Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / February 2004

Gerald...

The acrylic craft paints you see with the "cutesy" names are perfect for
latex OR plastic pilots.. Just look for the SHADE you want; don't look for a
name...  IOW, "Chocolate Parfait" might serve as a suntanned flesh color...
These paints actually become acrylic plastic when they dry...  A little
practice with gloss & matte topcoats will let you get any look you want in
short order... Get a $5.00 portable hairdryer to "flash" the paint after
using a color, then go on to the next..  Fast...

And if you really wanna learn about painting a realistic pilot see
http://www.blackdirtsquadron.org/pltpaint.htm

This video from Bob Hunt demo'ed by  scale master Don Typond will show you a
TON of tricks.  2 hrs long; and  not a boring moment in it..

A truly professional how-to from a classy guy...

Cheers,

Bill

When the sweetie paints pilots for me she uses water based acrylic
enamel. We get it at the local craft store (Micheals). It is designed to
be applied by brush as well as airbrushing. Once it has dried I spray on
a couple coats clear acrylic enamel. Just remember it takes about a
month for latex paints to completely dry.

Hope this is of some help, Sherman

Lexan Acrylics and Laquer remained flexable and survived a demolition crash
without a chip or visable crack.   I used Pactra and Tamiya  paints of brush
grade.  Flesh tones are available.  Also, flats and gloss available. Red
shirt instead of brown for leather jacket, made mine stand out with a spray
smoked canopy.   No fuel problems noticed.

PS: Shoe Goop also stays flexable and sticks to rubber and more.  It left my
rubber pilot fully attached to the ply, and ply air baffle in the fiberglass
cowl when the rest of the 1/4 scale plane was impacted to toothpicks.