Paint sticker shock

[Joe Nunes]

11 minutes ago, TransAmMike said:

One still cheap alternative....acrylic craft paint. Lots of colors, good old HL even has them on sale occasionally.

We could really use a good tutorial on using craft paints; there have been some real nice models shown with craft/acrylic paint. I know that I could use some helpful information. 

Joe 

[thatz4u]

how about finger nail colors Walmart beauty section? nice colors...airbrush 'em on

[Joe Nunes]

30 minutes ago, thatz4u said:

how about finger nail colors Walmart beauty section? nice colors...airbrush 'em on

Would those be enamel?

Joe

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, Joe Nunes said:

Would those be enamel?

Joe

I believe that they’re some type of lacquer, but I’m not certain.

I don’t use them myself.

 

 

Steve

[TransAmMike]

7 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

I believe that they’re some type of lacquer, but I’m not certain.

I don’t use them myself.

 

 

Steve

Way back when I just got re-started in the hobby I did a 'Vette with nail polish.  The metallic particles were not close to scale for a 1/25-1/24 model. As you said Steve, pretty sure its lacquer.

[Joe Nunes]

Thanks guys. It would be a real chore to paint the model with a small nail polish brush anyway.  ????

Joe

[BlackSheep214]

I just watched a video late last night on YouTube on airbrushing nail polish. They come in enamels and lacquers. One point they pointed out you need a bigger needle to airbrush metallic nail polish. 

 

Definitely something I’d consider doing on my future auto kits.

[StevenGuthmiller]

3 hours ago, BlackSheep214 said:

I just watched a video late last night on YouTube on airbrushing nail polish. They come in enamels and lacquers. One point they pointed out you need a bigger needle to airbrush metallic nail polish. 

 

Definitely something I’d consider doing on my future auto kits.

If you need a larger tip for the metallics, wouldn’t that mean that the particles are too large to fit through a standard sized tip, ie. out of scale metallic particles?

I might be alone on this, but that’s my absolute biggest killer when it comes to metallic paints.

 

 

Steve

[LL3 Model Worx]

I've airbrushed my wife's nails for years...

Most of your nail polish is lacquer based but uses acetone as the solvent... so it dries MUCH faster than usual. It also has alot more clear and less pigment in it so it shines well and looks deep on its own... just gotta build up slow for coverage.

Something else to keep in mind is, Acetone is a main ingredient of styrene cement... like tamiya extra thin.

I use a jar of Acetone to make sprue goo like this. 

So, I would recommend primer that has had plenty of cure time, and then use a couple mist coats of the nail polish before you start laying it on wet.

Most of the metalics I've encountered will spray out of a .3 needle.

Some of the flake is too large, but some colors are dead on in scale I'd say.

Just be diligent and careful because there are indeed some amazing color options.

Stay away from the "Gel" stuff also.

[BlackSheep214]

YouTube video I saw used thinner, not acetone. I mostly use lacquer thinner myself for most of my airbrushing needs.