Painting photo-etched mesh

35th-scale · Post by **35th-scale** » Mon May 19, 2008 5:00 am

Hi Guys,
is there any tip to painting photo etch mesh like engine covers etc? I'm either clogging all the little holes, or being left with a hint of the brass still showing through if I thin the paint. I'm using enamels.

Thanks,
Sean

rpauly · Post by **rpauly** » Mon May 19, 2008 5:56 am

Are you air brushing or using a spray bomb?

35th-scale · Post by **35th-scale** » Mon May 19, 2008 6:29 am

A brush! What's a spray bomb?

rpauly · Post by **rpauly** » Mon May 19, 2008 7:52 am

A can of spray paint. Are you using a BRUSH brush (with bristles) or an AIR brush? If you're trying to paint mesh with a bristle brush, the only way to do it without clogging up the mesh is drybrushing, where you dip just the ends of the bristles in paint, and wipe almost off the paint off the brush (by whipping the end of the brush back and forth on a piece of papaer towel, for instance. ) You want the brush to be almost completely devoid of paint (hence, the "dry" part). Then lightly whip the brush back and forth on the mesh. It's subtle and will take time to really build up the color, but it's the only way to do it without clogging up the works.

Of course, if you can, I'd just airbrush it, using light coats....

35th-scale · Post by **35th-scale** » Mon May 19, 2008 8:08 am

Yup! It's a Brush brush, complete with bristles.... I never did get into this air brush Mullarkey, given that my workspace to the kitchen table and has to be tiedied up every night, plus there were always other things to spend that sort of money on. Maybe next year when the eldest goes off to collage and a room coms free.....

Hadn't tried or even thought of dry brushing. Thanks rpauly