Must have paints

[jchrisf]

I am a newbie to the modeling world and was watching a YouTube video by AndyX the other day where he mentioned that Model Masters Silver Chrome Trim was a must have paint.  I got a bottle at Hobby Lobby and was impressed.  It went on easy with no brush strokes and covered everything with the first coat and looked just like chrome.  This paint will always be on my desk.

That makes me wonder what other paints are a must have that you all always use with every kit?

[Snake45]

Flat Black. Black Chrome Trim and/or Semigloss Black. Testor Steel and Aluminum. Flat White. Turn Signal Amber, Stop Light Red, bright (#3) Red. 

I have the Silver Chrome Trim you're talking about, but don't use it very much anymore. Most of my "chrome" paint needs are handled better, easier, and faster with Silver Sharpie. 

Speaking of Sharpies, the red Sharpie is awfully handy for touching up taillights and such. 

[BigTallDad]

I'd add a flat clear, such as Testor's Dullcote, to the list

[jchrisf]

Good to know about the sharpies.. I got a Molotow 2mm chrome pen yesterday 40% off from Hobby Lobby and it is great for the side molding on the car I am doing now.  Those paints you mentioned above are they Model Masters?  And also are they acrylic or enamel?  I have a testors acrylic set and the gloss black covers well but the flat black doesn't so I need a good flat black that will cover well.  I also picked up a set of Vallejo Air paints but haven't tried them yet.

[StevenGuthmiller]

The Testors "Chrome" paint you speak of has more or less been rendered obsolete by such as advancements as "Bare Metal Foil" and the recent introduction of the "Molotow Chrome Pens".

While I do still keep some of the Testors chrome on hand, it gets very little use.

Not only is it not a very convincing chrome finish, but it dries extremely slowly & will inevitably rub off with even occasional handling.

In my opinion, it is no longer a very viable alternative as a chrome finish, & since the Molotow pens have come along as a pretty good touch up paint for chrome parts, I almost never use it.

As far as I'm concerned, foil is the only way to go.

 

As far as "must have paints" go, flat black, flat white, aluminum, steel, gold, and a selection of flat "primary colors" such as red, yellow, green & blue are a must.

Clear gloss & clear flat will take care of most of the finish requirements that you will need.

 

 

Steve

Edited May 6, 2018 by StevenGuthmiller

[jchrisf]

Thanks Steven... that is good to know.  For your list of must have paints (flat black, etc.) which brand do you recommend? 

I got a Molotow 2mm pen this weekend at HL and it did the side trim really beautiful and easy.  I also got a sheet of BMF this past week and tried it.  It went on great on the bottom half of my windshield but the panel line and detail for the upper half was smaller and kept falling off so I used the pen on that part too and it looked better than the foil but I could barely tell the separation of the two.  I'm keeping it like that as this is my first build.  I really can't tell the difference from 2 ft away.

[jchrisf]

What are the best, inexpensive cans of spray flat black and semi-gloss black lacquer paints?  One thing I think I have learned 2 1/2 cars into this hobby is to use a spray lacquer for the above recommended base coats (i.e., black, semi-black, etc.)... either decanted and  airbrushed, or straight out of the can.  Then any detail work with a brush or toothpick can be easily cleaned up if I mess up.  I will not be using any more craft acrylics but probably Vellajo or Tamiya acrylics for very small detail work unless you all have a better recommendation.  I will be spraying everything else with lacquers for the dry time, durability and quality of paint... especially the body.

I got some Duplicolor Sandable Primer (which is great btw) and went ahead and picked up the Duplicolor Perfect Match Universal Chrome just for the heck of it while I was there and it looks really nice on the small exhaust pipes I put it on.  Looks better than any chrome plated piece that comes with the kit.