Ringo58I do not own an airbrush and do not have the money or space to set it up. Whats the best approach to hand paint these shells?
Remember too that you would need quality brushes, and the time and care to keep them clean and shaped. That alone is the end both of any big savings overall and any time savings at cleanup!
There have certainly been people who have successfully painted with a brush, and even more certainly people who weather with one. But I have yet to see something smaller than about O gauge that doesn't show thick, irregular, or brush-mark artifacts when seen or imaged up close.
If all this does not convince you, there are YouTube videos on table paints and thinning techniques. Be VERY certain to clean parting agent or surface contamination from undecorated shells ... after which surface priming orbpromoting, with what will likely be a relatively nasty activating agent, may be advisable -- be very careful with that, and don't think because you can't smell it that your ventilation is adequate!
MisterBeasley Rattle can spray paint is going to be way better than brush painting. You can get pretty good straight lines by masking with painters' tape. Decals can do a good job of logos and numbers. I have found decals also work for thin stripes. Also get some clear spray for sealing prior to and after decaling. Don't brush paint trains. Someone makes small rattle cans of Milwaukee orange, and most other colors. It's worth the time to find the right paint.
Rattle can spray paint is going to be way better than brush painting. You can get pretty good straight lines by masking with painters' tape. Decals can do a good job of logos and numbers. I have found decals also work for thin stripes.
Also get some clear spray for sealing prior to and after decaling.
Don't brush paint trains. Someone makes small rattle cans of Milwaukee orange, and most other colors. It's worth the time to find the right paint.
Thanks for the tips! Will look out for the correct colors.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
You might be surprised at the quality of a paint job you can get with a rattle can of spray paint. I did an Angelina and Neches River GP38-2 with rattle cans; and an ANR caboose as well. The blue paint came from Lowes; a Rustoleum color. The aluminum was a small Tamiya can I have had for a while. I am painting some details on some mineral brown Santa Fe covered hoppers I am reworking with a red primer can I got from Walmart; it is almost an exact color match. With a little weathering; the cars will be perfect.
Having said that, I have a long time friend who hand paints kitbashed MP shorty cabooses. He does beautiful work. I know there is an art and a methodology to brush painting; you might do a bit of research before diving in.
Regardless; good luck. Paint can be stripped if need be; I use Super Clean from Walmart; a big bottle goes a long way and costs less than $10.00. Have fun!
Hello all! I recently recieved 2 of the SW7 shells I was after for months, thanks to a great user on here. They are undecorated and I would like to paint them for CNW and milwaukee road. I do not own an airbrush and do not have the money or space to set it up. Whats the best approach to hand paint these shells? what types/brands of paint would you guy reccomend? What style brush?