What to look for in a custom painter?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’m interested in having a couple of my locos weathered, but I don’t have the guts to attack them with the airbrush myself…They are a mix of steam and diesels.

So my question is what do I need to ask about when looking for the right painter? Are there warning signs of someone not to deal with?

Thanks guys.

2

Talk to the painter and see if he can send photos of his work and if you can speak to any of his customers.

You shouldn’t be afraid to paint or weather your own models, especially weathering! Use pastel chalks. if you don’t like what you’ve done, you can simply wash off. After your satisfied with what you’ve done, spray a coat of dull coat to seal the chalk. It is likely the dull coat will hide quite a bit of the weathering and you will need to apply multiple coats.

3

In SLC their should be a hobby shop that could put you on to someone. Don’t be afraid to ask to see past work, either his models or customers. If he’ll let you watch, you might try the next one. One reason for watching is you could tell him when it’s weathered enough.

Bob

4

Thanks guys. One of the steamers is a BLI AT&SF 4-8-4, the one with the grey paint and black drivers, and I’m not exactly sure I can get it to look the way I want with those goofy black drivers…

Do you have an idea of what I can expect to pay?

Thanks for your help!

5

I usually charge for paint/decals and 5.00/hr 1 hr min.! I think that is very reasonable! However there is a person close to me that charges 50 - 100 an engine, ouch!

6

I doubt if any custom painter worth his salt will let you watch him. I know if one of my customers wanted to watch me paint I would hand him the item back, and tell him I can’t help him.
As a custom painter, (over 30 years experience), I have no problems giving references and showing photos, but I will not show techniques. That is my stock in trade, many of them learned over a long period of time and really are “trade secrets”. That is what distinguishes custom painters from each other, is their ability to give the customer what he wants and to provide something no one else could. Sometimes that “something else” comes from technique.
By all means ask for references and get photos. Anyone who is a custom painter should have these available. Any one not able to supply these is either IMHO, not very good or just starting out.
Also, if you are environmentally inclined, or as some of my customers, allergic to certain paint bases, you may ask what kind of paint he uses. I know one custom painter for an importer who does exsquisite work, but paints all of the stuff with automobile laquer, in colors he mixes from the manufacturers formulas.
But I want to emphasize one thing, learning to paint well IS NOT difficult and is fun. Get one of the MR How to videos and learn to do it yourself. It will not take long to learn and actually over a period of time, save you what could be a lot of money.