airsupremacist Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 So I'm doing my Revell 1/48 F-15E, and I planned to apply the white inside the MLG bays before moving onto the next step. I had tried 2 attempts already in painting the glossy white with my airbrush and both failed. It seemed the paint would roll off and gather at the corners, and so I would try to make the paint thicker but still worried I'm doing it wrong. For you the pros out there, how do you go about to painting glossy white properly so it works well? Should I apply primer first as well? Anyway, I will like to hear you guys now. Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 I used to have that issue myself. I started priming the areas that are to be painted white first. Then a few gentle coats of white to build up the color and your all done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Netz Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Use Tamiya Flat white, then gloss it with your favorite gloss cote. That's how I do it, no more white enamel for me. Curt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sledge Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Use Tamiya Flat white, then gloss it with your favorite gloss cote. That's how I do it, no more white enamel for me. Curt Flat coat sprays much easier, then put a coat of future over it or laquer what have you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 I've learned to first use Alclad Polished Aluminum as a base. Then mist on white coats until you have good coverage; the goal is not gloss in these coats, but coverage. Then I apply a final gloss coat that's just heavy enough to be smooth and glossy. Works quite nicely! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Triarius Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 All of the above, precisely. :thumbsup:/> Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TomcatFanatic123 Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) Use Tamiya Flat white, then gloss it with your favorite gloss cote. That's how I do it, no more white enamel for me. Curt ^ THIS (except I use the Tamiya white primer in the rattle can. I can usually getgood coverage in 2 to 3 mist coats.) Edited September 27, 2014 by TomcatFanatic123 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
airsupremacist Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) Thanks so much guys! I'm gonna give it a shot now! Wish me luck! Edited September 27, 2014 by airsupremacist Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric2020 Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 No more enamel white for me! I use Humbrol 34 as a primer and after that Tamiya white in several misted coats. Triarius explained it very well on how to work with paints. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scotthldr Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) A slight deviation from the above. I shoot the entire bay Matt Black first as my undercoat, I then apply a couple of Matt White coats lightly misted on followed by Gloss White, then a second Gloss White coat once the first has fully dried. You don't really want to get 100% even coverage as it looks false, instead you want to get a patchy effect which represents the shadowing that you get in these areas on the real thing. Edited September 30, 2014 by scotthldr Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CrowTRobot Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 I normally spray flat white (either Tamiya White Primer or Floquil Reefer White) and polish it with MicroMesh to the desired sheen. You can get super-glossy finishes this way without using a single drop of glossy clear coat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GEH737 Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 To make it even easier for me - Tamiya White Primer over a light coat of Tamiya Gray Primer - doesn't get any easier. A very light sanding (1200 or greater) - gloss if necessary. Yes - the Tamiya primers are a little pricey - but what is your modeling time worth? For me, the ease of use far exceeds their cost. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dsahling Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 A couple options, first, priming is a must. Then you can either spray flat white and then gloss coat it directly. Or after flat white, spray a few coats of the gloss white; this way the gloss white has something to "bite" into a little bit better. I find that gloss coating with future produces a higher shine than you actually find with straight gloss white painting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
airsupremacist Posted September 28, 2014 Author Share Posted September 28, 2014 Honestly thanks y'all for the comments and contributions. Please keep it up or even sticky this, as I'm sure I won't be the last to run into this problem. Keep sharing your methods so other members who needs this help can use it too! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neo Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 Personally i spay silver first as a primer then white (all humbrol enamels). But when i dont feel like priming i turn to badger model flex antique white. Two coats in the same session and its done Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 For all light colors, I prime 1st with Tamiya Gray primer. Then I apply a tack coat of tack coat of flat white, then slowly build up the color coat. The last step is to seal with Testors Glosscoat or Pledge. I keep on going back and forth between the two. I guess when I finally finish the bottle of Glosscoat, I'll stick with the Pledge. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RichardL Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 This is how I do it: Just one coat of Tamiya white primer, followed by one coat of Mr. Base White and I am done. Easy peasy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ichitoe Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 This is how I do it: Just one coat of Tamiya white primer, followed by one coat of Mr. Base White and I am done. Easy peasy. +1 Easy peasy is it! Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grant in West Oz Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 A slight deviation from the above. I shoot the entire bay Matt Black first as my undercoat, I then apply a couple of Matt White coats lightly misted on followed by Gloss White, then a second Gloss White coat once the first has fully dried. You don't really want to get 100% even coverage as it looks false, instead you want to get a patchy effect which represents the shadowing that you get in these areas on the real thing. I'll be trying that once I get back to jets. Thanks. G Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 (edited) I'm able to get the same basic effect of shadows and highlights using just Tamiya Gray Primer. The trick is how you apply and build of the light coats of white. BTW, that procedure applies to all light colors Joel Edited October 5, 2014 by Joel_W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Incaroad Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 For me it's Mr. Color gloss white thinned with leveling thinner in three to four light coats without any primer. Incredibly easy to apply... My 2¢ for the discussion. Cheers -Larry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neo Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 For me it's Mr. Color gloss white thinned with leveling thinner in three to four light coats without any primer. Incredibly easy to apply... My 2¢ for the discussion. Cheers -Larry Are all the coats done in the same painting session or do you do it at different times? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Incaroad Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Yes I painted this all in the same session, with the other wheel bay. All done in 15 minutes or so. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
starwars6651 Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 To expand on this post, isn't yellow also hard to get good coverage? J. Vanderlinde Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MoFo Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 It seemed the paint would roll off and gather at the corners, and so I would try to make the paint thicker but still worried I'm doing it wrong. The reason this is happening is that the paint is too thin (liquid) and too heavy (thickness). The paint is still liquid when it hits the model's surface, and capillary action is pulling it away from edges and convex corners, into creases and concave corners. I know the natural reaction is "aaaah! my paint is pooling in the corners! I'd better lay down more colour," but adding more paint will only make this worse. It's actually less to do with spraying white paint than it is spraying gloss, which tend to take longer to settle and cure than matte paints, so you have to revise your technique. The solution is to spray multiple light, mist coats rather than few heavier, wet coats. If not notice pooling, stop shooting paint *immediately* and give the part some drying time. A few passes with the airbrush just shooting air should work, then throttle back on the paint and slowly start adding colour again. It doesn't have to take a long time - shoot a light, misty coat of paint, give it a pass or two of air until you can see the sheen change slightly, then another mist coat, then air, repeating until you've built up colour density. When you feel its 'white enough', give it a heavier, wet coat to give a nice, smooth, glossy surface. Not super-heavy - you don't want to melt the paint underneath - but enough so that the paint stays wet on the surface for a few moments, giving it time to level out. No need to do multiple paint sessions or anything, just be a little more delicate building up the colour. It will also help if you use a matte, light grey primer; the matte surface is easier for the gloss white to bite to, and the light grey will let you build up colour density faster. --- Yellow and red are the same. Multiple light, misty coats, followed by a couple of heavier coats at the end to level out the surface. The only difference: you NEED to use a white base coat. Because the paints are fairly translucent, it takes a lot of coats to build up colour density, which wouldn't really work on a model. The way to get around that is with a bright, white base coat, which will give the appearance of correct density with a lot less paint. White is preferable because it's neutral; greys tend to make yellow and red look 'muddy', although you can also use pink as a primer for white; Ferrari do. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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