Models? Painting plastic and Resin

[AirDave]

Thought I would start a thread for the model builders out there.

This seem to be an area where a lot of "airbrushers" get started.

Model builders of all types use airbrushes to add colour and realism effects to "models" (which leads, of course, to airbrushing other things?)!

I was a big model builder when I was a kid, cars, planes and Horror models.
Wish I had the airbrush then!!

I have since painted a few different "models" with the airbrush.
Polystyrene....as in Plastic Models (Cars. Planes)
Resin.......as in Character Figure models
Acrylic Plastic...larger Children's Toys
Vacuform Plastic...RC Bodies

If I can share any info, I will...
or maybe you have skills and techniques to share?

[AirDave]

Ghost Rider
resin Model
Stands about 12" tall
Acrylics
Everything you see has been painted.

[AirDave]

RC Boat
approx 30" long
Hollow Vacu-formed one piece Hull.
Flaming Skull artwork and Cockpit canopy painted over existing white finish.
Dupont Automotive clear.

[AirDave]

Chev Impala 1/24th scale Plastic Model Car
Approx 8" long
Acrylics with "chameleon" colour shift colours.
Many, many coats of Dupont Express Clear.

[AirDave]

I guess we don't have a large membership of Modellers? or Toy painters?

Well you never know what a customer will come along and ask you to paint.
and you never know what important info I might just pass along without knowing it!

So since this area has not had much activity,
I thought I would add a few more things that I found.

Like this Prowler...

A toy car designed to fit a Barbie size doll.
Originally painted as a booth display piece.
Easier to haul to a show that a real car!
This car is over 20" long and is painted with acrylics and automotive products.
I painted the entire purple plastic body with both blue and purple base colours (in a random pattern). Then I added some chameleon purple to the entire body, painted all the artwork and clearcoated. I added a small amount of pearl powder to the final clear to add a slight shimmer effect.

[bigwater]

I don't see how you guys get so much detail on such small objects. I think my eyeballs would fall out of my head from working in such detail at those scales. Of course my eyesight's not what it used to be... but still...

[Clem]

I'm with you Bigwater. These folks are doing all kinds of detail and when I pickup my ab it's like I just washed my hands and can't do a thing with them. I keep telling myself I'll learn, just don't know when.

Clem

[AirDave]

I'm not sure what detail you might be referring to...

(and I don't include Steve's talent in this)

but...something I have told many people since I have been airbrushing
is that the detail they sometimes see is not relly there.

Creative placement of objects and colours,
aswell as good pre-planning of the artwork
can create alot of the visual effect.
And there are simple tricks (using the airbrush)
that create the illusion of detail!

With downsizing of image artwork,
think about the way a PC image is reduced in pixels as it is downsized.
A lot of resolution must be removed.
but retain enough contrasts, like shadows and highlights
and the eye is fooled into believing the details are still there.

Graphics are best rendered (in small) by using the right stenciling and masks.

[AirDave]

That Sorayam Prowler Doll Car was the first one I painted.

Someone offered to buy it at one of the shows.
I needed the money, so I sold it.

Went out, bought another...
and painted this one...

Same basic paints and base colours, just a different theme.

[AirDave]

and I built this "dead" girl to go along with the Prowler.

Started with a "Weird-Ohs" plastic model.
(Beach Girl)

Painted her surfboard to match the car.
Replaced her portable radio with a handmade tombstone.
Gave her a real beach towel towel.
And gave her that "Blood Beach" moon tan...

(she stands about 9" tall on the base)

[CRASH]

Air dave, I pretty much build 1/43 scale resin cars from companies like BBR and tameo for myself, thats where most of my airbrushing gets done. I am looking into doing some R/C bodies and selling them on ebay for a little extra money but, I don't really know if a well painted body will bring much money on there anymore. A few years ago the was a person going by the name of mosquito that did some fantastic work and some of his bodies were going for over $200.00.....but I don't know if that still holds true. guess I'll try a few and see

[AirDave]

I see eBay as a great place to "yard sale"
...sell lots of different things to lots of different people,
but don't expect to make a lot of money.

Once in a while, you can sell a "collectable" item to the right collector and score well.

And if there is a serious current market for something and there are hungry lookers, you can flog a product until the demand disappears. But even there, people are looking for a good deal (thats why they're on eBay!)


In the meantime, please post some pics.

[cadmn]

guys I need to know how to prep the surface of the new T-Rex helicopter canopies & what type of paint ?It all seems to be easy to scratch off, I know it the mold release but can't get past it so far?? Help
p.s. I will soon be building fiber glass canopies for the raptor & if you guys need fiberglass stuff let me know maybe I can help.

