The majority of paints designed to be used on plastic models fall in to two categories, Enamels and Acrylics. Both types have their own advantages and disadvantages, but most modellers tend to have a preference based on what they are trying to achieve and how they intended to apply the paint.
Shop online for over 200 hobby and model paint brushes at discounts up to 56%. Is ranked #1 out of 14 hobby and model paint brushes manufacturers, followed by Brushes, and Testors. Products of Hobby and Model Paint Brushes 1-20 of 249. To create a decent model, you must paint every single little part correctly and with great care.The main rule is that the only parts to leave unpainted are the clear parts, such as windows and windscreens. Always use paint specially designed for plastic models.There are many other kinds of paint, such as car paint, but most of them will react poorly with plastic materials – they might for.
CAN I USE ACRYLIC PAINT ON PLASTIC MODELS?
Using paint brushes General advice. Getting good results from a paintbrush is not difficult but does require practice. To get a good result you will need a good quality paint brush – even the best artist will struggle if the brush hairs have no spring and the brush head will not form a point. Therefore, buy good brushes and treat them well.
Advantages
Water based acrylics tend to dry quickly, have little odour and are easily blended with water. Water can also be used to clean brushes as well as removing a topcoat of paint to create chipping effects. The fast drying allows many more coats of paint to be applied in a modelling session which can greatly speed up the building of areas such as cockpits and figures where many different paints may be needed in a small area.
A large range of companies, such as Xtracrylix and Vallejo are now starting to produce acrylic paints in ranges of colours designed to replicate real life paints used by the RAF, USAF and many other countries from throughout history. This makes it very easy to produce a range of models with consistent paint finishes and accurate paint schemes.
Some manufactures now also produce acrylic paints that are pre-thinned for use in airbrushes such as Model Air from Vallejo. Airbrushing acrylics appeals to many modellers as the paints are relatively safe to use indoors and with very little odour, they are less likely to upset anyone else in the house!
Disadvantages
With their faster drying times acrylics need some extra care to avoid brush marks in the finished scheme. This can be achieved by applying multiple thin coats or the use of levelling thinners or drying retarders. These can also be used when airbrushing acrylics as the paint has a tendency to dry out either in the airbrush itself or in the air on the way to the model.
The final finish achieved with acrylic paint is quite fragile and although unlikely to be damaged with occasional handling it will not stand up to repeated use. As such it would be more unsuitable for applications such as railway modelling where rolling stock is frequently picked up and set down unless a good top coat of clear varnish is used.
Some brands of acrylic paint can be alcohol based which gives the paint an almost sweet odour and this can cause issues when brush painting as a second coat can interfere with the first. Occasionally the second coat can lift the first in places although this can be avoided by either allowing the first coat to properly dry over night or applying a thicker first coat to avoid the need for a second layer.
CAN I USE Enamel Paints ON PLASTIC MODELS?
Advantages
Solvent based enamel paints take much longer to dry than acrylics and this can be an advantage when it comes to achieving a really smooth or high gloss finish. This can be achieved by applying many thin coats of the paint until the desired results are achieved.
Enamel paints are also well suited to models that are going to be handled frequently such as railway rolling stock. As the paints are waterproof the are also perfect for outdoor use such as remote-control boats, touching up bicycles, house numbers or even garden gnomes.
They are also easier to airbrush as the increased drying time prevents premature drying of the paint.
Disadvantages
Due to their solvent base, enamel paints do have a noticeable odour and special precautions should be used when airbrushing to avoid potential health problems.
The increased drying time should also be noted as it can be several days before the paint has fully cured. This is important to note especially when over coating as the paint will still be releasing vapour after it has become touch dry.
Painting model car bodies is one of the most fun aspects of the hobby. The two main decisions facing you are (1) what type of paint to use, and (2) how to apply the paint, and (3) whether to polish and wax.1) Type of Paint
Every paint has three main components: the pigment which is the color containing part, the resin which binds the pigment to the surface, and the solvent which holds everything together in the liquid form. There are two broad classes of paint, enamels and lacquers. Enamels undergo a chemical reaction (curing) as the solvent evaporates. In lacquers, the solvent evaporates without any curing. Now hobby paints are generally (oil-based) enamels, or aqueous (water-based) acrylic lacquers. The hobby enamels (e.g. Testors, Model Masters, Humbrol) thin with mineral spirits, dry slowly and harden beautifully to a glossy finish. The hobby acrylics (e.g. Tamiya, PollyScale, Floquil, Vallejo) thin with water or alcohol, dry faster, and clean up easier. People tend to develop a preference for one or the other, so try both and see which you prefer.
Above: Assortment of enamel paints.
2) Applying Paint
There are 3 basic methods for applying the paint to the model: brush painting, spray cans, and airbrush. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages.
Brush
The paintbrush is the simplest method of applying paint. It's best suited for painting small parts, as using brushes on the car body will likely result in unsightly brush marks.
Above: An assortment of model paintbrushes, acquired over time.
The key to getting a nice smooth paint job free of brush marks is to minimize overlap of brush strokes. Don't go back and paint over the area you just painted, let the paint level and spread by itself.
