I am in the process of building a tank farm on my ho layout. I have a lot of structual members that I would like to brush paint with a semi gloss finish. I want a thin finish, so the details are not hidden under several layers of thick paint. I would also like to use a non-oil based paint because of the quantity of pieces that need painting. Could someone offer suggestions.
Thanx
corbyn city george (CCG)
I question if you will be able to brush paint and get a thin finish, but it probably can be done. If it were me, I think I’d use an airbrush. But anyway, you might want to take a look at the thread that is right below yours as I type this. That poster use automotive gray primer in a spray can to paint some electrical towers and the paint job looks pretty good to me: http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/189418.aspx
You would have to experiment with the spray can to learn how to use it properly but I think it can be done with a little practice.
I like primer, too, but I find that some of the cans designed for automotive use go on a lot thicker than non-automotive primer. Primer, though, is kind of limited in color selection. Fortunately, the colors they do have, typically gray, black and rust, are good colors for model railroading. I use rust-colored primer for brick structures. I’ve found over the years that I can get some color variation by using rattle-cans from different manufacturers.
You’ll probably find that semi-gloss isn’t too common. Instead, go with a flat paint and apply a clear semi-gloss spray later.
I like Testors Model Master acrylic paints. They have excellent coverage and a wide variety of color seletcions. You can also go to a Michaels craft store and buy acrylic paints there. Don’t be afraid to mix colors to get what you want.
An airbrush is the best way to go. Absent that you use spray cans. Brushing is more than likely to put on more rather than less paint. And if you try to do it with thinned paint the coverage is very poor normally.
First off, surface preparation is critical to get paint to stick on plastic or metal. A good wash with dish detergent and hot water, a thorough rinse, dry long enough to get the water drops out of the nooks & crannies. Once cleaned avoid touching with bare hands lest finger prints spoil the paint bond.
Then you have several choices.
My favorite, brush paint with Floquil. It’s a lacquer that dries slowly enough to let the brush marks level out. Available from your local hobby shop in a wide variety of railroad colors. Dries flat.
My second favorite. Use a rattle can. The auto primers (red, dark gray and light gray) are good and flat and stick well to metal. The primers dry flat, most everything else is gloss. You can use DullCote to turn a gloss surface into semi-gloss to flat. Available everywhere.
Polly Scale. It’s a water based model paint. Good selection of railroad colors. It requires thinning to the correct consistancy to level the brush strokes. It takes more fussing to get a good surface with a brush than Floquil, but it can be done. Dries flat. Available from your local hobby shop.
Craft store acrylics. Wide variety of colors, but no railroad colors. Dries flat. Works about like Polly Scale except it comes much thicker than Polly Scale and needs thinning to brush
Maxman, I was the poster that started the thread you mentioned about the electrical towers. Thanks for the kind words!