Has anyone tried (with success) to use latex wall paint on plastic structures?
RicZ
No, I do not use latex wall paints, but I do use latex art paints of the sort sold in 2 oz bottles by Walmart, Hobby Lobby et al. I usually make little puddles of paint on a pallet, several similar colors and I dabble from each puddle with a brush as I paint the structure or whatever. I think it works real well.
I did buy a gallon of black latex paint. That is what I use for backgrounds, fascias, tunnels and all. Lots and Lots of Black Paint. After all, LION models subway tunnels. And even if you do not model subways, painting tables and such black removes them from the picture.
ROAR
Lion, do you think latex wall paint would work on plastic structures. An 8 oz sample at $2.98 is a pretty hard deal to turn down, if it works.
RicZ
Disclaimer: I have not tried wall paint on my models. I will not try wall paint on my models because of the high likelihood of hiding textures and other fine details. Latex wall paint is designed to be used in a single thick coat that effectively covers stains, blemishes, etc., underneath it. Exactly the opposite of what we are seeking with model paints. Latex wall paint is not designed to be thinned - the exception being just enough thinning to get through a paint gun. It thins OK, but not as well as other varieties of paint.
That said, I do use “oops” wall paint in a variety of suitable colors for painting benchwork, fascia, backdrops, foam, and plaster.
Craft paints are much more versatile, available in a wide variety of pre-mixed colors, and not that much more expensive. Since I deal in small layouts, or assisting with small areas of a large layout, quality of result and ease of use have jsut as much priority to me as lowest cost. I enjoy the craft paints for final coloring of plaster, and washes over rock castings and rock formations. Craft paints are also suitable for structures, but I generally use model rr paints or stains for my structures.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
Hi!
From what I have experienced, latex house paint - interior or exterior - tends to put on a thicker coat than the various model paints we use - either water or oil base. With that said, details would tend to be more covered over.
Also, it is my experience that “house paint” on plastic surfaces can be rather easily peeled off. Is that because it doesn’t bind to the plastic as well as model paints, or because it is too thick - I don’t know.
All that being said, I do use “house paint” for painting my benchwork and roadbed and it works just fine.
Yes, I have used that, and yes it will work. I don’t think that I actually used it on structures but rather on other scenery.
ROAR
I’m with Mobilman on this. Today’s plastic kits have very nice fine detail in their castings. It would be a shame to cover it up with a thick coat of paint. For example, this City Classics building has a lot of molded-on detail that would be lost with wall paint.
I gave this a coat of spray paint first, and then did the details by hand, using a tiny brush and a magnifying lamp.
I always check the mismixed paint at Lowes and Home Depot. They usually have an earth tone of some sort for a few dollars a quart. I picked up four sample jars yesterday of flat black, grey, beige and dark grey for $ .50 each. I use these for scenery and blacking out the inside of structures but not for the exterior for the same reason others have mentioned.
I model in S.and when I first started detailing Plasticville structures (about 1979), I used green Latex paint to make the roofs of all my stations and yard structures the same color and brown latex wall paint to make the platfoms all the same colors as to match some scratchbuilt platforms as well. (collectors, don’t be upset, the buildings all had extensive “play wear” and weren’t collectable. ) The paint has not peeled in 30 years and looks fine but remember, the detail on these structures is extremely crude. The thick paint covers a lot of nicks and scratches which is what I wanted and tied all the colors together.
I agree with all the other writers that for a modern HO kit (I use these in S with larger doors), I would use a modern hobby paint.
Little Tommy