Bunkerbarge

The best would be to spray the paint by using either spray tins or an air brush but if you want to use normal brushes then make sure the paint is well mixed and not from an old tin. Read through the Back to Basics tutorial on painting for some ideas. You shouldn't need to thin down paint to brush it but take care if it is old and getting a bit past it.

Spray tins are a good start to get you into spraying without any fuss and mess and are a good intermediate stage before investing in an air brush. Tamiya do a range of spray acrylics which I have just used to spray my Revel U-Boat which came out with a very nice finish.

Things like masking windows are something that you will gain experience with after experimentation and you can either leave the windows off and fill the cockpit area with tissue or leave the masking on the windows until all painting operations have been completed.

When I made planes the canopy was the very last thing I fitted as there was always a danger of it getting marred by glue. paint, fingers etc and you want the window to be perfect when you finish it.

5thelement

As much as i'd love an airbrush, the price of a compressor really puts me off lol it's something i'll consider if i get more into the hobby though.

I have thought about spray cans, but do you get the same range of colours? and how would you match them with the colours the kit tells you? they'd definately give a much better finish than brushing though. I just couldn't seem to avoid ugly brush strokes

I've the left canopy off so far aswell, so it's been in a safe place waiting to be put on.

I know i've asked this before, and everyones probably sick of me mentioning it, but can anyone recomend a matt varnish spray that a model shop/craft shop should have? is there specific varnishes for enamel paints or will any do? just dont want to ruin it all on the last step!

Cheers

Nigel.D

Ronseal matt varnish comes in big containers and will last for ever plus it isnt dead matt it has a very slight sheen so it brings a model to life

wonwinglo

Tamiya aerosols come with a soft spray head,the paints match anything that you will use in the tins,whilst expensive they do give a good finish,I did the Airfix airfield vehicle set with them and was very pleased with the result.
Forget the model shop matt varnishes,as Nigel says good old Ronseal does the best job by far ( thanks Nigel I just could not remember that name ? ) and it is cheap by comparison with the tinlets which have far too much pumice sediment and dry streaky.

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5thelement

Dont suppose they do a spray? i'd rather not get even more brush strokes on this unless these varnishes are the same consistancy as Klear? that seems easy enough to avoid brush marks with.

Bunkerbarge

You can actually buy very cheap spray guns, sometimes even called air brushes but they are not, I know Humbrol used to do one and they are only about 15.00 pounds.

One of those with a tin of propellant would do a matt varnish nicely until you decide to go for a proper air brush. Just mix up the Ronseal very very very thoroughly, mix with a paint thinners, probably around 70-30 varnish to thinners to start with but you are looking for that milky consistency again, and away you go. Practise on scrap first until you get the hang of it but that type of air brush/spray gun will get you hooked.

I used one for years as a teenager and achieved some successfull finishes with it.

rjwood_uk

have you not seen the new advert for the Ronseal spray gun?

there is a guy painting his brush by hand, then another guy painting it with the spray gun dong the laughing policeman thing....

does exaclty what it says on the tin...


sorry couldnt resist.

oh, and as for matching paints the tamiya sprays there aer conversion site around on the net, or you could just do a tamiya kit and nearly every single kit tells you to use one of their sprays (or 2 or 3) for the main/bass colours. (and obvioulsy it tells you which spray to use.)

next time you go into your model shop, open up a tamiya box (they are enver selotaped like airfix or revell) take a look at the intstruction leaflet (usually at the bottom unless someone else has had a look before you) and the first paints lists will always be the sprays (eg TS-44)

5thelement

Bunkerbarge - Are these the kinda things your talking about?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-7-Piece-Precision-Airbrush-kit-with-propellent_W0QQitemZ8281543553

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AIR-BRUSH-KIT-...temZ8283245701

Im sure i've seen a humbrol/revell one like you mentioned aswell. Realising how cheap these are i think i will pick one up sometime soon

rjwood - Cheers, will have a look next time im there.

Bunkerbarge

That's the kind of thing. Cheap and cheerfull, don't expect precision but something to have a really good play with and get the hang of.

You will soon grow out of it but it will have taught you a lot in the meantime and perfect for a matt varnish.

5thelement

I guess it'd be okay for laying down a coat of primer aswell and for doing larger/less intricate camo patterns etc I think it'd come in handy for this Challenger tank im about to begin soon aswell.

I'll still need to practice my good old brush painting though lol surely can't be that hard to paint without leaving ugly brush strokes!