Model Forum / General / Models / September 2009

You don't say how you are painting the model or with what kind of
paints.

If the model has a stand, painting it first and THEN attaching the
model to the stand helps a lot in the case of something like the
Enterprise.

If you aren't used to painting it, spraying it white overall with a
spray can (model enamel or acrylic preferred) would be a good start,
followed by touch-up and detail painting with a brush.

You will need to get a gloss coat on the model in order to put the
decals on and have them "blend" into the finish (as well as not chip
off). They make spray cans of Testors Glosscoat and Dullcoat (which is
a flat lacquer to protect the model once done).

There are a number of books out there on painting with an airbrush,
which is the only really good way to go. You may want to pick one up
and see how it is done. Also if there is a model club around pay them
a visit -- most modelers are cheerful about helping the "newbies"
out.

Cookie Sewell

Welcome back. The local hobby store owner likes to say we lose modelers from
time to time, but we always seem to get them back at least once.

Cardboard with newspaper or craft paper taped around it is my preference for
large parts resting on a large surface. I've had loose newspaper edges and
plastic sheet "kick up" from the blast from the airbrush. Sticking is not a
problem as the majority of my coats are light dusty dry coats. Something
like a car body that has to have repeated heavy wet coats of paint is best
suspended and fixtured from the unpainted side by wire or brackets on a
dedicated hobby fixture or homemade block of wood type assembly. Small parts
are either sticking to two sided tape or locked in a vise or gator clip.

I haven't watched this so I cannot attest to the soundness of any advice
given, I just Googled it to see what was out there. The modeler appears have
uploaded several small vids on his build. You might want to have a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1-KQCaWdBY

As Mr Monk might say, having the resources of the internet at your disposal
is a blessing... and a curse.

WmB

on 9/9/2009 4:11 PM (ET) pmaguire wrote the following:

Waxed paper. You know, the stuff that your Mom used to wrap your lunch
sandwich in before plastic wrap and bags came along.
I keep a taped piece on my workbench at all times just in case of
spillage, or to put a drop of CA or plastic glue on it in order to pick
up with a toothpick for intricate gluing.

Newspaper is the worst possible choice, IMO - not only do things stick
to it, but the newsprint rubbing off usually ends up spoiling an
otherwise nice paint job.

I have work surfaces dedicated to model building/painting now (simple 6
foot lengths of kitchen counter top, one supported on each end by a
couple moving boxes; the other just placed on top of a cheap desk), but
when I was a teen I used to work on a square of 1/2" plywood on top of
my bed.  When I was done for the session, I could simply slide
everything out of the way under my bed.

Scrap squares of cardboard work too...I collect those from scrapped
packing/shipping materials where I work.  I just dispose of them when
they get too over-sprayed.  Bent wire coat hangers also make great
painting/drying armatures.

...and about nothing will stick to wax paper.  You can roll out some wax
paper and tape or pin it right over your instructions and work right on
top of them.

If there are any openings for parts that are to be glued on later, I
stick a dowel or piece of piano wire as far as I can into the opening. I
have a couple of holes drilled in my workbench that I can stick the end
of dowel or wire into.

The solution varies from model to model. There is USUALLY an opening. If
not, however, I then find a natural seam and paint up to that seam
first, then paint the rest after the first area dries.

A variant is the stand that has two wires that can be squeezed together
to go into a small hole, but then expand to hold the model.  I believe
there are commercial stands like that sold by hobby dealers, but a
number of modelers build their own.

Toothpicks, foam blocks, spare sprue bits ...

Glue the part to the toothpick or spare sprue bit - hopefully somewhere that
is covered when the model is glued together.

paint away.  holding the stick.  stick it in the foam block until it
drys.

If you have to glue to a visible surface, you can touch the small area up
after removing the toothpick/sprue bit.

All sorts of things can be used in place of the toothpicks/spare sprue bits.

I have a bunch of popsicle sticks  with various small plastic and metal
clips glued to them.

Heck, you can even use masking tape to tape an object to a toothpick or
popscile stick in a pinch.