After using the brush, clean up with the recommended thinner. For acrylics, you can use soap and water. Shape the bristles of the brush with your fingers so that they are not distorted. Store with the brushes in a cup-like container with bristles pointing upward and into the air.
Spray Can
The spray paint can is the most widely used paint source for model cars. It's advantages over brushing include:
- Smoother paint job with no brush strokes.
- Faster than brushing.
- No cleanup of brushes required.
However, paint cans deliver a wide area spray and so are somewhat wasteful. They end up being more expensive. Also, there is generally a limited range of colors available, and custom mixing of paint colors is out of the question. For multiple colors on a model, masking must be done to limit overspray; spraying outside is also a good idea. The cans tend to cool down as they are used, which reduces the paint flow. Placing them in warm water for a few minutes can fix this. Despite their drawbacks, spray cans can very handy, e.g. for single color models. They are very popular for model car bodies. Testors spray enamels and Tamiya spray lacquers are popular choices.
Important: Start and stop the spray past the ends of the models, not over the model itself. This will help ensure a smooth paint job.
Below: Placing the spray can in warm / hot water for a few minutes before spraying helps the paint go on more smoothly. Make sure to wipe down the can so that no water drips on the model.
Below: Car body placed on bent wire hanger in preparation for spraying lacquer paint.
Airbrush
We think that the airbrush is a great tool for painting small scale car models. When used with a compressor as the air source, it becomes like an infinite spray can, with the great side benefits of control of the pressure and of the amount of paint. These additional controls can be used to used to create fine lines of paint and many other useful effects.
Above: A single action, external mix, siphon (bottom) feed airbrush, the Paasche Model H .
Below: Model car seats painted with the Paasche Model H airbrush and water-based acrylics.
Some basic tips:
- A single action airbrush is simpler, easier to learn, and generally lower cost. It's great for beginners. However, the double action gives you much more control over the paint process.
- A good compressor will be cheaper in the long run than using those cans of compressed air. The compressor will pay for itself after only a few models.
- Use the manufacturer’s recommended thinner. This will keep the paint flowing smoothly without drying too fast.
- To keep the airbrush working smoothly, follow the instructions for cleaning. Improperly cleaned airbrushes are the source of most airbrush issues.
3) Paint Layers
Different types of paint with different purposes are often applied to the same model, in multiple layers. Some of the typical ones are: primer, color coat, and clear coat.
The primer prepares the surface for the following coats of paint. It tends to bond aggressively with the plastic. The primer is also designed to bond well to the paint, reducing any tendency to peel or lift off (especially) when removing masking tape.
Color coats (which are just that) are built up in layers, starting with light mist coats and eventually ending with wet coats.
Clear coats are used for a few reasons. A glossy clear coat provides the best surface for the application of the water slide decals. So if the color coats are flat (matt), and clear gloss coat is applied before the decals. Clear gloss also provides depth and brilliance to a paint job.
The following photo sequence shows the painting of a 1/24 Porsche Carrera model car body, using lacquer paints from spray cans.
Below: Bare plastic car body, wet-sanded with 600 and 1500 grit wet-or-dry sandpaper.
Below: After first primer coat (Tamiya primer).
Below: After second primer coat.
Below: After first mist coat of Tamiya TS-42 (Gunmetal).
Below: After 2nd mist color coat.
Below: After 1st wet coat.
Below: After 2nd and final wetcoat.
Below: After Tamiya TS-13 clearcoat.
3) Polishing and Waxing
After clear coat, the paint job will look great and you could stop here. But it can look even better with a bit of extra work in polishing and waxing. Polish and wax are both very fine abrasives, the wax being even finer than the polish. You can use model car specific compounds such as Novus, or The Treament. However, polish and wax for real cars works just as well, and is more economical. We used Turtle Wax and Meguiar's brands.
The clear coat will likely not be perfect, so lightly wet-sand it with 1500 grit then 6000 grit, then blow dry. Find a lint-free cloth (an old white t-shirt will work) and apply a small amount of polishing compound. Choose one part of the car (e.g. the bonnet) and spread the polish onto it gently. Then start rubbing in a circular motion, stopping to check your progress every couple of minutes. You'll notice that the surface gets more and more reflective.
Avoid putting lots of pressure on and sharp edges, e.g. between sides and bottom of the car. At sharp edges, the clear coat can be removed with too much pressure, exposing the color coat below. Check the surface of your polishing pad to make sure color coat is not being removed.
After polishing the entire, wash with soap and water and blow dry. Then apply wax in the same manner. Avoid getting too much wax in the panel lines, as you won't be able to wash it out. If there is a buildup there, remove with the sharpened tip of a toothpick.
Best Paint Brushes For Plastic Models 2020
Finally, step back and enjoy your handiwork!
Below: Automotive polish and wax used on this model car.
Brush Painting Models With Acrylics
Below: After polishing with automotive car polish.
Best Paint Brushes For Plastic Models For Kids
Below: After waxing with automotive car wax. Smooth and shiny!
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Best Paint Brushes For Plastic Models For Sale
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