Model Forum / General / Models / December 2005

What model pistol are you painting?

Could you post a pic on the binaries to see how the current paint looks?

Kinda depends on the type of pistol, old, new, materials, etc. I've got a
couple of weapon kits Willams Brothers Spandau and a Brit one and a 1/4
scale resin Winchester rifle and Colt pistol.

Parkerizing can leave a weapon one of several colors, but usually very
matte. Color case hardened revolvers or lever guns would probably be very
difficult to do - I've got a real .44-40 Peacemaker replica sitting next to
me with a color case hardened frame and blued cylinder and barrel, very
tricky to replicate. For a more "ordinary" finish you might want to try a
different gunmetal (I have at least 5 different variations) or a matt or
semi gloss black or very dark grey and then rub on it with graphite powder,
or maybe one of the SNJ rubbing powders. I've used those with some success
rubbing small amounts of them over greys to get a very acceptable metallic
appearance.

Aeons ago a friend of mine bought one of the LS 1/1 Colt
M-1911 .45's.  What we ended up doing was a spray paint
of flat black (Kmart Cheapie brand) and then used the old
pencil lead (graphite) scrapings to 'weather' it.  It turned out
REALLY good!

Hope this helps!

-andy

I know this sounds sort of screwy, but to make gunmetal I paint with gloss
black and then use SnJ aluminum powder lightly brushed on. Then polish out
the whole thing to get the shade you want. You can alter the sheen by the
about of powder used.

MB