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Painting Models1. Free painting (Editors note: Joe Cartledge is one of our senior and most experienced members.) Preparation of the area to be painted is most important. I have always used P800A wet and dry paper. At all times I use this dry, and make sure that the paper does not get a build up of dust on its surface or scratching will occur. Keep wiping the surface of the paper with a soft cloth. It is best to buy fresh tins of paint for each model. I always use Humbrol or Revel paints and brushes. Stir the paint well before using. Apply a thin first coat. Allow every coat applied to dry for at least 24 hours. Use of the airing cupboard can be helpful. Flat off before applying another coat. Use a soft bristle ½” paint brush to get rid of dust after flatting off. A good blow with your mouth can help clear awkward places. Try to paint in a dust free area by picking a room that does not have a lot of movement through it. When painting do not brush over an area you have just painted, you will find that the brush will drag and pull the paint surface. If you find that certain areas of paintwork are not up to standard do not worry. Just flat off and repaint the faulty area only. Five or six coats give a wonderful finish. DO NOT BE IN A HURRY; allow the paint to dry before you touch again.
2. Spray varnish technique The problem of the perfect finish is always present for the modeller who wishes to paint passenger vehicles and carriages. The coach builders spent many hours of careful work applying undercoats, base coats and varnish, usually applying many coats of each with a finishing polish using a silk handkerchief to produce a perfect finish with a magnificent depth of colour.. For the modeller, therefore, although many coats of gloss paint can be applied and rubbed down, no matter how carefully the painting conditions are controlled, there are always several tiny specks of what appear to be dust which ruins the final finish. A suggested solution is, therefore, to use a good base coat, well flatted using 800 wet and dry paper followed by several coats of matt paint of the selected colour to build up a good surface. Allow several days for the final matt coat to cure and then apply several coats of a good quality acrylic spray varnish to produce the first gloss finish. Allow this to cure over several days and then apply a good quality automobile paint restorer to ensure that the surface is burnished and properly flat. The final finish is then achieved by using a good quality car polish. This is a technique used by model boat and aircraft builders with great success.
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