"Plastic models and acrylic paints" Topic

Well, I am embarrassed to say it, but I have forgotten how to paint plastic models.

I have a number of 1/72 WW2 aircraft models that I want to paint to "wargame quality" to use with a hex-based set of air combat rules (Bag the Hun!) on a 4" hex mat.

I have considerable experience painting resin and metal miniature figures and vehicles, and I use acrylic paints almost exclusively for the ease, health aspects, and low cost.

Here is my question: Can I use acrylic paints to paint plastic models? I assume I can use a white or gray enamel primer, then airbrush acrylic paints like I usually paint resin and/or metal vehicles. I would then seal with Future, add decals, and finally seal again with Dullcoat.

Does that work?

Thanks!

Yes. I occassionally build 1/35 plastic kits. You could even skip the primer coat and simply use your airbrush to apply your base colour, then detail et cetera, and seal it.

You can use acrylic paints, but you want to start with an acrylic primer. I find enamel primers too slick to hold the water based acrylics.

GuruDave, that will work. Wash them with soap and water, use a primer, paint them, give them a gloss finish, apply the decals, and then give them a final overspray of your choice.

Thanks all!

Regarding an acrylic primer, could I used thinned Gesso applied through an airbrush?

I think am acrylic primer is much more 'slick' than an enamel one- in my experience.
An enamel basecoat, sprayed on, will give a nice 'tooth' for the next coat. Then again, I use Revell airbrush paints for priming/undercoating and they're VERY flat.
Some people do maintain that acrylic paint doesn't cover an enamel base too well. I've yet to discover that one.
As has been suggested, you don't really need a primer. It depends on how different from the plastic colour your main base paint will be.
What you'll probably find is that little gaps will need to be filled, the wings and fuselage being common areas for this type of repair.
If you do need to fill gaps then I'd definitely give the whole thing a prime- it'll unify the whole model.
Plastic takes paint every bit as well as metal or resin- probably better than some resins I've come across. That goes for enamel or acrylic, but I'd make sure the model parts have been thoroughly cleaned first, particulasrly if you'll be using acrylics. They tend to be less tolerant of 'foreign matter' on the surface of the model.

Steve.

By the way, I wouldn't entertain using gesso for priming polystyrene.

"the wings and fuselage being common areas for this type of repair."
Not much left really is there?
What I meant to say was cockpit, not fuselage. The area where the cockpit/wings join to the fuselage being most prone to gaps- as are the wing leading edges.

You don't need an acrylic primer. I've won several gold awards at IPMS meets and I and no one else I know, uses primer, unless your plastic is an odd colour.

And you don't need to wash your parts either.

Whatever you end up with, spray the crap out of it after with dullcoat or matt spray and you'll be fine. Make sure that you do use a protective coating because I've found that airbrushed acrlic paint on plastic tends to be damaged by scratching nails

There's always disagreement over washing miniatures. We can only pass on advice as it's coloured by our own experiences.
On more than one occasion I've 'applied' paint to a surface, only to see it 'run off' or disappear altogether. Not due to the paint by the way- a quick wash and the situation has been rectified.
Doesn't need a physics major to tell me there's something on the plastic that doesn't agree with the paint.
It's why I always wash polystyrene kits now.
But then I've never won a modelling competition.
Come to think of it, I've never entered one.

Steve.

Thanks again. I've taken all of the points mentioned above into consideration and will have to see what works best for me.

I never wash metal or resin, but I usually wash plastic figures before painting.

Steve, yeah, you would think there'd be some kind of gunk on it, like a mould release of some sort. But honestly, I've never had a problem. Plastic figures, on the other hand, I tend to wash or if not, spray with Rustoleum.

Tim_I should point out that I do build quite a lot of old kits. I suspect the mould release thing is less of a problem with more recent stuff.

I have some plastic 1/72 WW2 Japanese figures (can't recall the manufacturer -- if not then similar to Revell of Airfix) that, even after a good hot soapy wash and a spray of black Krylon Fusion paint as a primer, the primer flakes off. Very annoying.

i use to work in a plastic injection mould and blow moulding company.

To remove the fine coating of oil from the manufacturing process, washing the plastic is a good idea.

Not absolutely necessary but definiately a good idea.

I use a pre plastic primer by Matisse. it chemically bonds to the plastic creating a better surface for paint to adhere too. I then prime with thinned gesso and paint as normal.

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cheers
cheers

Tiberius_ you're confusing the lad.
He doesn't want to be priming plastic kits with gesso- as I've already pointed out.
Your figures are very nice but he's going to be painting aircraft, not polythene figures.

Steve.

Steve, I did mention I use a pre-plastic primer first, but I didn't mean to confuse anyone.

The following plastic star wars kit was painted by a friend of mine (Dean) using Derivan Minis and then he used ink and chalk to age it.

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Also by Dean a DC3
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Here are some plastic kits airbrushed using thinned gesso as a primer from my cousin Chris.

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(the water effect is created by adding gel medium to the paint.)

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Enjoy