couple question on paint

[outlaw035]

hey y'all....couple ques about painting....1st...im 2 toning a model using nail polish as the lighter color...is it safe to tape off the nail polish to shoot the 2nd color or does the nail polish need to be cleared???

2nd ques...i have a lot of craft acrylic paint (folkart...apple barrel...etc)...it takes several coat to brush on to get it to cover...here is the ques...can it be thinned and shot thru an airbrush???...and if so what should i thin it with....thanks for ur help...

[Art Anderson]

FNP, or fingernail polish, can certainly be thinned and sprayed through an airbrush--regardless of the "type" (some are called "nail enamels"). For thinning, use lacquer thinner (Kleen Strip should work, available in quarts and gallons just about everywhere).

Thin it to approximately the consistency of 2% milk for ease in airbrushing.

As for masking for a second color, simply make sure that your first color of FNP is not only dry to the touch, but also hard. That will keep masking tape from leaving marks on the surface.

Art

[cobraman]

I sometimes shoot clear before the second color. It can help bleeding of the second color under the tape.

[vwdave92]

Cobra do you put the tape down THEN shoot the clear? I've done that… tape, clear, second color, remove tape… cuts bleeding WAY down.

As for taping over the nail polish… as long as the surface was clean and well primed you shouldn't have any issues with the paint lifting.

I use Tamiya's tape for small or complex areas and 3M's green automotive tape for big areas.

HTH

Dave