“Red Lead” Paint

[Don KoehlerParticipant @donkoehler51711]

I’m working on a model where the focsle and quarterdeck are painted in red lead rather than having a finish coat in another clolour. Presumably this is because it was easier to touch up if worn or damaged. I discovered this too late, having finally found a rare colour photo of the ship. I know that I could use a spray red primer from Halford’s or elswhere, but I don’t think I am in a position to spray the coating due to space and detail restrictions on the model. Is there in anyone’s opinion a suitable brush on substitute for red lead, preferably in the acrylic ranges? I think Tamiya Hull Red is too dark.

 

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Don KoehlerParticipant @donkoehler51711]

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

You need a subdued orangey red to represent red lead. Maybe mixing something would do the job. Alternatively you could spray Halfords red primer into a shallow container and then use a brush to apply it to the model. I have successfully used this method for touch up purposes although you need to practice a bit first as it dries quickly.

 

Colin

Edited By Colin Bishop, Website Editor on 07/08/2011 17:32:53

[Don KoehlerParticipant @donkoehler51711]

Thanks for your response Colin, I’ll give your suggestion a try. Amazing that no-one manufactures a red lead colour in acrylic. The Navy used to use the stuff by the ton.

 

Cheers

 

Don

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I rather suspect that the range of colours these days is marketed with aircraft and model soldiers in mind. Warships usually get by on grey! However there are some rust colours around I think which might be an option.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

What about plain red-oxide paint???

 

Ashley

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Usually tends to come in rather larger than Humbrol size cans Ashley. Plus you need to be sure it isn’t a cellulose solvent. The stuff I have in a tin is quite thick as well so you need to know what to thin it with, cellulose thinners probably.

 

Colin

Edited By Colin Bishop, Website Editor on 07/08/2011 20:40:50

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Colin, true, but there is a lot of water based stuff out there now..the last lot of red oxide I bought was water based and was not as thick as some I have used before.Come to think of it, I had trouble finding much other than water based paint (I was after some matt black to do the front porch light with) in Wilkinsons.

 

A smallish tin is not too expensive and it can be used on ships bottoms, rusty tools,lawnmowers gates cars etc etc.

 

Ashley

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Not on my car mate! It’s a blue one….

[hammerParticipant @hammer]

Don, Having used red lead paint no cast iron gutter when I was apprentice. the colour is more of a pink then red, so red oxide is NOT right. The modelers habit of nice planking on all wooden decks is not always correct. As boats with a minimum crew hadn’t time to holy stone decks, done to stop the planks shrinking therefore preventing leaks. The decks would be painted with allsorts of concoctions usually ending up a dirty brown. R.G.Y

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