Painting a propeller with enamels

I’ve seen articles in various mags about creating the light orange/dark wood grain for WWI propeller’s. But the authors invariably use acrylics.

Can anyone share their technique using something like Testors Model master series? What colors do you use?

I made one once. I used MM paints but covered it with Tamiya clear yellow. The clear is what makes it look right. Maybe try mixing some yellow in the clear gloss and try it out . Hope this helps

Mike

P.S.- why don’t you want to use the clear yellow?

No problem with using clear yellow. I will admit to some trepidation with non-emamels as I haven’t sprayed them before (I know, i know, get out of my comfort zone).

But there is a clear yellow enamel?

I’d like to do in 1:48 what Wing_nut has done here: /forums/t/138897.aspx

I use Testors cream, yellow, and brown. I add the yellow to the cream to get the main color I want, then apply it. Then drybrush the brown for grain streaks.

Acrylics can be a little tricky, you have to watch the air pressure. If it’s too high, the paint dries as it’s leaving the brush. What are you using for air, can or compressor?

Testors 1141 “wood” (1/4 oz. bottle) with burnt umber artist’s oil paint brushed over it.

Lindberg 1/4 scale Stearman. More at the blog: http://hawxblog.typepad.com

I’m using an Iwata compressor and airbrush. Revolution model.

For wood i usually paint the part first with a coat of flesh or wood color. Let that dry completely then get yourself some artist oil, I use burnt umber, raw sienna, anything dark brown, depending on what finial finish you are looking for. Take a distressed brush and brush a small bit of oil onto the part and stroke in the direction of the grain. This will impart an artificial grain look into the paint.

stcat , I am trying to remember exactly what I did foe the prop, especially since I had to redo it and changed the method 2nd time around. It’s harder than you think on lt because of the many many different things I tried for the plywood they all are a blur at this point.

I am pretty sure that was Tamiya wood masked off and the MM enamel Military Brown. The grain is done with Windsor-Newton Winton Oil #35 Raw Umber. Because this would have removed the brown I have to coat is with a clear flat acrylic. Easiest way is to just use all acrylics of the base but i didn’t have any brown. Wipe on a thin film of the oil. This was then streaked with a piece of a Scotch Brite pad. Several coats of Future for the gloss. I didn’t use clear yellow coz since the props broke and were changed out so often there was no time for the shellac to yellow like on the fuselage.