Badger Model Flex Paint

[tjerrard]

Has anyone used the Badger Model Flex paint via airbrush? Any tips or comments?

Thanks

Tom

[Mr B & O]

Yes, I have.  I bought a bottle of black and painted several freight cars with it.  Overall, it handeled about the same as Polly-Scale, and was the right consitency out of the bottle.  I used a Passche VL-3 and H-3 at 20 to 30 lbs.  The paint dried to a semi-gloss suitable for decaling.  I tried thinning it with a couple of drops of Liquitex Airbrush Medium into the color cup and that seemed to work fine.  For clean-up, I initially used denatured alcohol, with final clean-up of the airbrush with lacquer thinner.  Overall, I was pleased with the Model Flex and I am planning on switching to that as my main paint.  I had no issues while using the bottle over several months.

 

Hope this was helpful, 

Greg

 

tjerrard

Has anyone used the Badger Model Flex paint via airbrush? Any tips or comments?

Thanks

Tom

 

[trwroute]

Hi Tom - I have used Model Flex paint for around 15 years and have given several painting clinics using the stuff.  It does take a little getting used to the way it sprays, but after some practice, you'll get the hang of it.

I find the key to it is to make sure you have a nice even undercoat...be it a primer or whatever.  Since Model Flex is so thin, any variation (such as a gray Cannon part on a black Athearn shell) in undercoat will not give you the finish you are looking for.

I use a Badger dual action #155 Anthem airbrush and a Badger compressor with an adjustable regulator.  This allows me to spray Model Flex at a lower pressure than I would some other paints.   I use around 20 - 22 psi and keep a hairdryer handy to speed up the drying time.  I have seen some use 30 - 40 psi to spray it and to me it just comes out too heavy.  It looked like they were trying to hide a run with more paint.

I find myself using it almost exclusively when it comes to airbrush weathering. 

Here is an Atlas CofG GP7 that I painted and weathered using Model Flex-

Like the old saying goes....practice, practice, practice...

[tjerrard]

Greg & Chuck

Thanks for the info. The GP7 looks great! Chuck what did you use for cleanup- water or some other material?

Tom

[trwroute]

Thanks, Tom!  I just use normal 'ol tap water.  Run it through 'till clear and all of the air is out, and then put the airbrush down.  I don't do anything else.  Occasionally, I will take it apart to give it a good cleaning.  

Now if I'm painting silver or red, I will do the above a few more times for good measure.  I find that those 2 are the most difficult to clean up after using. 

[trwroute]

Oh yeah; I forgot to mention that you need to make sure the surface is absolutely clean.  Any oils, fingerprints, etc., will show up nicely.  For most of my cleaning, I use the Polly Scale Plastic-prep.  I have had the same bottle of that stuff for 7 years...a little goes a long way.  You just use a clean brush to apply, let it airdry, and then paint.  Easy!

[tjerrard]

Chuck

Thank you for the info.

Tom

[ALEX WARSHAL]

I use the stuff all the time. I love it. You can use it right out of the bottle. Have fun.

[gandydancer19]

I find that acrylic paint clean-up using a window cleaner (the blue kind) with amonia works really well.  However, you do need to do a last flushing out of the airbrush with clean water because if you leave the window cleaner in the AB, it will pit the metal, or so I have been told.

[tjerrard]

I tried looking - online - for the polyscale plastic prep but can't find it anymore. What does the window cleaner with amonia do to plastic if anythig? I have the Testor Aztec airbrush, not used yet. It has plastic nozzles.

[trwroute]

I did a quick Google on it and it popped up at a bunch of places.  From the looks of it, it is also listed under both the Floquil name and Testors name.  Looks like it should be easy to find.

[CSX_road_slug]

tjerrard

I tried looking - online - for the polyscale plastic prep but can't find it anymore.

I thought Testors had retired the PolyScale product line  Maybe they market the same product under a different brand name...