Greater Abilene Scale Modelers

Lesson 5 - Painting

Brushes and Paint: Be sure your brushes are soft. clean, and flexible. Keep them that way by cleaning with brush cleaner or mineral spirits. Bottle paints should be stirred completely with a stick handle or toothpick. Spray paints must be shaken thoroughly- you can hear the agitator ball in the can. Two types of paint are usually used: Oil based enamels which spread thinly and spray very well and water based acrylic which are easy to clean up and cover very well. Match your paint thinners to the type of  paints. Follow these steps in painting:

1. Wash all plastic parts in warm, soapy water especially any flexible polystyrene parts, such as some HO scale figures before painting. Dry parts thoroughly. If  they have been stored for awhile, brush clean of dust with a tack rag available at automotive supply stores.
2. For best results, paint plastic surfaces with a neutral or gray primer before final color application. This is very important if you are painting light colors over dark plastic. Coat metals with an appropriate primer before painting. Some miniature metal figures come already primed so check their instructions. Small parts can often be painted directly on the plastic tree or sprue before being cut off. Touch up the parts after detaching them.
3. You may want to pencil in outlines shapes of such things as camouflage or separate colors before painting.
4. Brush paint in one direction. If your paint is the right consistency, the brush strokes will disappear as it dries. If not, thin it with mineral spirits or paint thinner. Use a brush size that matches the area being painted. For special treatments, create a brush shape by cutting the bristles to a point or other shape. For stippling paint, use a square-tipped brush or a sponge.
5. Paint light colors first and work towards the darkest colors, leaving enough time for the paint to dry or cure- usually 24 hours for most enamels and at least a few hours for acrylic.
6. Mask with tape or frisket. Using "magic" type tape that is low tack (or stickiness) or specially made masking film called frisket is best. Paint away from the tape rather than into it.
7. Spray paints in a suitable location following the manufacturers instructions. For best results, avoid spraying when both excessive heat and humidity are present. It is important to spray light coats, holding the can at a distance of approximately two feet. Let dry two to three minutes and spray another light coat. To clear valve after using, invert can and spray several seconds. If nozzle clogs, clean with thinner.