents and lead pigments, which is ideal for health-conscious users. With great coverage, Model Colour adheres well to various surfaces, particularly plastics and polyesters, making it versatile for your projects. Additionally, being water-soluble, you can dilute and mix the colours, providing you with endless creative possibilities.

What We Like
Convenient eyedropper bottles
Safe and non-toxic formulation
Excellent coverage on surfaces
Water-soluble and mixable

Humbrol No 33 Black Matt Enamel Paint

AA0360
No 33 Black - Matt
14 ml (Pack of 1)
Humbrol No 33 Black Matt Enamel Paint Cover
Humbrol Model Paint - AA0360 No 33 Black - Matt - Tinlet No 1 (14ml), Enamel Paints for Models, Plastic, Metal, Wood, Glass, Ceramics and More, Enamel Touch Up Paint - Hobby Paint Tin for Craft Kits

The Humbrol Black Matt Paint is a versatile, solvent-based enamel ideal for model enthusiasts like you. It provides a durable finish that enhances the details of your Airfix models, whether you're crafting aircraft, ships, or vehicles. This trusted brand offers excellent coverage and is easy to use, ensuring your models look pristine. Additionally, the paint is suitable for various materials, including plastic, metal, wood, glass, and ceramics, giving you the flexibility to tackle any hobby project.

What We Like
Durable, high-quality finish
Easy to use
Excellent coverage
Versatile for multiple surfaces
#TOP 5

Humbrol No 22 White Gloss Acrylic Paint

DB0022
No 22 White - Gloss
14 ml (Pack of 1)
Humbrol No 22 White Gloss Acrylic Paint Cover
Humbrol Model Paint - DB0022 No 22 White - Gloss (14ml), Acrylic Paints for Models, Plastic, Metal, Wood, Glass, Ceramics and More, Acrylic Touch Up Paint - Hobby Paint Bottle for Craft Kits

Humbrol No 22 Paint is a versatile, solvent-based acrylic paint designed for model enthusiasts. It provides a durable and high-quality finish, perfect for enhancing your Airfix models. With excellent coverage, this paint ensures your projects look pristine and professional. The gloss dropper bottle is easy to use and dries hard in just 1-2 hours, making it convenient for your crafting needs across various materials like plastic, metal, wood, glass, and ceramics.

What We Like
Durable, high-quality finish
Excellent coverage for models
Fast drying time
Versatile for various materials
#TOP 6

Humbrol No 85 Black Satin Acrylic Paint

DB0085
No 85 Black - Satin
14 ml (Pack of 1)
Humbrol No 85 Black Satin Acrylic Paint Cover
Humbrol Model Paint - DB0085 No 85 Black - Satin (14ml) , Acrylic Paints for Models, Plastic, Metal, Wood, Glass, Ceramics and More, Acrylic Touch Up Paint - Hobby Paint Bottle for Craft Kits

The Humbrol Black Satin Paint is an ideal choice for model enthusiasts seeking versatility and quality. This solvent-based paint delivers a durable finish, perfect for enhancing models like aircraft, ships, and vehicles. You will appreciate its reliable coverage, ensuring your models look pristine. Additionally, the paint can be used on various surfaces including plastic, metal, wood, glass, and ceramics, making it a great addition to your crafting toolkit. With a quick drying time of 1-2 hours, it allows for efficient project completion.

What We Like
Versatile for multiple surfaces
Quick drying time
Durable and high-quality finish
Ideal for model detailing
Trusted brand among modelers
#TOP 7

Humbrol Model Filler 31ml Tube for Plastic Models

AE3016
Clear
31 ml (Pack of 1)
Humbrol Model Filler 31ml Tube for Plastic Models Cover
Humbrol AE3016 31ml Model Filler (Tube) for Models - Solvent Based Adhesive for Plastic Modelling Kits - Model Making Filler, Low Viscosity Super Glue, 31ml

The Humbrol Model Filler is designed to enhance your model-making experience by effectively filling hairline cracks and gaps between plastic parts. Once dry, it can be easily sanded and painted, allowing for a smooth finish. Its superior bonding capability ensures that your models are securely held together without messy excess glue. Ideal for intricate projects like aircraft and vehicles, this adhesive provides a professional finish, making it a must-have for hobbyists and model makers alike.

