Mixing Paint

[Guest]

So, I need to buy a gloss yellow for my ejector seat handle. A whole pot of paint just for what will probably amount to a brushful. Not a major problem though.

Ive already bought a pot of glos red and that I only need about the same amount of that, however, red is often used, normally only a blob or two, but nearly every single aircraft uses it, even if only for the cockpit.

So, one of the next "wishlist" paints is gloss orange. Now, The exact amount I need is minute. A circle 1mm across.

So, Im thinking that I could just get a tile, or some other material that doesnt absopb paint, get a cocktail stick, put a blob of yellow and a blob of red. Both gloss paints, and both by humbrol. Im sure Ive done this before with other colours in the past and my only rules are

do not mix enamel with acrylic

Do not mix different brands. In fact done even mix different types (Model air and model color for example)

So, for the orange Im going to mix red and yellow. It may not be the same as Humbrol number 18 but we are talking 1 tiny blob

But that got me thinking,

Obviously if Im painting a large area, for example a great big 1/32 scale orange galaxy then Id buy the paints proper, but would this work for green and purple. Mixing two primary colours. Obvioulsy when you are talking about mixing greys and white to make a "slightly dark grey similar to a gull who has been on a diet of shrimp" then its best to leave it to the experts and buy the paint. But for a small amount of a basic colour are there any pitfalls?

[flyjoe180]

No, go for it. It's only a wee dab, not worth a tin of Humbrol for that.

[eddiesolo]

I agree with Joe, for the amount you will need go for it, once down you can leave to dry and then go over again if need be. For what you will see it is more a highlight.

Si

[PaulTRose]

why do you need a tile?......you just need a fluid resistant flat surface......what i do is cut up old kit boxes into 3 inch squares, since most have a glossy surface (i mostly use them for putting blobs of glue on so i can pick that up with a cocktail stick)....when im done i just bin the square

if you really want a hard surface then an old cd is good ......also good for cutting masking tape on

[colin m]

Do it. Mixing your own is fine. And you can mix Model Air with Model Color.

[Ian M]

I do it all the time Pen. I have even painted a whole Kit in mixed colour. Couldn't find "just the right shade" so mixed it. Just remember if you do mix for a whole kit. Mix plenty!

For cockpits, I take a red, yellow and a blue, a dab of white and go for it.

Ian M

[Gern]

I use an old ceramic wall tile for small amounts - even if I'm not mixing colours it's easier to put a couple of drops from a Vallejo bottle on it than it is to keep poking away at the opening in the cap of the bottle!

Clean up is easy too. Let the paint dry completely then it can be simply scraped away with a blade.

[Alan 45]

Any yellow will do for a dab of paint even iff your building 1/16th scale know one will know but the paint could come I handy for other builds

[stona]

I do it all the time. I use those little foil baking molds which I throw away afterwards. I don't worry about mixing brands but I'm using solvent based enamels.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

I save all the milk bottle/ juice tops etc. I use them for paint, glue even bits of filler.

[BarryW]

I also mix sometimes but only for colour modulation and in the airbrush cup. Incidentally I found that you can mix Vallejo with AK Interactive Air series paints. So the similarities go beyond the packaging.

[yak face]

AS you said Penny , as long as you keep to the same type/maker of paints then its no problem at all. I regularly mix colours to get what is needed , if youre doing a large amount though or its a particular colour youre trying to achieve ,make notes of the ratios used , then if you need it again you can mix some more that should match. I did this with the colours for some RAAF aircraft as theyre not readily available ,also the japanese Aotake laquer. cheers tony

[dave]

The other trick you can use with solvent based enamels is too mix in artists oil paints to change the colour.

[stona]

The other trick you can use with solvent based enamels is too mix in artists oil paints to change the colour.

Yep, do that too For some reason I find adding a touch of Burnt Sienna to white is a good basis for a flesh colour. I'll qualify that by saying I'm really bad at figures, but it works for me!

Cheers

Steve

[Ian M]

We used to get our coffee is shallow plastic 'tubs' that contained the actual pod of coffee. The result of which is two carrier-bags full of them in the shed.