Rattle Cans - who still uses them?

[Harry Joy]

I tried going back to nothing but rattle cans for my first few cars, but getting a good finish is easier for me with an airbrush. I still use cans for certain things. With cars, chassis and engines get the can treatment, and anything I want white, as well as some interior stuff. With airplanes, it is my base cockpit colors, tires, and propellers I still use cans.

[StevenGuthmiller]

I use spray cans for things like priming, clear coating, & basic jobs like any parts painted black, etc.

I will use spray cans when I'm painting bodies a basic "non-metallic" color like black, red or white.

Where I use an airbrush is for any body painted in a metallic color or anything odd.

I use MCW paints because I can't get past the large metal flakes in most spray paints like Duplicolor & Testors.

Plus I like to use factory colors as much as I can.

Pretty hard to find 1958 Chevrolet "Cay Coral" in a rattle can.

I also use the airbrush a lot for interiors.

I like to mix my own interior colors from flat enamels.

 

Steve

[dieseldawg142]

........

Edited May 11, 2018 by dieseldawg142

[khier]

Me..... for body painting where authentic colours and high quality finish are needed.

Air brush and hobby colours for the rest.

[DumpyDan]

yup, i was in wally mart last month & seen that blue ocean breeze. liked it, bought a can & tried it out. sprayed my corvair with it

Nice

[iamsuperdan]

 

Alclad does come in a spray can too!  That's what I use.

Really?! I've never seen it around here. Will have to try to find that for sure!

[Jordan White]

Really?! I've never seen it around here. Will have to try to find that for sure!

Check around, it is usually listed as being for lexan RC bodies, but will work on plastic and styrene models. Hobbylinc sells it for 12 bucks for a 3oz can, but it has lasted me for quite a while since you don't use much at a time.

[tiking]

Thanks for all the replies fellows. Nice to hear everyones views.

[Tom Geiger]

Really?! I've never seen it around here. Will have to try to find that for sure!

[unclescott58]

I mainly use Tamiya lacquer paints in spray cans. I love them. Testor's One Coat Lacqer works pretty good too. I hate the work and hassle of using an airbrush. And with the great paint jobs I get from lacquer paint in spray cans, I can see no good reason to switch to an airbrush.

[junkyardjeff]

Can not find the airbrush I bought off a friend 30 years ago so I still use rattle cans.

[Canso65]

For model cars I prefer Tamiya or Testors lacquer spray bombs.

I only use the airbrush if I am set on a color that doesn't came in a can. 

[69NovaYenko]

When shooting large pieces like chassis's flat black I prefer rattle can Master Master or Tamiya. I most certainly prefer Tamiya fine grain grey and white fine primers in rattle can. Haven`t been able fine the Alclad II Chrome in rattle can but; I`m interested in giving it a spin. Everything else is airbrushed.

Edited January 30, 2016 by 69NovaYenko

[kenb]

I've been using an airbrush for about 20 years now. I use it exclusively. If I see a color I want in a spray can I decant into a jar and use my airbrush. I like the control I get with an ab and the fact that I can mix and spray any color I want. But that's just me. I have some friends that do some spectacular work and use spray cans. Ken

[tiking]

I think that's the key word. Control. That is one major point Ken.

[wagonmaster]

I use both. Depending on the color If I can find it in a spray can I will use it. If not I will break out the air brush. My problem is I have zero place to air brush, I use my utility room/ bath room. putting paper down on the floor.

I do miss our old place where I had a basement and a spray booth.

 

Tim

[Pete J.]

At the risk of being redundant I have a few things to say about both.

Both are tools.  Nothing more nothing less and as such each can have it's place in a modelers arsenal of tools.  They are by no means and "either/or" tool.  In other words, each has very specific purposes and is best at a particular task and you get different results from each.  It is important to say this because rattle cans vary from manufacture to manufacture and even within a given line.  For instance, Tamiya TS paints are acrylic lacquers and Tamiya has engineered the nozzles to spray at a generally higher volume than other manufactures.  Their paints are also mixed so that they flow out rather quickly and flash off a little slower than some so that you get a good even glossy finish.  The Tester cans, also lacquers, spray a finer mist that is more atomized so the coverage per pass is a little more even.

  The same is true with airbrushes.  By construction, they can be designed to paint everything from very fine line less that 1/64" to over a 3" wide fan.  They are also designed to spray paints at various viscosities and particle sizes.  In other words, all airbrushes are not the same and you may need several to do all the jobs you may want to do with them.  This is why some come with a combination of needles and nozzles.  It is also why paints come in different viscosities and with different particle sizes.  

Honestly, no one can definitively tell another person the one is better than another.  All they can say is that they have developed techniques to use what they choose that work for them.  Everyone needs to use what they can get the best results for them. 

Personally, I have four different airbrushes and each as a specific use that does a particular task for me.  I also have stacks and stacks of rattle cans that also have a purpose.  Some times that purpose is just to decant so I can spray them through an air brush, others are for a particular color and sheen that I use frequently in small amounts, such as Tamiya Semi-gloss black for engine parts.  It is just more convenient to rattle can a sprue all at once and be done with it, rather than getting involved with cleaning an airbrush. 

The use of airbrushes does not mean the death of rattle cans.  They are complementary tools that each modeler can put to good use if they choose to. 

That is my story and I am sticking too it!

Edited January 31, 2016 by Pete J.
sp

[martinfan5]

I love having the best of both worlds.

[junkyardjeff]

Just got done using a rattle can on the Dodge truck.

[MoparWoman Jamie]

I use rattle cans all the time, do have an air brush but hardly ever use it though.

[Olskoolrodder]

I do. I don't own an airbrush,rattle cans are all I use. I may would try more elaborate custom paint jobs if I had one,but never needed one ot get a smooth spray on simple paint jobs