What We Like
Effective for filling gaps
Easy application process
Strong and reliable bond
Suitable for detailed projects
#TOP 8

Humbrol Matt Spray Paint for Modelling

AD6049
Acrylic Matt
150 ml (Pack of 1)
Humbrol Matt Spray Paint for Modelling Cover
Humbrol Matt Spray Paint - AD6049 Acrylic No 49 Varnish 150ml - Model Paints for Plastic Kits, Fast-Drying Modelling Paint for Crafting Surfaces Including Plastic, Fabric, Glass, Wood & Metal Models

The Humbrol Matt Spray Paint is a versatile, solvent-based paint that dries quickly, allowing you to complete your projects in just 15-30 minutes. Ideal for both beginners and experienced modelers, it ensures a smooth finish on various surfaces, including plastics, wood, and glass. You can easily enhance your creative projects with this multi-surface spray paint, which is perfect for adding a professional touch to your models. With a wide variety of colours and finishes available, this product caters to all your crafting needs.

What We Like
Fast-drying in 15-30 minutes
Works on multiple surfaces
Professional finish for models
Variety of colours and finishes
#TOP 9

Humbrol No 10 Service Brown Enamel Paint

AA0117
14 ml (Pack of 1)
Humbrol No 10 Service Brown Enamel Paint Cover
Humbrol Model Paint - AA0117 No 10 Service Brown - Gloss - Tinlet No 1 (14ml), Enamel Paints for Models, Plastic, Metal, Wood, Glass, Ceramics and More, Enamel Touch Up Paint - Paint Tin for Craft

The Humbrol Service Brown Paint is an excellent choice for model enthusiasts seeking a high-quality finish. This versatile enamel paint is ideal for enhancing the details of your Airfix models, ensuring a smooth and professional look. It offers excellent coverage on various surfaces, including plastic, metal, wood, glass, and ceramics, making it perfect for all your hobby crafting needs. With a quick drying time and durable results, you can achieve pristine models that impress.

What We Like
Durable and high-quality finish
Versatile for multiple surfaces
Quick drying time
Excellent coverage
#TOP 10

SigWong Ready to Spray Airbrush Paint Set

SWPQBX-24
SigWong Ready to Spray Airbrush Paint Set Cover
SigWong Airbrush Paint Set, 26 x20ml Colours Airbrush Paint, Ready to Spray, Water Based Acrylic Airbrush Paint Kit for Leather, Shoes, Plastic Models

The SigWong Airbrush Paint offers a convenient ready-to-spray formula, eliminating the need for dilution and ensuring a smooth flow that prevents clogs during use. Its quick-drying properties make it perfect for various surfaces, from leather to plastic, allowing you to achieve stunning results in your creative projects. This non-toxic, water-based paint is easy to clean with soap and water, making maintenance hassle-free. You can confidently explore your artistic side without worrying about messes, enhancing your overall painting experience.

What We Like
Ready to spray formula
Wide application range
Quick-drying and durable
Easy to clean
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What kind of paint do I use on plastic models?

Acrylic modelling paint is the standard preferred choice for nearly ever model enthusiast. It is also the most highly recommended paint for beginners. The reason being that it is most easy to work with, they dry quickly and can be thinned easily by mixing with water.

2. Does model paint work on plastic?

Acrylic and oil/enamel are the two main types of paint that you should consider when starting a model project. Atop a sealing base coat and a top coat, acrylic paint will only work on plastics or metals. The drying time of oil paints is longer, and the coat can be adjusted more quickly.

3. What is the best paint to adhere to plastic?

What Kind Of Paint Will Stick To Plastic? Paints that are specifically designed to adhere to plastics should be used. Krylon Fusion for Plastic, Valspar Plastic Spray Paint, and Rust-Oleum Specialty Paint For Plastic Spray are some of the products available on the market.

4. What kind of paint do you use on model kits?

Skill level needed: Many model car enthusiasts consider acrylic paint to be a better option for beginners. It's easy to apply, inexpensive and emits fewer harmful fumes than enamel paint. And since it's a breeze to clean up acrylic paint — you'll only need warm water or alcohol — beginners can paint with confidence.

Editor's Notes

During our model building paint for plastic research, we found 104 model building paint for plastic products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 51,989 customer reviews through our big data system to write the model building paints for plastic list. We found that most customers choose model building paints for plastic with an average price of £14.16.

The model building paints for plastic are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of model building paints for plastic, including Humbrol, The Grinning Gargoyle, Vallejo, SigWong.

Written by
Edward West Avatar

Edward's family owns a retail store in Edinburgh for toys and games. He grew up taking a very active part in the family's business. Edward earned his first income from writing web content on a toy related gig for an online company. When he was 18, he took over from his father, and since then, he has been in charge and management of the store and several others around England.