Paintwork

Hi all

While I am happy with the standard of machining and assembly of my stationary engines I build, paintwork is a different matter. I brush paint using Humbrol enamel and am not always happy with the finish due not to the paint but my skill. I find painting small parts awkward due to holding them and manipulating them while painting, larger parts seem to turn out ok.

So the question is what are other people's views on this. Do you brush paint, or would I be better trying rattle can or air brush?

Thanks, Geoff

Hi Geoff,

I too struggle getting a good finish. Years ago when my eyesight was better I used both a rattle can and air brush, now I have trouble, so I often use a paintbrush. My best option is to ask a younger friend to the job.

Thor

Hi Thor

Thanks for your reply. Are we the only two who have this problem?

Geoff

I don't have the problem but do tend to use rattle cans for most of my engines only getting the airbrush out if its a colour I can't easily get in a can. I've never brush painted any of my engineering models but have done a lot of figure painting in the past which was 99.99% brushwork.

I tend to use U-POL Acid8 etch primer on non ferrous, their High5 high build primer on castings and steel just gets Halfords grey or white, I also get the colours from Halfords too.

As for holding if the part has a hole on it then a long tapered stick (cheap paintbrush handle) works well or hang it on wire. Small items that don't need painting all over I double sided tape to a bit of MDF. large castings will get a screw or two in any tapped holes so they can be handled without touching.

Edited By JasonB on 30/05/2022 13:23:14

I use Halfords car paint rattle cans with the appropriate primer and primer filler. Make sure they are well shaken, and spray lots of light coats and the finish can be really good.
For holding when painting I pretty much do what Jason suggests and occasionally use a wire hook where applicable.

Henry - how many coats of Primer do you apply ? Do you sand between Primer coats ?

Bruce

Sounds like rattle cans are the way to go.

Jason, I do hang parts on wire but they still move about when painting, like the idea of tapered sticks, will give that a go, thanks.

Geoff

With the size of most model parts sanding would surely out of the question and the system of painting wet on wet ensures coats stick to one another.

I do find the first coat of primer can show up things that you can't see on the bear surface so deal with those by sanding and or filling. Also the parts that get the high build primer all get sanded back so it does it's job of filling the depressions but is removed from the high spots, a few cycles may be needed depemding on how pitted the surface and the finish you are after.

This is a thread on an engine build where I went into a bit more detail about how I finish a model