Hi Dan
This may help some one wrote this following piece. Me thinks there must be easier ways of painting a model. If you manage all this it has got to be the best finish ever produced in the world otherwise why go through all these agonies. Not sure if
Tamiya recommend a primer first. Do not know of any manufacturer that does not. Also according to information plastic has the residues of what ever is used to release from the mouldings which needs to be removed. Plastic is also so smooth it needs some very fine abrasion to provide stickability. Place a glue on a shine smooth surface & it will flick off. The same effect with paint.
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I just know some people are going to come in and knock
Tamiya acrylics and say "use (insert brand name) instead.
The most common problem when painting with
Tamiya acrylics is "roll-up", or simply your wet brush pulling up partially dried paint in big ugly lumps when your brush passes over semi-dry or apparently dry areas which have already been painted.
Tamiya paints surface-dry very quickly and may appear to be dry, but actually take at least 12 hours to harden and cure.
Tamiya paints can be brushed successfully, ut just takes a little preparation and patience.
- Don't paint straight out of the jar - decant a small amount to a palette and paint from there
- Add a little Tamiya thinner to the paint on your palette. Just a small amount will do
- Pour a little clean thinner into another well on your palette
- Before dipping your brush in the paint, dip the tip of your brush in the clean thinner (just enough to slightly moisten it - you dont' want it wet)
- Dip your brush in the paint and apply to your model in short, even strokes, preferably in one direction. Paint to a "wet edge" - meaning if previously applied paint appears to be dry or semi-dry, don't brush over it - only brush over those areas where the paint appears to be wet. If any areas appear to need re-coating, allow it to cure overnight before doing so.
- Each time you re-load your brush, pick up a little clean thinner first, as described above.
- Over an extended painting session, if paint appears to be drying on your brush, clean it out before continuing to paint. dry paint on your brush will severely degrade the brush's performance and will impede the clean flow of paint from the brush to your model.
- IMPORTANT: Use good quality brushes - Look at higher grade synthetic or red sable artists brushes - they might be more expensive, but will last a long time if properly cared for.