Painter not sprayer help

[Stiggie]

Hey guys and gals as I work on my first model in more than 20 years and still no funds for a airbrush kit(damn expensive in South Africa) I shall be painting until then. In the past I would build, paints and do the decals like a NooB.
What can be suggested once i have painted the model, in terms of coating and weathering. I did buy a bottle of Humbrol matt cote. Firstly is it safe to coat a flat finished model with this using a brush. Also what steps do you suggest i do with the decals so that i don't get the sticker look from the decals on a flat finish. Finally I want to try weathering. From seen all the pro builds on this forum I have come to the conclusion that the out the the factory look has no character for me. Any step by step tips would be greatly appreciated.
( first build will be either a Academy 1:48 Ah-64 Apache or a Monogram 1:48 F14 Tomcat, both gifts)

 

[THE NEW ONE]

hey welcome to the forums, well i spent my first year or so painting by hand, so here a some tips for getting a good finish, with a brush. if you want to do a pre shade, get Matt black, and thin it to a thin, but not to then, and brush the panel lines, if you have trouble, just watch a video on washing panel lines. if covering large space on the model, use a flat brush, and before you stick the dry paint brush into the paint, lightly soak it with thinner. Weathering, it is easy to find cheap weathering supplies, i have the micro mark rust n dust weathering set, i got mine at a local hobby shop for 20.00 USD. one bottle is a rust solution, and the second is dark wash, third clear coat, and last bottle is a dry powder.

 

[JMac]

Welcome.

The paint, decals and weathering section has lots of good posts and threads that should help you out.
Consider using spray paints as an alternative to brush painting.

Also what steps do you suggest i do with the decals so that i don't get the sticker look from the decals on a flat finish.

Try painting first, then spraying the model with a gloss coat, decals and then finally weather and finish with a flat coat.

Jason.

 

[Stiggie]

Thanks guys, sorry about the post section. i totally forgot where i was on the forum when i posted the thread. I'll check the forum out, wasn't sure there was anything for painters as most modellers I see spray.

 

[THE NEW ONE]

ohh ya, and testors makes a enamel spray gun using a air can, it was 30.00 USD when i got mine




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