Hi guys! My brother-in-law has asked me to build the “Man in Space” collection of rockets for him. So far it’s been a fun build and I’m at the priming stage of the project. I’m at that point where I’ll be giving the rockets their customary white paint job. I know white is often a royal pain in terms of coverage, pulling back from edges, etc.
Painting this much white is all pretty new to me. Is there a certain brand and technique I should use to achieve a nice glossy white finish?
Thanks!
Eric
If you are using enamels, I think Testors’s MM works as well as anything. But I also keep it on the thin side–otherwise it seems to go on kind of rough.
I don’t know if you’re using gloss or flat though. I’ve only used the flat.
I don’t have any experience with acrylics.
I am also a Testors enamel fan, either MM or the small square bottles. For white either one is fine. They make both a flat white and a gloss white. And you can find them at a lot of places in addition to hobby shops- Michaels and some other craft stores sell them.
Prime first. Tamiya white surface primer works great for this. Or a light dusted coat of Flat White from your preferred brand. After that a successive coat or two of flat white on top, followed by gloss white for a more “vivid” look.
I’ve followed real space forums for many years and I’ve never heard mention of a best brand for white. Its usually flat vs gloss.
I’ve use the $1 ColorPlace from Walmart without problems. Well, other than it being white.
Agree on the use of Tamiya white surface primer. This stuff will lay down a nice smooth coat that should help enhance any gloss white sprayed over it. Sanding with a fine grit wouldn’t hurt.
A problem with any gloss color, especially white, is that it any imperfection will stand out. When I plan on a gloss coat I wash the model with water and after it dries I go over it with a tack rag. I then seal it up in an air tight container until I’m ready to paint it. Immediately after I paint it I place it in another container that has holes on the bottom. All of this is to minimize air borne particles from settling on it.
If you are using an airbrush to paint, you can vary the thickness of paint to create a semi-matt appearance. If you put on a very wet coat of flat white, it will take on a semi-matt appearance. A very thin dry coat of gloss white will also be a semi-matt. On many boosters and spacecraft there are some variations in how glossy the paint is in various areas.
Thanks to all who responded. I’m sorry I posed the question and then didn’t check in for a while. It was a very busy weekend!
Don (et al), I, too, like to use the Testor’s line of Model Master enamels. I guess the key is to layer it on with successive coats as Stik mentioned. I think that’s a really good idea.
I LOVE the Tamiya primers! On this set of rockets, however, I used the Testor’s Model Master brand out of the rattle can simply because that’s what I had on hand and I was running extremely low on my Testor’s primer. The MM primer went on wonderfully though. I just hope I can cover up the greyness of the Testor’s primer sufficiently.
I’ve just had bad luck with white paint in the past which is why I tend to avoid it at all cost. But then again, that was in my younger days before FSM and its forum came around to teach me a lot of good stuff.
On a side note, Don, I know what you mean about how you can practically vary the sheen of the paint especially if using an airbrush. A couple of nights ago I applied some flat dark green to an A-37 on which I’m working. I started off with a couple of mist coats and then applied a wetter final coat to top it all off. Even though it’s a “flat” paint, I’m now kind of wondering if I even need to bother with a gloss coat when it comes time to apply the decals! I’m not going to say the flat paint came out glossy but there’s definitely a very smooth sheen to it.
Eric
Hi ;
I have had a great deal of success using Tamiya Flat white primer , followed by Gloss clear . This has always worked for me and remains Bright White !
Decals really need a good gloss or you risk silvering. I would not rely on the semi-gloss.
Also, for white paint I like a white primer. Fortunately, Krylon, the brand of primer I usually use, has both white and gray primers. I keep a can of white around for when I am doing a white or yellow finish.
I use Krylon Dual White and Primer It goes on great “no pull back’” I just clear it or dullcoate it. No need to use white paint over it. It also comes in a variety colors
Thank you Mike. Krylon comes in those nice tall cans, don’t they? I mean…bigger than your basic Model Master or Tamiya cans. I especially like the “no pull back” part. If I use the Krylon white primer, it is glossy enough for me to apply the decals or would I need to give it a clear gloss coat first before doing so?
Speaking of clear top coats, will the Krylon behave badly with either the Model Master or Tamiya clear coats?
Thanks!
Eric
It is a primer. I clear coat it before decaling
I use Testors white in the spray can. Also I like to prime with gray, otherwise its really hard to see the finish coat coverage.
Yeah probably an enamel would be best in this case. Its a thicker based paint. Lacquers and acrylics require many coats due to their thinner tenancies. I second the primer as far as a first coat.
One other point for consideration, all whites are not the same. If you were to apply white from different manufacturers side by side on the same model area, you will likely see subtle differences in hue. Just as there tends to be between a flat white and gloss white from the same paint line, there will be differences between different paint companies.
All of the advice above is very good. White is tough. I would definatly opt for an enamel over an a acrylic
I have always found Humbrol White to be the most opaque, especially the mat white.
I also use House of Kolor BC-26 white base coat, available from TCP Global
http://www.tcpglobal.com/Automotive-Paint/HOKBC26.html
PANZERJAGER