Painting books

[Guest]

Can anyone recommend any good books on how to paint, from the basics to quality weathering.

I ask as i've just painted my first model and as soon as it's dry it will be meeting the inside of the bin! ha ha

Cheers

Wayne

[Guest]

Hi Wayne , I know there are books out there but you could also try youtube for hands on tips , don`t give up mate even the top modellers are never happy with their finnished model what we see as perfect they see areas that they think could be better, the lads on here can advise you better than me as I`m newish myself , it takes years to master even the top boys on here will say they are still learning, Don`t bin your old models they are perfect to re-paint and try weathering on ,

The more models you make and paint the better its gets mate believe me.

Happy Christmas

Richy (stick with it pal)

[stona]

Wayne I agree with Richy. Practice makes, if not perfect, then better. Don't try to run before you can walk! Tell us all how you are painting and what you are using and we'll do our best to help you along. If it's any consolation I have a box of wings from old and not so good models that I keep to practice on - everything from weathering techniques to decal solutions are tried there,where it doesn't matter, first.I've never been 100% happy with anything I've built. If I ever am I'll probably give up while I'm ahead LOL.

Keep going,you'll be amazed how quickly you'll get the hang of it.

Steve

[Guest]

Try you tube it does have some good info loads of it in fact different style and subject pieces but try looking at the Games workshop website, wayne mate dont despair if I look at the couple I have done so far they are S**t, I was thinking of getting someone to get me some cheap plastic tanks from poundland or something lik ethat so I could just practice on them instead of spending load of time building a model to then just go on and shag it up, now theres a plan, I shall have to send my search teams out !

(Son,Wife, Dad,sister, Brother in law)

[Guest]

http://www.youtube.com/user/ArtmasterStudioTV#p/a/7775314C55339FAD/0/SK4YDVyjujE

This one has come up on my first search, you can watch each stage some of it is a bit like watching paint dry ha get it !

[Guest]

Hadn't even thought about youtube!

Im painting this http://www.themodelcatalogue.com/shopexd.asp?id=328

with the paints included in the kit. I didn't use thinners as i didn't have any and couldn't wait, naughty me i know. And has anyone else made this kit as the fit seems awful to me, i know it's my first build but some of the gaps are huge and i had to trim other pieces to fit, i thought airfix were supposed to be one of the market leaders?

Cheers

Wayne

[Guest]

Hi Wayne, no one really likes their painting at first, it is not as easy as it looks. However, the only way is to keep going. As I am returning to modelling after far too many years, and I was not much good at it then, I know what you feel like.

I decided to get a few 'sacrificial lambs' as I call them and, as I had no paints, brushes or even glue, I did a similar thing to you. I bought three Airfix starter kits. The Westland Whirlwind, The Yak9D (so bad it is unbuildable) and the Thunderbolt.

What I have found is that the brushes that come with the kits are not bad. Humbrol Acrylics I find are very good but do need a lot of stiring. Most importantly, I have found that it is better to give a thin coat of primer. I bought a spray can of white and grey from Wilko's for £3 something each (I have heard that Halfords primer sprays are popular and very good). A light spray of either of these gives a good 'key' to the plastic which helps the Humbrol Acrylics to stick to the plastic better.

The next thing is to thin the paint slightly. In the little pots that come with the kits, I add about three or four drops of water. This, combined with a very good stir gives a thinner, smoother coat. Straight from the pot seams to dry to quick and drags on the brush which then tempts you to load the brush more to keep it wet which covers any detail and holds the brush marks. Two or three thin coats are much better than one or two thick ones. You will get a better finish and lose less surface detail.

This is my first sacrificial lamb nearing completion. The glossy look is due to it being painted, two coats, with 'Klear' Floor shine which is the cheapest and best acrylic clear varnish you can get. A couple of quid from your supermarket for a half litre bottle. Put your decals on over the Klear coat and you will have less problems with them 'Silvering' which is when the carrier film shows against the matt paint surface.

Not sure how I am going to matt it down again yet, I will cross that bridge when I come to it lol

[Guest]

Hi Wayne, I can appreciate what you're saying & agree with what the other guys have said. Everyone has modelling nightmares, kits that get put away for months when the problems with them seem too much to handle or just that the inspiration to finish them just dies. With the Airfix Zero, I think you've got one of the old kits when the quality wasn't up to today's standards. Cheap n cheerful was the word in the 70's when that kit was new! My advice would be to use it as a testbed for practicing techniques & if it's a mess, keep it as a way to measure your progress. Then the next one could be a quality kit that goes together nicely & ends up looking great. Also, always search for reviews of kits prior to handling over your money, it will save you £'s! Cheers Patrick

[stona]

Hi again ,the guys have given some good advice here. Much as some may wish it Airfix are most certainly not the market leaders! Most manufacturers make good and indifferent kits,it often depends on how old they are. I think a general concensus is that Tamiya make the best kits across the board though there are many excellent kits made by others.I'd second Patrick when he says search for a review of the kit you intend to build. Someone will have done it! As for rushing! I know how hard it can be but sometimes you've just got to be patient. I've found this out on several occasions,and always the hard way! On my most recent effort I tried to correct a slight ridge of paint on a fuselage band(which only I could see with a magnifier) before it had completely cured and ended up creating at least one extra days work,remasking and respraying a large area of the top camo. We all do it. I really ought to know better by now!

Cheers

Steve

[spanner570]

Hello Wayne, I've been following your thread and here are my thoughts.......

Books are O.K. although I have never read any properly. ('fraid no patience any more for the written word ) It seems to me that these books are fine as a bit of a guide but people fall into the trap of trying to copy them. This will lead to a pile of frustration through not being able to emulate the pictures, which will be near as damn perfect.

Remember this bud, no two modellers will produce the same results so be happy with your own progress, good or bad, it will come. Be patient!

To my way of thinking, yes read these books but remember like everything in life, it's hands on that count, that's the only way to learn.

Get a piece of paper and write (as Centurion3RTR always says).....'HAVE FUN' on it and place it on your modelling board!!

All the best for 2010

Ron

[stona]

(as Centurion3RTR always says).....'HAVE FUN' Ron

Quite right too. Even if sometimes you don't know it LOL

Steve

[Guest]

http://www.wargamesheaven.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2031

This might take the shine off? They have lots of other paint products also

[Guest]

Get a piece of paper and write (as Centurion3RTR always says).....'HAVE FUN' on it and place it on your modelling board!!

Top piece of advice RonIt is true that Airfix are not the best kits, although some of the newer ones are quite good. Sadly, all the starter kits are fairly old but they come with glue and paint, as well as raised instead of grooved panel lines which make sanding and painting a nightmare.

However, they are cheap and can be made into reasonable models but best of all, it is only a few quid lost while you get some practice. I would not recommend spending £20 - £30 on a Tamiya until you have a bit more confidence in your painting and finishing. This is why I use them as sacrificial lambs until I consider myself good enough to tackle something more interesting.

If I end up trashing all my stash at the moment, I will have lost £30 but I will have gained £300 in experience. No matter how bad they turn out, I will not bin any but keep them for trying out weathering etc.

Right, I am off to print my 'HAVE FUN' card. :goodidea:

Oooo thanks for the link Dograt, that looks the business