How do you paint your models?

Handbrush or Airbrush? Paint on sprue? Your brands for painting? I handbrush and sometimes airbrush (tank hulls, etc). I used to paint on the sprue, but my carefulness and precision improved, so Im starting to paint after assembly... I use Tamiya Acrylics, Testors Enamel and Acrylics, Model Masters Acrylic and Enamels, and Academy Enamels. (If you're wondering where I got them, I picked them up during a vacation in South Korea. You can also get them on eBay, sold from dealers in Korea.)

Hi

For me its paint after assembly and paint with an airbrush unless a hard edged cammo is called for then its airbrush for the base coat and brush for the cammo.

The paints I use are a mixture of Enamels and Acrylics, Humbrol, Revell, Model Master and White Ensign for Acrylics and Vallejo Model Color and Air, Tamiya and Humbrol for Acrylics.

The Thinners I use are Vallejo thinner or airbrush cleaner with Vallejo, IPA with Tamiya and water with Humbrol acrylics, with the enamels I use either Humbrol Thinners, hammerite Thinners or Low Odour Artist Thinners.

Paul

Edited By Paul the Military modeller on 19/07/2012 07:10:43

John,

Airbrush - always!

Stick everythin on the model. Prime in black. Spray with Tamiya acrylics well thinned.

Pick out the details with a small brush with a mixture of Valejo or Humbrol enamels (whichever has ther colour I'm after.

Dave

Airbrush as much as I can and handbrush for details.

Still a bit new to the hobby so my paint stores hasn't built up as much as I would like but heres what I use. Tamiya and Model Masters acrylics, Grumbacher and Shiva oils for weathering, Ak Interactive Pigments. I only use a few enamels which are from Model Masters.

Thinners I use 50/50 mix of ISO and water and Oderless Artist's Spirits for oils and pigments.

I paint off the sprue but tend to leave the small bits off till painted.

Cheers!

Zerk.

Hi John

Welcome to MilMod

As to your question regarding painting. There is no right or wrong way, it is a very personal thing. Also different modellers swear by different paints. The most helpful thing I can suggest is to do what I did and that is to look through some blogs. Choose subjects that you like and "fast forward" to the painting/weathering part and read what the approach is. I actually made notes as I went along and found that helpful.

There are many very skilled modellers on the site so I hesitate to recommend any particular blogs but as a start:

Tim White only brush paints and does some excellent work, Airfix 1:48 Westland Lynx. Adam Kuller is at present building a ChTZ Stalinetz Wood-Gas Tractor - this is a great example of painting everything in situ and achieving stunning results. Wouter's Merkava IV is just at the painting stage and is in sub-assemblies. Peter has blogged his build of a Tamiya Stug G and there is loads of very useful discussion about painting. If you want to see just how good painting can get look at Carl Startin's Tamiya Steyr 1500 4X4.

These are just a few of the excellent builds on this forum so look at as many as you can. Blogging your own build is also an excellent way to get imput from more experienced guys.

Have fun

Jim

i used to use a paintbrush for my builds back when i first started modelling (about 20 years ago), part of the reason was we only had enamel paints back in the day and i tried it on a cheap airbrush and that was basically the end of that airbrush's life as i didn't clean it properly. Plus it was cheaper to just use paintbrushes and i didn't really take modelling too seriously in those days so that was fine with me. As for painting on sprues, I used to do a combination of pait after building and paint on sprues depending on the kit.

However, these days i mainly stick to acrylic applied through my Badger 150 (going strong after 15 years) and i recently purchased a Iwata Neo only because i wanted a gravity feed system. I will be using this for my T34 build to see how i get on with it. I no longer paint on sprues but instead i leave things off the model to be painted separately as i find this system works best.

I would support what other people have said already and suggest you follow a few builds to get an idea of what works and what doesn't. Either way, happy modelling =)

John

If I haven't said it before, a very warm welcome to MilMod. Echo what has been written, all depends upon circumstance and personal style. As Jim has written, I'm the resident site heretic in that I only brush paint. I'm afraid that this is something you'll have to work out for yourself. My best advice would be to try different approaches and find out what you're comfortable with. There is no 'wrong', and, as with me, you will probably find that the way you paint evolves.

Cheers

Tim