Paint issue

[Belugawrx]

Yep..to each his own ..I used spray cans exclusively up until about 10 years ago..now I'm getting into craft paints thru the airbrush.

The control is much better..the layers of paint are thinner...not to say you can't get a great finish with spray bombs, just that I found I was covering up alot of details.

Have fun

Cheers

[Radretireddad]

On 4/2/2025 at 8:16 PM, Belugawrx said:

Yep..to each his own ..I used spray cans exclusively up until about 10 years ago..now I'm getting into craft paints thru the airbrush.

The control is much better..the layers of paint are thinner...not to say you can't get a great finish with spray bombs, just that I found I was covering up alot of details.

Have fun

Cheers

No question about it. I’ve found airbrushing acrylics to be far more economical, forgiving and clean up is a snap. The only downside is that the available colors are somewhat limited but that just means getting good at custom blending different colors.

Cheers right back.

Edited April 5 by Radretireddad

[Valvefloat]

20 minutes ago, Radretireddad said:

No question about it. I’ve found airbrushing acrylics to be far more economical, forgiving and clean up is a snap. The only downside side is that the available colors are somewhat limited but that just means getting good at custom blending different colors.

Cheers right back.

Micheals has great colors in craft paint like the colorshift and pearls.

[Radretireddad]

Just now, Valvefloat said:

Micheals has great colors in craft paint like the colorshift and pearls.

Michael’s has an amazing assortment of craft paints and the prices can’t be beat.

[Valvefloat]

5 minutes ago, Radretireddad said:

Michael’s has an amazing assortment of craft paints and the prices can’t be beat.

im going to pick up the set of 12 colors and a couple metallics to create  with.

Do you prime first and what with?

[Radretireddad]

9 minutes ago, Valvefloat said:

Micheals has great colors in craft paint like the colorshift and 

[Radretireddad]

2 minutes ago, Valvefloat said:

im going to pick up the set of 12 colors and a couple metallics to create  with.

Do you prime first and what with?

I use Tamiya spray can white and gray primer exclusively. It’s specifically formulated to work on polystyrene and gives consistently great results. Some guys use automotive spray primers from auto parts stores but I’ve found them to be too overpowering out of the can. The spray cans they come in dump way to much product on bodies and require too much additional sanding. Decanting and thinning them for use in the airbrush is too much additional work.

 

[Radretireddad]

Duplicating specific manufacturers colors or getting the shade of a particular color still requires custom mixing. Enamel and lacquer users have a couple of online vendors like Scale Finishes and Model Car World that offer exact matching colors but no Acrylic paint lines.

[bobss396]

I use rattle cans almost exclusively. I have 3 airbrushes, but lack indoor space to paint/ set up a booth.

I paint outside, any weather outside of rain or snow. I did paint a NASCAR truck outside in a drafty back porch with snow blowing through the cracks, at night with just a jelly-jar light next to the door. It was a Tamiya TS spray and it came out fine.

Just about anything like a body goes into the dehydrator. I now let them flash off for about 10 minutes first.

A good primer is key to any paint work. I like Mr. Surfacer, Tamiya of course and Duplicolor 

[Beans]

On 4/3/2025 at 6:37 AM, bobss396 said:

I did paint a NASCAR truck outside in a drafty back porch with snow blowing through the cracks, at night with just a jelly-jar light next to the door. It was a Tamiya TS spray and it came out fine.

one of the best rattle can paint jobs i ever had was done under those exact conditions.  

[bobss396]

21 hours ago, Beans said:

one of the best rattle can paint jobs i ever had was done under those exact conditions.  

I had another gem like that. A Revell 1940 Ford painted outside with an old small can of Duplicolor I got for 99 cents.

My kids were at a scout camp that weekend, late November and 30 F.

The car won anywhere it was entered in a contest and was featured in a magazine from Masscar, IIRC.

[mini trucker]

I can’t speak on its availability stateside but in Canada there is a primer marketed by Dominion Sure Seal called Flex Fill. You can pick it up at Canadian Tire or your local paint or auto parts jobber. I use it on all my bodies before paint and it always works well. Builds enough to do some minor leveling, comes in a large size can and can be top coated with lacquer, enamel and automotive urethane without problem. 

[bauercrew]

90% OF my bodies are painted with craft paint i use windsheild washer fluid for thinning and i dont prime just sand the body very well and i shoot the paint ,,,,dry it with hairdryer than i shoot the clear,