Airfix Aston Martin DB5 Starter Set

[steffmodels]

Hi! I'm very new to scale models and I'm currently doing the Airfix Aston Martin DB5 starter set. It's going mostly well and I'm learning to trust the process.

I was just wondering if anyone had some tips on getting a good finish on the paints? I've watched many a YouTube video and I've been thinning the paint with water to do multiple coats as the Airfix guy recommended. This worked great for darker paints. I'm just finding it more difficult to get a good finish on the lighter paints. Does anyone have any tips?

Thank you

 

[urumomo]

Welcome Aboard !

white primer for lighter colors .

 

[steffmodels]

Welcome Aboard !

white primer for lighter colors .

Great I'll give that a try thanks!
Do I need to get a humbrol primer as the paints are humbrol or will any primer work?

 

[urumomo]

Any primer is fine .
Are you airbrushing or brush painting ?

 

[BarleyBop]

Hi! I'm very new to scale models

Howdy!

We have an Introductions area where you can say hi, and folks can meet you!
We look forward to seeing you post some pics as you learn, as it gives other newcomers to the hobby some encouragement. We've all been there, so don't be shy!

Cheers!

 

[Pantherman]

Hi! I'm very new to scale models and I'm currently doing the Airfix Aston Martin DB5 starter set. It's going mostly well and I'm learning to trust the process.

I was just wondering if anyone had some tips on getting a good finish on the paints? I've watched many a YouTube video and I've been thinning the paint with water to do multiple coats as the Airfix guy recommended. This worked great for darker paints. I'm just finding it more difficult to get a good finish on the lighter paints. Does anyone have any tips?

Thank you

Hi and welcome to the forum. Pantherman

 

[steffmodels]

Any primer is fine .
Are you airbrushing or brush painting ?

I'm brush painting at the moment! I wouldn't know where to start with airbrush although it's something I'd like to try

 

[steffmodels]

Here's how it's going so far! A few layers left to do but I think it's coming along nicely

 

[Pantherman]

I'm brush painting at the moment! I wouldn't know where to start with airbrush although it's something I'd like to try

I was the same when I started a few years ago but wouldn't be without it now. Just a cheap setup until I upgrade to better equipment in years to come. I always hand paint figures though.

It's a great forum for advice and help with lots of knowledge and helpful members.
Pantherman

 

[Pantherman]

Here's how it's going so far! A few layers left to do but I think it's coming along nicely

View attachment 143047

Looks like a great job so far. Pantherman

 

[steffmodels]

I was the same when I started a few years ago but wouldn't be without it now. Just a cheap setup until I upgrade to better equipment in years to come. I always hand paint figures though.

It's a great forum for advice and help with lots of knowledge and helpful members.
Pantherman

That's good to know. I've watched some videos of people airbrushing and they all seem quite advanced.

As I'm still quite new to the hobby, do you think it's worth doing a few more hand painting projects before venturing into the airbrush world? Silly question I know but I don't want to invest in the setup without knowing beforehand!

 

[Pantherman]

That's good to know. I've watched some videos of people airbrushing and they all seem quite advanced.

As I'm still quite new to the hobby, do you think it's worth doing a few more hand painting projects before venturing into the airbrush world? Silly question I know but I don't want to invest in the setup without knowing beforehand!

Never a silly question, if you don't ask you won't know. Always good to practice with hand brushing for now. Hone your skills.

When you think you want to have a go with the airbrush just ask away or have a look at previous posts for information. Pantherman

 

[BarleyBop]

Hey, something to consider is what type of models you intend to build... you can use an airbrush on any type, along with some brushwork.

With armour and military vehicles, you can get away with just the brush, especially historical vehicles, as they don't usually require a pristine, high gloss, "look, I spent the entire weekend polishing the bonnet and the chrome" look!

And like PM said, figure painting lends itself well to brush techniques.

Autos, airplanes and ships tend to have large areas that are harder to cover without leaving brush marks, so you'll find that a consideration; in the meantime, you could look at 'rattle cans', though you'll need a well ventilated area for that, or a space outdoors you can use.

If you intend to explore a few genres or just get in a little practice building before deciding, that's good too.

 

[Jakko]

I've watched some videos of people airbrushing and they all seem quite advanced.

It needs specialised equipment (though luckily these days you can get started much cheaper than you used to) but also a good deal of practice to develop the necessary skills.

As I'm still quite new to the hobby, do you think it's worth doing a few more hand painting projects before venturing into the airbrush world?

Yes, very definitely: Don't run before you can walk. Also, since you're building a car, you can probably get an accurate colour for the body by using a rattle can sold for touching up real cars. This also goes for the more generic colours you might paint aircraft in, like grey, white, etc., but not really for military vehicles (unless you find one that was painted glossy )

 

[steffmodels]

Thanks all that's very useful to know.

I think for now I'll stick with the brush - which will also keep my wife happy!

In terms of gluing, I've been following the airfix advice of using a small piece of the box as an applicator for the humbrol poly cement . However, I've seen some videos with people using the Tamiya extra thin cement. Is there any basis to different types of glue or is it not personal preference?

 

[wjbrandel]

I never used Humbrol glue, I started with the testors orange tube and (later) blue tube glue then I went to Tamiya extra thin about 5 years ago and never looked back. I like the fact that I can control how much glue goes on and where with the brush.

Having said that, I would say use what your comfortable with.

 

[Jakko]

I think for now I'll stick with the brush - which will also keep my wife happy!

For a car, though, the body will probably look bad if you brush-paint it. Like I said, an aerosol can of car paint will work fine, and if you use it in the garage, shed or garden (being careful of which direction you spray in!), there probably shouldn't be any complaints about the smell

Is there any basis to different types of glue or is it not personal preference?

Both. Different types of glue will have different properties, and that leads to everyone having their own preferences for which to use. I rarely use tube cement, except when I need to join very large pieces and need time to get them into position. Liquid cement is generally easier to apply, IMHO, and more accurately, because you put it where you need it with a brush and it will run along/into the join.

But even here applies that not all cements are created equally. Tamiya Extra Thin, for example, is called that because it's thinner than Tamiya's regular cement, and those by other manufacturers may be thicker or thinner still. My advice would be to buy a bottle of liquid cement, of whichever manufacturer you like, and try it out.

(FWIW, I don't even use a "real" liquid cement at all, but a solvent mixture sold as a degreaser/contact cement thinner in hardware stores here in the Netherlands, but which also dissolves polystyrene so it works very well to glue model kit parts. However, this stuff is so thin that I use Tamiya Extra Thin only when I need cement that evaporates more slowly than what I otherwise use — for most people, it's the other way around )