Painting Discussion

[2002p51]

I was reading a post on that “other” board, (I know, I know, I shouldn’t do that but . . . .) and the poster had a question about airbrushing. He wondered if a 2 ounce jar of paint was enough to paint a model car body.

One responder said that 2 ounces was more than enough but that you should use at least one ounce of a single color to be on the safe side.

And I’m thinking to myself; what?

Now I’m not putting myself up as some big painting expert or anything but I’ve been building model cars for more than 50 years now and painting them with an airbrush exclusively for over 30 of those years and I’ve never, ever used an entire ounce of paint on a single model.

In fact, I can get several full body paint jobs from one of those ½ ounce bottles of Testors Model Master paint. I say several meaning at least three and more likely four. Again I’m no expert but my paint jobs usually look pretty good and I get everything covered and smoothed with about 1/8, or a little more, of an ounce.

So this brings up the following discussion question; how much paint do some of you use on a single model? And if you are using an ounce or more, why are you using so much paint?

And of course I’m talking to airbrush users only.

[Kit Basher]

I'm with you. I can usually paint a car with one of the Testors 1/4 ounce bottles. Nice '53 BTW! I can't resist adding mine.

Edited February 7, 2014 by Kit Basher

[58 Impala]

I usually mix a little more than I need just in case of coverage issues. Then I'll store the excess mixed for future use, but never 2 or 3 ounces.

Edited February 7, 2014 by 58 Impala

[dragcarz]

I usually get a paint job from the Testors 1/4 oz bottles, but I do thin the paint, possibly making it more. Recently my daughter painted a Silverado kit she's been working on, using Model Master Hot Pink Pearl over white base, were on our 5th 1/2 bottle of paint and it's finally covered. So it might depend on color and the base color your trying to cover.

[2002p51]

So it might depend on color and the base color your trying to cover.

And that's a good point. It brings up the old "rule of thumb" for two color paint jobs that you always paint the lighter color first.

In my case, even for single color paint jobs, I always use white primer. It makes the final color cover easily and look much brighter than the typical gray primer. Which ultimately means I use much less paint.

[jaydar]

I use Scalefinish paint whenever i can. It comes in 2 ounce bottles and i never come close to using half. I just noticed that for the 1/12 Shelby GT500 he sells the colors in 4 oz bottles!!! Am i going to need that much for 1/12???

Since i only paint factory colors, it means i have a ton of unused paint because i am not building more than one of each of my dream cars. Except Ferraris in which case i could by Corso Rossa by the Quart.

I would happily pass on my unused paint to others if the USPS would allow me to mail it.

Joe.

[KevinMoparFord]

I think part of it depends on the kit. I have started using air brush only in the last couple years so I am not an expert. Usually less than 1oz will do. When I painted my last 69 Daytona, ran out of paint with a 1oz jar. Part of that was how many different pieces needed body color and I had them all attached in different sticks so I think that meant more wasted paint. Nose cone, firewall, fender scoops, nose cone screen, undercarriage, all got body color and I think there is more wasted when you are painting parts seperately instead of just a body and a hood.

I think it does depend on the color and what kind of a base you use as well.

[Brett Barrow]

I use Scalefinish paint whenever i can. It comes in 2 ounce bottles and i never come close to using half. I just noticed that for the 1/12 Shelby GT500 he sells the colors in 4 oz bottles!!! Am i going to need that much for 1/12???

Since area increases by the square of the multiplier (2 in this case, since 1/12 is 2x bigger than 1/24), that means a 1/12th scale car has 4 times the surface area (and would require 4 times the paint) of the same car in 1/24.

[2002p51]

Since area increases by the square of the multiplier (2 in this case, since 1/12 is 2x bigger than 1/24),

Math makes my head hurt!

[cartpix]

I have issues with thinning & air pressure. I use Testors Model Master paint. I have heard the correct thinning is 2 paint to 1 thinner. Is this correct? I have been experimenting with lacquer thinner & neptha. I like the finish I get, with neptha, but I have to "import" it, since California has proclaimed it a bad thing (you can still have it shipped here, though). I shoot at about 20 - 30 psi. The problem I am having is inconsistency. Any suggestions? Other techniques?

As for the original question, I usually have paint left over, from one bottle of Model Master, but not much.

