Painting Techniques

G

OOD OLD-FASHIONED FUNDAMENTALS, such

as preparation and masking, are essential to

any good paint job, whether you’re painting a

whole model or just some parts. In the last issue, we

applied a killer spray-can finish on the body of a

Tamiya Ferrari 360 Modena. Now we’ll complete the

job. We’ll use a wide range of aerosol paints and

examine techniques to make them work to their

fullest potential.

Using clear and translucent coatings to vary the

finish on the kit parts is particularly effective. This

technique better duplicates the many hues and tones

in the paint of a full-size vehicle, such as the differ-

ent shades of silver on the wheels and exhaust sys-

tem. By taking simple colors and adding one of

three Testors aerosol clear coats – flat, semigloss, or

gloss, you can alter the finish on various parts

throughout the assembly, enhancing the detail.

Serious replica-stock builders can really take advan-

tage of these paints and rack up points with contest

judges. Even if you’re not building cars for compe-

tition, using these techniques can have your models

looking fantastic.

1

Paint doesn’t cover mistakes. It actually emphasizes surface imperfec-

tions, such as flash and molding seams. For a slick finished model,

eliminate these shortcomings before painting. A great tool for taking

care of excess plastic and unsightly seams is the flexible sanding stick.

These sticks come in a variety of grits and are available from hobby com-

panies like Creations Unlimited and at beauty supply stores.

2

Creations Unlimited’s Flex-I-File can get into places that other sand-

ing tools can’t. By taking the sanding strip off one end of the bow and

weaving it through holes or gaps, you can more easily access the areas

to be sanded. Creations Unlimited also offers sanding strips in a variety

of grits, so you can tailor the tool to the job at hand.

3

When it comes time to buy paint, choose your brands wisely. My tests

with Testors and Tamiya semigloss black paints showed that there

was a difference in the level of shine between the two brands. Tamiya

tends to be a bit glossier than the Testors, which can be a good thing.

You can use both paints to achieve subtle differences between the semi-

gloss black parts on your models.

My entire Tamiya Ferrari 360

Modena was painted using aerosol

spray cans. By varying the levels

of shine throughout the painting

process, I significantly increased

the realism of the model.