Newbie needs help! \o/

[volk]

Hi!

Well, this is my first post... so I guess I should say a little about myself to start off with. Southern California, ex-Navy, guitarist!

Oh, I play one computer game... EVE-ONLINE (ex-BoB even).

OK. My model building career has been sporadic at best over the years. The best I ever did was when I did a model of a plane for my recruiter; even bought an airbrush system for it, god, over 10 years ago.

I was just browsing around, and ran across a hobby shop, and took a look inside. That's when I saw a nice Tamiay 1/24 360 Modena. An appreciable car for any male I'm sure. So, I did my "model run" as I call it. Never taking it "that serious", I usually bought a model, all the paints, sand paper, exacto knives, plastic mats.... everything for each model I build. I did it this way, because I could never say for sure when the next time I'm going to use any of it after I finish.

This time... I decided to really take my time and attempt to build something that makes people stop and ask questions.

Here's my first two questions. I've managed my own way (often messing up the paint job), all along but I would like access the WWW this time (the last time I built a model there was no internet )

OK, here's the questions.

1) You know those lines on car bodies that imitate a closed hood/door etc.? How do you properly black them out? I usually just took flat black paint on a nice brush in one hand, and a cloth lightly damped with thinner in the other hand. Swipe, rub rub rub... leaving the crack filled with black ink.

2) What is the best technique to use, to get an even coat of paint using a brush? I use the general mundane modelers paint, from Testors or Model Masters... those little glass jars. Back in the day, I would simply spray paint everything, and only use a brush to try to touch things up. Unfortunatly, that meant every car I ever built never had the window seals blackened

So, those two questions are most burning right now...

Oh, I looked through three pages of your forums... nothing seemed to stand out with my questions... but I'm sure this is 101 stuff.

Thanks! o/

[Mr. Can Am Garage]

Hi!

Well, this is my first post... so I guess I should say a little about myself to start off with. Southern California, ex-Navy, guitarist!

Oh, I play one computer game... EVE-ONLINE (ex-BoB even).

OK. My model building career has been sporadic at best over the years. The best I ever did was when I did a model of a plane for my recruiter; even bought an airbrush system for it, god, over 10 years ago.

I was just browsing around, and ran across a hobby shop, and took a look inside. That's when I saw a nice Tamiay 1/24 360 Modena. An appreciable car for any male I'm sure. So, I did my "model run" as I call it. Never taking it "that serious", I usually bought a model, all the paints, sand paper, exacto knives, plastic mats.... everything for each model I build. I did it this way, because I could never say for sure when the next time I'm going to use any of it after I finish.

This time... I decided to really take my time and attempt to build something that makes people stop and ask questions.

Here's my first two questions. I've managed my own way (often messing up the paint job), all along but I would like access the WWW this time (the last time I built a model there was no internet )

OK, here's the questions.

1) You know those lines on car bodies that imitate a closed hood/door etc.? How do you properly black them out? I usually just took flat black paint on a nice brush in one hand, and a cloth lightly damped with thinner in the other hand. Swipe, rub rub rub... leaving the crack filled with black ink.

2) What is the best technique to use, to get an even coat of paint using a brush? I use the general mundane modelers paint, from Testors or Model Masters... those little glass jars. Back in the day, I would simply spray paint everything, and only use a brush to try to touch things up. Unfortunatly, that meant every car I ever built never had the window seals blackened

So, those two questions are most burning right now...

Oh, I looked through three pages of your forums... nothing seemed to stand out with my questions... but I'm sure this is 101 stuff.

Thanks! o/

First off, Welcome back!

I'll tackle #1 as I've never had a problem getting a smooth coat of brush paint. That may be due to the fact that I prefer Tamiya acyrlics for brush work.

Back to #1. What you need to do is learn how to make and use a wash. A wash is basically, very thin paint. It can be any colour cut with lots and lots of thinner. In my case, seeing as I use acyrlics, that means I thin my brush paints with water.

If you wanna take the easy way out, go grab a bottle of Tamiya X19 (I think) Smoke. It's basically a wash as it's a very watery colour.

HTH,

[volk]

First off, Welcome back!

I'll tackle #1 as I've never had a problem getting a smooth coat of brush paint. That may be due to the fact that I prefer Tamiya acyrlics for brush work.

Back to #1. What you need to do is learn how to make and use a wash. A wash is basically, very thin paint. It can be any colour cut with lots and lots of thinner. In my case, seeing as I use acyrlics, that means I thin my brush paints with water.

If you wanna take the easy way out, go grab a bottle of Tamiya X19 (I think) Smoke. It's basically a wash as it's a very watery colour.

HTH,

Hi. Thanks for the reply.

I tried the washing, and... well... I have a mess really. I figured, that adding thinner during or after painting, would help even stuff out. It just makes a big mess, with blobs of paint goo everywhere. The thinner even strips the primer coat I put on all my peaces. I'm kinda lost with the brush thing... does anyone have a tutorial or something?

I noticed, that if you use the paint straight from the bottle, it dries too fast and gums up creating the brush lines and or 'pulls' semi-dried paint from other portions creating rips, curls or even conglomerations of paint goo while stroking the brush across the peace.

But, if I add thinner, even a little bit, while it goes on smoother, the thinner often strips the primer away and then I get the water-colors effect where it's nearly impossible to get an even coat or even an opaque coat at that.

I think I need to soak the portion of my model that I'm painting (the engine) in thinner and start over some how.

Is there anything that takes the polished coat off the plastic for small parts? I think that would make it a bit easier to paint on.