Painting tips?

[Ritter von Fear]

I have been trying to pain the pilots of my Airfix 1:24 scale Ju87B Stuka and I think I shall have to repaint. I have not made many models and I am after some general maintenance tips:

How do you avoid paints such as Humbrel been applied to thinly like water? I have tried stirring and shaking.

I try and keep my brush clean with metherated spirits and water, is this a good idea or is there a better way of keeping a clean brush?

How do you keep a brush from loosing its bristles (mine get plastered to whatever I’m painting and I really getting p’d off about it).

Thank you for any help.

[davecww1]

Sounds like your paint is too thin. Make sure to stir it well, a small cocktail stirring stick makes a good stirring stick for the Humbrol enamel paints. If it is still too thin after a good stirring, let it sit out for a couple of hours with the lid off until it thickens up a little. The color should flow on, but not thin enough to run down the part being painted. if it is too thick it is hard to spread out in a thin coat, but if too thin it will run around and not cover well. If too thin, let it dry completely and try another coat. For thinner I use regular paint thinner from the hardware store stored in a small glass jar. Do not use any water with enamel paints, it will cause a mess and never dry or clean up properly. If the bristles are falling out of your brush sounds like a good time for a new brush - try a high quality red sable or camel hair brush from an art supply store, with good cleaning in the paint thinner they will last many years if you get the good quality artists brushes. Be sure not to get the real cheap ones or as they wear out the bristles will tend to stick to the paint as you described.
Hope this helps. (also, hope you are using the enamels & not acrylics, or the above information will not help you at all!)
Dave

[Ritter von Fear]

Thank you very much!

Time for a new brush, my most recent only cost around £2.00 and is starting to fall apart.

[JohnReid]

The best investment that you will ever make is in good brushes.Always buy the best that you can afford.You wont regret it. Cheers! John.

[stringbags4ever2]

Speaking of things Humbrol...... everyone it seems sings the praises of Mr. Surfacer 500 and 1000. Is there any Net mail order company I can get these items from that are based in the U.S.? Thanks for any help.

I don't know about primers (like the Mr. Surfacer) but you might also try sanding the finish with some Micro Mesh pads after you paint it. I airbrush all of my base coats myself, but I still find a polish with Micro Mark pads can improve most any finish.

BTW - www.greatmodels.com sells Mr. Surfacer products.

I should also reitterate what was said above - getting and learning to use airbrushes would definitely be your best investment. You can get basic single-action brushes inexpensively - and if you can't get into an air compressor right away, you can get an inexpensive regulator and an air tank you can fill at the service station (better option than canned proplellant IMO).

When you purchase a brush, look on the label to be sure it will work with enamel paints....many are water color brushes. I use lacquer thinner to thin and clean enamel paint brushes. Lac, works the best for cleaning. As stated, store it in a glass bottle.