Ezuna Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Hi guys and gals, Great to be here! I have just taken up 'modelling' in my late 40's after a break of 25 years away. I'm based in the UK and on a whim bought some fantasy figures and a bunch of games workshop paints over Christmas and gave it a go again to see if my hand and eyesight were still up to the job. Anyway...the bug has bitten me again and now I want to move on to something more, and I'd like to get into car modelling. Thing is - at the moment I don't think the missus would be too impressed if I announced that my latest purchase would be an airbrush. So - I'm looking at getting a kit, some basic paints, and essentials to give a decent attempt. My question - is it realistically possible to achieve a high quality gloss finish without an airbrush? If so what with? Spray cans? Are there tutorials or links you'd recommend? Any particular brands of paint you'd advise me to look into or similarly avoid? I was thinking of one of Revell's kit's that I can get from Amazon in the UK. Any do's and dont's? Any and all help and advise greatly appreciated. I've attached a pic of the first figure (still work in progress) I've painted in 25 years as a reference....it's a 28mm figure so you can see I've a looong way to go, but at the same time I can hold a fairly steady brush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramfins59 Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 First of all Dave, welcome to our plastic playground here. You can search through the Tips & Tricks threads for loads of information on painting. For car models, a lot of us have our best results using automotive spray-can lacquers and primers which you would get at auto supply stores. The variety of colors and quick drying times make them good choices. Plus you can also use the clear top coats over the paints for a glossier finish. Tamiya spray paints are another excellent choice and are available at hobby shops or online. There are also polishing kits available to eliminate any "orange peel" finish in the paints once fully dry. I'm sure other people will chime in here with additional suggestions. Good luck with your future projects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jantrix Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 My question - is it realistically possible to achieve a high quality gloss finish without an airbrush? If so what with? Spray cans? Are there tutorials or links you'd recommend? Absolutely. I'd try either the Testors One Shot Lacquers or Model Master Lacquers. I would hope your local hobby stores would carry them. Tamiya also makes an excellent spray paint. I'd stay away from the old Testors/Model Master enamels. Be patient with your first attempts at spray painting. There are paint removers now that can help you if you need to clean the slate, so to speak, but I'm not sure whats available in the UK, so maybe one of our other members from your neighborhood can help you there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezuna Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 Thanks for the quick replies! If I *do* decide to go for an airbrush (I'm already planting some seeds in the wife's head that with careful watering and the earning of brownie points will come to fruition!) do you have any recommendations that with a compressor could come in under £300 or around under $500? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 An airbrush is definitely not a must. I've never painted a body with an airbrush. I've used my airbrush maybe four times in the many years I've had it. The only reason I used it then was because I had mixed a color I needed for an interior. For me, it doesn't matter how the paint gets on that counts. It's what I do with it after it gets on that counts. For me, an airbrush just isn't worth the hassle. IMO, Tamiya makes the best spray paints available hands down. Model Masters has good paints also. Although the last model that I used their clear on wouldn't cure out and I had to strip it. They make several factory stock colors. I also like Dupli Color paint. You can get more paint for your money with it. I don't care for the Testors One Coat paints. A lot of them have over sized flakes in the paint that are better suited for a dune buggy or bass boat. The White Lightning however, is a perfect pearl white. Test first before you commit to spraying it on your model. You may or may not like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeeBee Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 (edited) Hi Dave, welcome to the forum, to answer your questions, yes you can get a good finish using spray cans, as you in the U.K, go and have a look at Halfords, there colour matched aerosol paints are acrylic and give a great finish, use them over Halfords plastic primer, either grey or white depending on the top coat your using. Secondly, an airbrush set up really doesn't have to cost a fortune, I've been using one of these compressors for the last few years, not too noisey and only £79.00 http://www.airbrushsupplyonline.com/compressors/mini-airbrush-compressor-with-tank-as186-oil-free There are so many airbrushes on the market, but again, you really don't have to spend a fortune on one, for most of my car bodies I use a Paasche H, the complete kit will set you back £90 if you want the kit with all the different tips and needles http://www.airbrushsupplyonline.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_325&products_id=4019 Hope this helps .... Edited January 7, 2015 by GeeBee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezuna Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 Nice one! I think I'll do the spray cans bit first and get my skills up, and then consider options down the line. Nothing worse than one of those 36 handicap golfers with Ping clubs that thinks the best of gear makes them a better player! I'll def check out Halfords - there's one very close to me as well. In the meantime I'll do some research on those airbrushes you mention. Roger can you post some pics of your bodies that are hand painted with some explanations of that 'what you've done afterwards' part? Or maybe you have something on youtube - I'd be very interested to see that in action. Certainly even in terms of the mininature painting I thin the paint very thin and use multiple thin coats to get a smooth finish, so I'm wondering if you're doing something similar and then doing some of the polishing work I'm starting to read up on, cheers again guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Cheers Dave! I own two air brushes but haven't cracked them out in at least five years. The above model is Duplicolor Automotive spray paint, over their primer. The results are good enough for me so I do this almost exclusively. With your interest in figures, with the detail painting and toning, maybe I can enlist you over to the dark side of auto modeling? Weathering and rusting require pretty much the eye and skills you have exhibited in the figure you posted. In doing this type of work I use spray paints, but I do a lot of hand detail work. Much of my rust is chalk powders and painting on the detail, much akin to working with water colors. Just an illustration of the diversity we have in auto modeling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezuna Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 Wow Tom that is seriously impressive work! Reminds me of some of the weathering I used to do on model tanks years ago (when I was a young man!) with pastel chalk dust and all sorts of malarky. You've me convinced my friend! Now I just need to amble down to my local model shop and hope the missus doesn't notice another bulge in my overcoat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Dave...Welcome! Me myself have always used spray paint cans for my paint jobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunajammer Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Dave, no advice here, but I have to say your most impressive skills on the figure have already proven you'll be a spectacular car modeler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyjim Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Rattlecan or airbrush doesn't matter. Just have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Roger can you post some pics of your bodies that are hand painted with some explanations of that 'what you've done afterwards' part? Or maybe you have something on youtube - I'd be very interested to see that in action. Here's one for you Dave. Everything is spray painted from a can. The body is two coats of color (Tamiya Candy Lime Green), four coats of clear (Tamiya TS-13). The scallops and roof are one coat of paint (white is Testors White Lightning). The "after" is simply polishing the clear. You can get a polishing kit that starts with a 3200 grit sanding cloth and ends with a 12000 grit cloth. Because I apply my paint pretty thin, I start with 6000 grit to get the orange peel out. Then I sand with 8000, then 12000. Finally, I rub it out with polishing compound and give it a coat of wax. But, polishing is not a must. This model has three coats of paint, two coats of clear. No polishing. It's not as perfect as a polished paint job. But, it's acceptable to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezuna Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 Very nice indeed! Thanks for sharing your pics of these great models Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbill Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 you can get great results with spray cans. I bought an air brush and have used it 3 times [on stuff I couldn't find a color in spray cans for], I prefer 'rattle cans' as many people call them. as mentioned, with spray cans, a little polishing can go a long way to making awesome paint jobs. I will say this, it does take some practice, but can be done quite well. here are some spray can jobs, that is spray can paint with some spray can clear before being polished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_G Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 This is Tamiya TS13 clear over Tamiya TS44 Brilliant Blue and yellow scallop decals I wetsanded the clear with 2,000 grit and polished it with Novus #2 plastic polish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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