[jbwelda]

>I would happily pass on my unused paint to others if the USPS would allow me to mail it.

I didn't know the post office had a problem with bottled packaged paint. I know it does with aerosol cans but I think that's because of explosion dangers.

That's one way of saying I would love to take some of your paint off your hands Joe. I could use it to get better with my airbrush.

One other item I might bring up is the difference in airbrush designs. I don't mean single vs double action; I mean like for example my Paasche is what I think is called an "external mix" airbrush, meaning the air and paint are mixed at the nozzle, not inside the brush, as are the "internal mix" brushes. does this affect the amount of paint used? I have read it does make it difficult to get a really nice smooth finish right out of the jar (vs internal mix). I assume the internal mix is the more accepted style, but the external mix is much easier to clean.

jb

[Quick GMC]

I think the idea behind that, which comes from a lot of the sports car model guys from what I have seen, is that it is done with the intention or idea that the body will be sanded at some point. Using a certain amount ensures you can safley sand the color layer enough to do what you need to do without going through to the primer. I don't think I use an ounce, but I use 1/2-3/4 ounce on most cars, because I'm not very good and I have a pretty good idea I will need to sand it smooth.

[jbwelda]

that's, to me anyway, defeating the advantage of using an airbrush: being able to lay down thin light coats and building them to just the opacity you want. dumping a bunch of paint on and then sanding smooth is pretty much the agenda for buzzcans. but I do understand what you are saying that it may well be the reason because all that paint had to go somewhere!

jb

[2002p51]

that's, to me anyway, defeating the advantage of using an airbrush: being able to lay down thin light coats and building them to just the opacity you want. dumping a bunch of paint on and then sanding smooth is pretty much the agenda for buzzcans. but I do understand what you are saying that it may well be the reason because all that paint had to go somewhere!

jb

Bingo! I agree and this is also why I use an airbrush. Think about this, with a spray can you are trying to get a 1/25 scale paint job with a full size spray nozzle. By their very design spray cans are applying too much paint!

[Dr. Cranky]

Drew, I learned long ago (in particular if I am using nail lacquer) to buy up 3-4 bottles of the stuff even though I am only going to end up using 2-3. It's a good idea to have a little extra because you just never know. Most of the time though, when I am during graphic work, I use HOK and the stuff seems to last and last in the airbrush because you find that a little goes a long ways. Of course, I always get the 4-8oz pre-thinned and ready for the AB.

A build like this one, I believe, will often take less paint than a one color vehicle.

like this:

Wonderful topic, by the way.

Edited February 8, 2014 by Dr. Cranky

[Lovefordgalaxie]

Interesting topic.

I'll confess that I like to use spray can paint (read Tamiya) better than everything else. No cleaning, Not dealing with a compressor, and I always get a nice looking paint job.

I do a lot of airbrushing too. About all the mechanical parts and interior parts of my models are airbrushed.

On bodies I airbrush the finish when I'm using a custom color or when I'm using a genuine factory color, and all the times I do that I use real automotive paint and clear.

Most metallic automotive paint is really thin, and I usually use way more than 1 oz to cover a body.

My airbrush has a 1/2 oz cup, and I usually fill it about three or four times.

When painting with non metallic paint, it depends on the paint type.

For example, a nitrocellulose lacquer will require a lot less paint than enamel.

Polyurethane will require even less paint, and usually a 1/2 oz cup will do a car.

[jaydar]

Since area increases by the square of the multiplier (2 in this case, since 1/12 is 2x bigger than 1/24), that means a 1/12th scale car has 4 times the surface area (and would require 4 times the paint) of the same car in 1/24.

4 ounces it is!

Thanks Brett.

Joe.

[Jeff Johnston]

It definitely depends on the paint. Though typically I never use anywhere near 1 oz. I recently bought a 2 OZ bottle of paint form Scale Finishes (wonderful paint) and I used at least an ounce to get the hue I wanted. I have also similar projects where I used far less.

Last night I painted a Ferrari Testors Laquers Gloss Red, thinned about 3/4 lacquer thinner 1/4 paint. I mixed a 1 oz jar almost to the top and sprayed 2 light coats at VERY low pressure, which covered the model nicely. Here is how much paint I have left...

So I really do think the paint matters.

Edited February 8, 2014 by Jeff Johnston