Enamel Paints

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Enamel Paints

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22 November 2009 at 21:49 #24126
Paul Godfrey
Participant
@paulgodfrey14946
Hi all,

My current build, Sir Lancelot, will be painted entirely with Humbrol enamels (not those horrible acrylics I used on the Dutch Courage!). In the not too distant future I will be painting the hull, bulwarks and deck, so I thought it would be a good time to ask a few questions on the subject.

1) I take it that Humbrol no longer sells the spray cans of paint, as I can’t locate them anywhere. So, I will be looking to purchase an airbrush & compressor. What type should I be looking for? I will need it to be able to spray the (56 inch) hull, and smaller areas also. Please note – value for money is very important!

2) I will be using matt paints – is undercoating necessary on the hull, the white metal components, or anything else?

3) Can anyone recommend a particular brand of varnish that they have used with Humbrol enamels (I’m undecided on whether to use matt or satin varnish), and if it comes in spray cans, or the airbrush will be needed for this as well.

Many thanks, Paul.
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22 November 2009 at 21:49 #1925
Paul Godfrey
Participant
@paulgodfrey14946
22 November 2009 at 22:22 #24131
neil hp
Participant
@neilhp
you can actually take your humbrol paints and thinners, 50/50 mix along to a Halfords store [ certain ones] and they will pressurize them into spray cans for you. i know blackpool one will as tyhey have done it for me……they charge about the same as a spray can but you supply the material….about 200 mills paint/thinner mix per can.
23 November 2009 at 19:25 #24156
Paul Godfrey
Participant
@paulgodfrey14946
Thanks Neil, didn’t know they did that.

I hope that any potential purchaser of your Sir Lancelot isn’t put off by my build log !!

Regards, Paul.
23 November 2009 at 19:55 #24157
neil hp
Participant
@neilhp
far from it………i would be pleased to build as concise as yours…..usually just crash on and hope for the best.but yours is a lovely site to behold.

neil.
24 November 2009 at 12:57 #24168
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
I bought a cheap basic airbrush from Machine Mart and power it off my 6CFM compressor and this works well enough. The compressor is that big as its what I use for spraying my bikes etc. A small “hobby” compressor would be ok. Using bottled compressed air would be expensive.

I have used ordinary Blackfriars or whatever polyurethane varnish over humbrol o.k.

I am not keen on matt varnish, I never seem to get a good “matte” finish?, and I think it tends to show dried water marks etc. thats a personal taste choice I think.

Ashley
24 November 2009 at 12:58 #24169
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Come to think of it i use my “touching up” spray gun to do larger models, hull surfaces and the like. A
24 November 2009 at 19:03 #24172
Paul Godfrey
Participant
@paulgodfrey14946
Thanks for your kind words Neil, and for your advice Ashley – much appreciated.

Paul
25 November 2009 at 07:10 #24180
Dave Milbourn
Participant
@davemilbourn48782
Paul

The Badger 250-4 is a decent budget airbrush for covering large areas:

http://www.badgerairbrush.com/BADGER_250.asp

I got mine from Squires. It has larger jars than standard so you can probably cover the whole of a big hull with one fill. Don’t forget to thin the paint well, and clean the airbrush and jar immediately you finish spraying.

For smaller details you’ll need a single- or double- action one (more expensive). As Ashley says, a compressor is a wise buy. Mine came from Machine Mart under the name “Bronco” – but it’s a few years old now!

Dave M
25 November 2009 at 15:20 #24189
Paul Godfrey
Participant
@paulgodfrey14946
Many thanks Dave.

Strangely enough, I have a 2 year old, but unused and still in its box, Badger 250-4 !!! Although as you say it has a larger than normal Jar, I didn’t realise it was man enough to use for a large hull.

Just need to treat myself to a compressor. However, in the airbrush instructions it states that, with the appropriate adaptor, you can use a car tyre pumped up to 40psi. I wonder how long this would last before the tyre needed pumping up again??

Paul.
25 November 2009 at 16:53 #24190
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
Not as long as you’d like it to I fear Paul!

Colin
25 November 2009 at 19:35 #24198
Dave Milbourn
Participant
@davemilbourn48782
Paul

Admiral Bish is so right – about two minutes until you get sadly disappointed and have to contemplate pumping the tyre up again. You’ll only do it once……………..

DM
25 November 2009 at 19:40 #24199
neil hp
Participant
@neilhp
I used that method some years ago before i bought a compressor and what happens is that as the pressure drops, the bigger the globules of paint that come out, until you get a very patchy spray.

if you are intent on spraying your own paints, you can buy from car spray shops a gun that will attach to your own modelling compressors that can spray down to as little as 18psi…these guns are normal sized spray guns with adjustable spray nozzles, take upto a half litre of of paint and give car quality sprays…….just another avenue.

i always find using my badger a pain in the bum as no sooner have you given a couple of coats than you have to mix again another quantity of paint…..and you never get the same consistancy………….they are also a lot easier to clean out, and i’ve never blocked one yet……

another advantage is that they will take cellulose/acrylic based paints and your colours become infinitesimal, not just relying upon humbrol/revelle standard colours.
25 November 2009 at 21:14 #24203
Paul Godfrey
Participant
@paulgodfrey14946
Thanks for all your comments chaps.

Glad I asked about the tyre thing – one less option to consider!

Regards, Paul
29 November 2009 at 12:52 #24270
Robin Lee
Participant
@robinlee31938
Hi Paul,

I use a compressor I bought via eBay last year. I use it with my Badger single action 200-3 airbrush – not sure if this airbrush is man enough for your task, I spent a lot of time spraying the Z38’s hull!

I paid about £100 including delivery for the compressor. I think it advisable to use a compressor with a reservoir tank to even out the supply of compressed air, The unit I use has a 3 litre tank attached to the compressor. The compressor itself is driven by a 1/5HP a.c. mains supplied motor and the output pressure can be adjustable 15-45 bsp. There are quite a few of these on eBay right now some even come with an airbrush as well. This one is only £90 including delivery : See here

Regards

Robin

Edited By Colin Bishop on 11/12/2009 21:02:35

Edited By Colin Bishop on 11/12/2009 21:03:14

Edited By Colin Bishop on 11/12/2009 21:04:33
29 November 2009 at 15:28 #24277
Paul Godfrey
Participant
@paulgodfrey14946
Cheers Robin, I’ve just ordered one with the 2 airbrushes, which only cost an extra £9.

My wife was stuck for something to buy me for Xmas, so she’s kindly agreed to pay for this (downside is I won’t get to play with it until then!!)

Thanks again, and will see you soon.

Paul
11 December 2009 at 20:11 #24497
Mike Davidson
Participant
@mikedavidson22772
Hi there, it is not usual for me to be so late in a topic, but last week, I was in an art shop as another hobby of mine is picture paintingTo my surprise, I saw on the shelf a bottle of clear varnish, it was Daler Rowney Artist’s clear picture varnishdesigned to be applied over oil paintings. The instructions say do not apply until the paint is at least six months oldas I guess the white spirit carrier will act as a thinner for the art paintswhich will probably smudge. It looks lovely and clear, and I guess, it will not hurt Humbrol enamels. My intention is to use it as a fixer for the nameplate etcetera for my model of a Tamar class lifeboat, photo’s will be goingon my profile soon………….Mike Davidson in Plymouth

as a postscript, I guess you will be pretty safe if you spray the varnish onto a surface and quickly get it horizontal so the liquid will not run, you should be O.K……………………………..m.d.
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