Starship Modeler Discussion Forums

Gang, in the new house, I've got to paint out in the garage. Not a huge deal, I did that 2 houses ago. However, this time I've got a nice spray booth vented to the outside. I'm a little worried about humidity and temperature though. I'm thinking of putting a 60-100W incandescent light bulb inside th...

Since I've started using the Mr. Surfacer products, I really don't use anything else for priming. However, before I saw the light, Acryl gray primer worked well through my airbrush, as did the Floquil primer. Which airbrush do you have? Most I wouldn't worry about spraying lacquers through, but some...

Thanks April--I thought that was the route you were taking, but I wanted to make sure (BTW--how much more on-topic can VOCs be? They are in the top 'bad for the environment' list). Anyway, I've used the Acryl primer, no problem, cleaned up with alcohol and Simple Green. If it's really stuck on there...

Thanks for the link. Now I'm going to have to grab Mrs. Calhoun's organic chemistry text--my eyes glazed over about halfway through, but nothing jumped out at me that was an alcohol. Which is interesting, since basically the definition is a compound containing carbon that evaporates...which pretty m...

Absolutely...which is why I think we need April to define what 'earth-friendly' is... What I meant by the previous answer is I think that something can be toxic with a zero voc count, and something could be non-toxic with a high voc count--I think voc count includes alcohols (but I could be wrong on...

Eh, even low and non-voc paints can still be toxic...voc is volatile organic compound... Here's a decent site: http://www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_paints.htm although it's not quite our application of paints, it still gives some good definitions. Now, a good thing to do would be to contact the va...

I guess you need to define earth friendly...that can mean everything from doesn't put a hole in the ozone to biodegradable.

And frankly, I don't want my paint to be biodegradable.

I'd just stick with non-toxic water-based paints. Gunze, Model Master, Tamiya, Vallejo, etc.

Dan

www.dickblick.com

Dan

I was just there Friday...they had a full line of Alclad, including the black base, as well as mr surfacer in the spray cans and plenty of pollyscale...

Dan

UltraMagnus wrote:

Jonas Calhoun wrote: How far away are you holding the brush?

about 30cm away

That could be the issue. Move in a bit--maybe 5-8 cm. Everything else sounds OK.

Dan

Both GW and Vallejo should be able to go through the airbrush...we'll need some more detail on a few things though:

What pressure?
How much did you thin? (if at all?)
What did you thin with?
How far away are you holding the brush?

Dan

Did you just check the website, or did you call them? The website's not managed by them, it's just a front for a warehouse somewhere--what the store carries and what the website has is completely different. What are you looking for? I'd be glad to pop over there on my way home and check. But serious...

Colpar's got: Gunze Mr. Hobby Colors (including spraybombs of Mr. Surfacer, Mr. Base white, Mr. Resin Primer, etc) Tamiya acrylics (including Fine surface primer) White Ensign Alclad Model Master Acryl, Lacquers, and Enamels Vallejo acrylics Games Workshop Floquil It's a "if they don't have it,...

Are you sure it's a voltage regulator? The cross reference that I've got lists that as a bog-standard transistor...

Dan

Something that Steve Riojas mentioned to me at Wonderfest--most of the smokes have a bit of brown and red in them to give a bit of a variation in color, and it looks a little more realistic as soot. If you are wanting oil or soot, go with the smoke--burns and dings and such, black. Haven't looked my...

Com-Art Transparent Smoke
Com-Art Transparent Black (no brown like the smoke in it)
Vallejo Smoke
Tamiya Smoke
Really thinned down oils.

Dan

Also, you can get a Chrome Silver Gundam Marker...it's excellent.

Dan

That should work. Light mist coats. Spray the stuff in the air, and wave the model through the falling mist.

Dan

Also do what some of the Kustom painters do, put down light coats of the color, then a clear coat, then more light coats of color, then clear...rinse, lather, repeat.

That's kinda how they get that 'miles-deep' look to the paint.

Dan

I'd think the blue-tack would take paint off.

Dan

I've had trouble with press 'n seal forming over lots of greeblies.

Tamiya tape is your best bet. Some might recommend Parafilm, but I've yet to be successful with it.

If the masking is to be somewhat irregular, Silly Putty is also pretty popular.

Dan

I don't have personal experience (one of the few paints I haven't pushed through my Iwata), but from what I've read elsewhere, Vallejo really wants to be thinned with their own airbrush medium. It has something to do with it being a vinyl-based paint. I've also heard using Liquitex flow-aid mixed 1:...

What kind of paint wears a needle out???? In my experience, it's metallics. I find the tip or "nozzle" wears out most quickly. That's probably true--I just try and replace both the nozzle and needle at the same time. I figure that if the nozzle is wearing, the needle's going to have some ...

I've been meaning to write all of this down that I've discovered through trial and error. Maybe in my copious free time. :D I also want to take a 4'x8' sheet of styrene and cover it with various primers, then test all the different manufacturers paints on it...come up with a definitive list of what ...

Pretty much by abnormal spray patterns. It's kinda a zen thing, I guess...the brush just feels 'wrong'.

I've seen bent needles, and I've also seen needles that look just fine that are bent when you use them. The nozzles are easier to see, they kinda 'trumpet' out.

Dan

It's not that they are a major problem, it's that they are a wear item. The paint going through the brush wears down the needle/nozzle, and it will eventually need to be replaced. They are generally inexpensive. Metallics seem to wear them down a bit faster, it's probably a little more abrasive pain...

I hear that's not a bad brush. I got to experience a wide variety of brushes last week. Basically I'd be happy with just about any of them (well, the Custom Micron did pretty much blow others out of the water--although it wouldn't do a nice wide spray). So I think it'll boil down to what feels comfo...

What do you thin really small rocks with? 'Cos I was thinking either lava or quicksand. You take a bike, put it so the wheels are upside down. Then hand crank the pedals, put the rocks against the tires. It'll eventually wear them down, you'll either be able to spray them, or you'll get ice cream. ...

Given those two, I'd go with either one, I've used the Aztek personally, and had good results (not great results, but good results), and I imagine the Badgers about the same. The Badger will be a little harder to clean at first, but the Aztek will need it more down the line.

Dan

A lot of times you'll see marks in the plastic, even though it's smooth...it can be a stress point where the sprue connected. You won't notice it after it's primed.

Dan