I started building plastic models (ships) for the first time in around 50 years in 2011. I’ve accumulated a larger stash of ships than I’ll be able to build in my lifetime [:$] but the amount of kits (some duplicates - incomplete for parts, etc., etc.) at least give me a healthy choice of which of the kits in my stash I want to start next.
I also have squirreled away over 20 aircraft kits and, since I feel like taking a break from rigging my Revell 1/96 Cutty Sark, I thought I’d attempt to build a WWII aircraft. I have no problem with attempting to build my painting and weathering skills and realize that I may, or may not ever become “good” at this hobby but I do enjoy it [:)].
My question is: Are there substitutes for Alclad II in the world of acrylic paints?
I just don’t want to work with enamels anymore because of the toxic fumes. I have a home-made paint booth and use a respirator when I’m using my a/b, but I also hand brush lots of parts and don’t want to be constricted to a set of safety machinations that, for me at least, take away from the pleasure of this hobby. I also don’t want to keep lacquer thinner upstairs in my condo hobby room/office.
My instinct tells me that there isn’t any substitute of worth but I thought I’d ask anyway.
Mike
Sure there are/were
If you have a Hobby Town near you, run out there and get one of each of the metallic shades in the Railroad Polly Scale line (Acrylic), plus a Black and a White and a Blue (very Dark Gray and very Light Gray will work if that shop has been “run at” getting the paints)
If they have Citadel, get a few different pots of those metallics, also
Now you have an Acrylic Metallic that dries as hard and “masking tape safe” as your White or Black paint does, with the pots for brushing stainless steel or landing gear, brake lines, etc.
As soon as you get home and try the paint out to see if you like it,that next day after you test it for “toughness”, run back to that shop and pick up a few bottles of whatever colors you liked,they are OOP, and will be sold out one day soon.
If you can’t find them locally, let us know, and I will post the links to the places you can browse and get some of them online.
hope this helps
Rex
Thanks Rex.
I just bought two each of stainless steel and aluminum at ModelTrainStuff.com. My LHS doesn’t carry Polly Scale. I hope they’ll work.
Mike
tint them for Iron, Magnesium, etc, etc, with Black, White, Blue and/or Red (Brown?), you can mix them to get wear, rust, fuel stains, whatever you want
I’ll second the Citadel metallic paints. They are very durable and have great shine for an acrylic.
Thanks TarnShip and Fly-n-hi.
I’ll have fun trying to get some different metallic looks when I get around to building a plane with NMF.
In the meantime, the postman just dropped off two more 1/48 aircraft kits for me - A Revell and an Accurate Miniatures SBD-5 Dauntless. I’m planning on using the Revell kit as a “practice” kit. If I learn enough about painting and weathering (from my point of view) I’ll then attempt the AM Dauntless at some future date.
As to metallic finishes, … well, I have a 1/48 AM F3F-1 in my stash which, based on the cover artwork, looks like it should be painted with a metallic finish [:D]. Maybe I’ll give that one a go soon.
Mike