[AirDave]

The Trex canopies are a polycarbonate

they require washing with mild soap and water and then a degreasing wipe.
I suggest alcohol as it will not "melt" the poly.

scuff with a scotch pad
and re-wipe

If possible, a primer designed for plastics would be advisable.

Fiberglass canopies can be prepped the same way.

Paints? skys the limit, I would think, once you have a primer down.

[cadmn]

ok next time I see james I'll tell him he's done some nice canopies that were fiberglass but unable to get the paint stick on the poly
thanks for knowledge to help him

[AirTodd]

Those thing look good.Some times I feel I can do better doing small them big.:partyalone:

[mongoose]

Great thread, Airdave. I agree with you about lots of people getting their start with models. I just have to say you have some great works for such a small scale. The Sorayam Prowler is beautiful as is the Frankenstein one.
Superb boat, Steven- the shark is the cat's pajamas. I am currently working on my first model with some artwork on it and will share as soon as its done. Again, cool little thread of treats you started.

[egneg]

The reason I got into airbrushing was to paint my RC boat. It's been a couple of years and finally got it painted but have not cleared it yet (still learning that part).

[CRASH]

another cool looking boat!! I like how you made it look like metal pannels on the front. should look awsome once cleared!

[bokyo]

i started airbrushing because of r/c too. i just started airbrushing about 4 months ago. but been R/Cing for years. this my scratch built crackerbox. one of my first airbrush work.

[egneg]

Nice old school flames and good job on the build. I haven't tried to build one yet but some day I would like to build a chesapeake bay deadrise.

[bokyo]

thanks, egneg. this is my first scratchbuilt. i had fun building it, even more painting it. go for it build your model boat.:)

[Stephen Casey]

Here is the gallery to David Fishers work. Solid white resin castings to start with. Commonly referred to as garage kits. He mostly uses a Badger model 2020 Sotar if memory serves. Dude does some amazing paint ups. Great magazine by the way.

http://www.amazingmodeler.com/photogal.htm

[CarsonsChaos]

Wow! I thought I was the only RC boater around.
I've built 3 from scratch.
Bought the others.
Like balsa for the boat and brass and solder for the drive and rudder system.
Skinned in glass.
The last one runs on a 13.3 drill motor and 16 sub C cells.
It flys for scrap motor.
It's flipped a time or two.
No paint on it yet.
I think it gets more looks raw than if it were painted.

[CarsonsChaos]

http://www.airbrushtech.info/AIRBRUSH/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3733&d=1175309047

No finish picks but this is 2 of them in the rough.
Sponsums are made of sheet insulating foam cut and skinned with 1/32 balsa.

[bokyo]

carsons nice boat there. i want to build another model. something easy.
any ideas. jersey skiff maybe.

[CarsonsChaos]

These two boats are a rough version of a Jay Turner boat.
They weren't hard to build.
Lots of plans at RC Boat modeler mag site.
I'm wanting to build a larger version of the Hydromite.
You can find it at MicroHydro.com
It's a much more complicated build but a very fast design.
I've heard riggers are easy builds, but hard to setup to ride correctly.
Haven't tried one myself.
I think the world record is held by an electric rigger boat at something like 140 MPH. Actual MPH.

[RCHASE13]

The Impala and Prowler look great! Are the graphics on the side and front of the prowler decals you made or what? Iwant to do some of that but not sure how to make the first attempt.

[RCHASE13]

That looks great!! I'm trying to get the same look only in 1/25 scale and it's coming along. Now I'm just waiting on the nice days so my paint doesn't freeze coming out of the airbrush. :thumbsup:

[fruggle]

Well I build Millitary models and use my old Vega 1000 (1mm tip) to blast Olive Drab over everything!. I also have the 0.5 tip which I am using to practise with.
Circles, dote and daggers etc.
Now I want to progress my skills and get more detail so am looking for a new AB. Something about 0.3 tip would be nice. Anything smaller would be too much of a leap I think. I use Vallejo MadelAir acrylics, no smell and easy cleanup.
I was looking at the Grex XG, Iwata HP-CH or HP-C+ or even the Infinity 2 in 1 which has a 0.2 and 0.4 tip. I can always play with the 0.2 to improve later.

Some of those flames earlier in this forum would look really good on a Korean war Sherman. That's what I would like to be able to do.
More practise then...

Tony

[bokyo]

my latest rc body. was one of my old rc but needs some spicing up.
painted on the outside, because the inside is already painted.

[AirTodd]

That is pretty cool.

[BR@VO]

Looking good I got a 1:10 Porsche Carrera GT comming that I got off ebay a couple days ago. It's got a small crack in it but a little bondo goes a long way LoL
http://images.auctionworks.com/hi/75/74821/f850377_1.jpg
http://images.auctionworks.com/hi/75/74821/f850377_4.jpg

Dont know how or what Im gonna paint on it yet but Im open to suggestions?