Questions for my first build from a long time lurker.

[Stall1977]

First, I like to say what a great site and what seems to be a really great community of builders here.

I’m getting back into the hobby after what seems to be decades away from something I truly loved as a kid.

Now I’m little older (33 years young.. Lol ) but still act like a drooling kid in a hobby shop.

Although this time around I would like to start off on the right foot.

I’m going to build for myself first but at the same time build to improve my skills.

So I’ll build box stock for awhile until I get the hang of: priming, painting, polishing paint,

filling pin holes, remove mold lines etc…

Now to the questions on my first model: Revell’s 1/25 1969 Camaro SS 2’ n 1

1. What is a good primer? I’ve read a lot of good remarks about Tamiya’s Primer but

I can’t seem to find it anywhere available online for some reason.

2. What type of paints are good for hand brushing? Enamels, acrylics, lacquer, which is better for this?

I understand which paints are hotter and shouldn’t be applied over top of the other etc.. but I’ve never

used anything other than testor’s little small bottles of paint.

3. Will glazing spot putty work for pin holes, body work etc..?

Tools: Here is a small list of what I’m getting to help myself start out to hopefully make building a

little easier and enjoyable. I have to buy most of this stuff just because I don’t have it. Any suggestions

would be greatly appreciated.

Spure Cutters

Sand paper from auto parts store: 150 - 2000 grit (a lot I already have my in tool box)

Atlas camel hair paint brushes 6 set pack

Small micro file set

Hobby knife with 100 #11 blades

Rubber bands, tooth picks

Polishing pad sets: for polishing paint to get rid of orange peel.

Tweezers pack of 6, Sanding salon boards: (fine, med, course: 3 pack)

Testors Cement, Super glue

Anyways sorry for such along post. I may not ever start a build thread because

I’m an OTR truck driver hauling medical supplies, so I’m only home on the weekends but it pays the bills.

[camaroman]

Welcome!!

[Junkman]

Ad 1. The best primer is the one which is on sale at the time I buy it.

Ad 2. I don't like to work with Testors enamels and acrylics. I much prefer Humbrol and Revell enamels. But here you see the point - YOU need to find what works best for YOU. And all of these little modelling paints sold in bottles or tins work well - as long as you stir them thoroughly. I stir them for at least a cigarette length. That's seven minuts for a non-smoker. I use and old paint brush stem for stirring and I stir for so long, that I feel friction between the stem and the bottom of the tin.

Ad 3. With putty it's pretty much the same as with the paints - you need to find the one you can work with best. You are talking pinholes, so you think resins? I use zap a gap for those. For plastic models, I use sqadron green for small ans shallow stuff. For major surgery I use my own putty which consists of plastic sprues dissolved in cellulose thinners. I apply all putty with an old-fashioned razor blade. You see, everybody has his own little bag of wizardry.

Tools:

What you listed should be sufficient for most model building tasks. You may want to consider a mini vise, third hand, and swivel lamp with magnifier glass in the middle. Oh, and I have once bought a six pack of tweezers too. I only use two of them though, one of which very little.

You will also need:

Set of tiny drill bits

Small screwdriver

Cigarette lighter or matches

Candle - best are those tea lights which you can put into these little aluminium containers

Kitchen roll

A few old T-shirts - cut up into small patches

If you want to get fancy:

Set of small c-clamps

Small vise

I also have a waste paper basket at my feet when I work.

Oh, and beer. Do not forget the beer.

Edited October 24, 2010 by Junkman

[DRG]

Welcome to the best Model car Forum on the planet and welcome back to a great hobby.

I will have to second what Junkman said.

Just remember have fun.

Happy Modeling.

[ewaskew]

Welcome Jason

As for the tools,seems like you have a good start.

The kit is a good one to,the frame fits real tight on that kit.

That being said,remember that when test fitting,be sure thats done before final paint so it want chip on you.

The primer that I use is Dupli Color Gray filler primer its a high build primer that you can fill minor scratchs

as you sand it smooth.

It can be covered with Lacquer and Enamel paint [Testors OR Tamiya] Just do'nt mix name brands on your

paint job. Do'nt ask me how I know that want work. LOL

If you go to this [Genral topics] under Finish for paint.I did a reply with photos on paint job steps I do.

Maybe it will help you without looking all over the place.

I also know about the OTR deal,and hope I do'nt have to do it again.

It's not fun anymore to many rules for me.LOL

Be safe out there and God Bless

Earl

[Hondo]

Welcome, Jason.

Good to have another Carolina guy here......

[niteowl7710]

Paint can turn into a Chevy vs. Ford vs. Dodge style debate. People have their preferences and they stick to them. I myself prefer Tamiya acrylics as the both cover well and are water based, and hence can be cleaned up with water. If I'm going into Testors paint for a specific color, I again prefer acrylics for the clean-up aspect. I hate dealing with paint thinner, but for some colors (Chrysler Engine Red for example) they only offer it in enamels. But as Junkman said you'll have to experiment and find the combination that work best for you. I was an OTR driver for 12+ years, and paint thinner hangs out in the sleeper all day...just sayin'

Testors "rattle can" primer works just fine in both it's enamel and lacquer variations. Just remember don't cross the streams, especially lacquer over enamel primers. A lot of people around here swear by Tamiya primers, but I too have a hard time finding them.

I would also suggest a polishing kit, I have one from Micro-Mesh. Includes sandpaper on a flexible backing from 2400 to 12000 grits for block wet-sending your paint. That can correct a lot of small paint mistakes and generally take overall paint from meh to Oooooo. I got mine from Micro-Mark (which has all sorts of paycheck draining tools to choose from), it's $24.95 in the current catalog (and you can order online).

[Bruno]

First, welcome! And that Revell '69 camaro kit is a great one.

Here's what I use and think works best. For painting parts, if you can find Humbrol paints at a hobby store or online, this is the best paint for brush painting, especially their satin black paint, which I use a lot. I also use Testor's small bottle paints. Humbrol paint is better, but takes a while to dry, Testor's dry faster, that's why I use both, depending of what I want. My favorite glue is Humbrol precision poly, or Testor's liquid cement that comes in a plastic bottle, I don't like Testor's regular glue that comes in a tube. Primers and spray paints; I'll leave that to others as I use automotive stuff.

[Stall1977]

Thanks for all the replies and advice guys. I think I'll

buy a couple of different paints and just experiment some

to see what I like.

Also its good to hear the 1969 Revell Camaro is a good kit

to start out with, doesn't sound like it will be to hard to

get started.

[philo426]

It is a good kit that fits well. Here is mine!