Tamiya F14A 1/32 Scale Build - Painting Procedures

[TRJMI]

It's been over 30 years since my last build and I feel somewhat lost with all the latest in scale modeling so my apologies ahead of time of my questions seem too trivial or ridiculous...

Starting to build the Tamiya F14A and running into build/painting problems. I would like this build to have weathering and panel lines, unlike my 1st build over 30 years ago, would like to make this one look real but I'm reading allot of conflicting stuff. All my paint are Tamiya Acrylic. My Questions:

1. There are allot of raised panels and I bought something that makes panel lines. - Should I even bother or should I use Tamiya Panel Line Accent color only on recessed lines?
2. Primers - Should I stick with Tamiya or use Vallejo? Also, can the primer be lacquer based?
3. Once I put on the base color (acrylic water-based) should I put on a clear gloss first before Wash and Panel Line color or can i place either one on base coat w/o clear/glass coat?
4. Do I need to put on a gloss coat before decals then a matt coat?
5. Using Tamiya Extra thin Cement, for sections of the jet that maybe under some stress, do I need a different type of glue for extra strength like CA or will the extra thin work just as well?
6. Confused about mixing lacquers, enamels, acrylics, water-based, and thinner types


I'm just looking for a head start, some kind of help, I'm a couple of hundred into the project already and don't want to ruin it cause of bad paint decisions.

Thank you

 

[urumomo]

Welcome to SMA !

 

[mark2]

I put a gloss over the base colour,decals will lay down better, once there dry I don't seal them in I just go straight in with washes, ,weathering. I've used enamel and acrylic washes over acrylic and enamel laquers without a problem then finish with satin or matt clear,acrylic or enamel. As for primer I use tamiya rattle can most of the time.

 

[Pantherman]

It's been over 30 years since my last build and I feel somewhat lost with all the latest in scale modeling so my apologies ahead of time of my questions seem too trivial or ridiculous...

Starting to build the Tamiya F14A and running into build/painting problems. I would like this build to have weathering and panel lines, unlike my 1st build over 30 years ago, would like to make this one look real but I'm reading allot of conflicting stuff. All my paint are Tamiya Acrylic. My Questions:

1. There are allot of raised panels and I bought something that makes panel lines. - Should I even bother or should I use Tamiya Panel Line Accent color only on recessed lines?
2. Primers - Should I stick with Tamiya or use Vallejo? Also, can the primer be lacquer based?
3. Once I put on the base color (acrylic water-based) should I put on a clear gloss first before Wash and Panel Line color or can i place either one on base coat w/o clear/glass coat?
4. Do I need to put on a gloss coat before decals then a matt coat?
5. Using Tamiya Extra thin Cement, for sections of the jet that maybe under some stress, do I need a different type of glue for extra strength like CA or will the extra thin work just as well?
6. Confused about mixing lacquers, enamels, acrylics, water-based, and thinner types


I'm just looking for a head start, some kind of help, I'm a couple of hundred into the project already and don't want to ruin it cause of bad paint decisions.

Thank you

Hi and welcome to the forum. Pantherman

 

[Jakko]

Starting to build the Tamiya F14A

Which one? Or at least, in which scale? I ask because Tamiya has F-14s in at least 1:32, 1:48, 1:72 and 1:350 scale, though I kind of suspect you don't mean that last one

1. There are allot of raised panels and I bought something that makes panel lines. - Should I even bother or should I use Tamiya Panel Line Accent color only on recessed lines?

Those accent paints are really intended for recessed lines. If you use them on a raised one, I suspect it will pool on both sides of it and enhance the effect of it standing proud — which is probably not what you want

2. Primers - Should I stick with Tamiya or use Vallejo? Also, can the primer be lacquer based?

If you're going to be using Tamiya acrylics on an all-plastic model, I wouldn't use primer at all. Those paints adhere just fine on bare plastic.

3. Once I put on the base color (acrylic water-based)

Just to be sure: do you mean the Tamiya acrylics when you say "water-based"? Because they're not — they're alcohol-based — but there are plenty of water-based acrylics that behave a little differently from the Tamiya ones. Paints like Vallejo or Mig acrylics are water-based, as is Revell's Aqua Color series.

should I put on a clear gloss first before Wash and Panel Line color or can i place either one on base coat w/o clear/glass coat?

I hardly ever use a clear coat because it's just one more thing that can go wrong — or two, because generally people who do use these, put on gloss first and then a matt one over that later.

4. Do I need to put on a gloss coat before decals then a matt coat?

Not with Tamiya decals. It will help for some brands, but Tamiya's stick well enough and without silvering that there's no need for a clear coat before them at all.

6. Confused about mixing lacquers, enamels, acrylics, water-based, and thinner types

When the paint underneath is dry? In that case there will hardly ever be a problem, except that lacquers can take off just about anything under them if you brush them on. But enamels over acrylics or vice-versa, or either of them over lacquers, is not an issue.