How you paint your gundam using brushes.

[shadowdancer]

I'll try my best to give you the most basic walk through that I've been doing for the past few months of building of gundam. I'm still a newbie into this gundam, thus for those pro, do feel free to complain or pin point me if there is a mistake. :)

To get started, I will recommend you what are the things need when brush painting a gundam:

Cutter (to cut out the parts), penknife/art-knife (removing the spurs) and Sandpaper (plastic type get the finest grade, for smoothing the side after removing the spurs)

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/9899/img23672ie.jpg

*Warning, try to avoid overcut or over sand the side of the plastic parts as it will course uneven

Paints and container (to hold pre-mixed paints)

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/6672/img23731ue.jpg

Thinner (dilute the paint)

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/4653/img23665ey.jpg

*Don't get the conventation Thinner that can be found in any hardware store, they are totally different

Retarder (use to slow the drying time process of the paint, very important!!)

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/3604/img23708zk.jpg

Cement (use to join two plastic parts together pemanently)

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/9763/img23710uj.jpg

Optional

Cutting mat (for cutting), color pattel (if you don't have container to hold your pre-mixed paint)

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/1867/img23768uu.jpg


I will update this thread on how you mixed your paint, pre-mix the colors and many other more! So do come to see any lastest update :)

[shadowdancer]

:duh: DOPE! How can I forget!

Brushes!! You need brushes to paint your gundams! Will, I own two kind of brush, a thick one for painting larger area, and a very very fine tip one for small are. Please take proper care of the fine tip brush, as they are the easiest to be damage. (saying of which, I forget to buy a new one ><)

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/9236/img23680ug.jpg

[j00y33]

any paint will do?

[shadowdancer]

any paint will do?


Nope, best get Mr Gyzo and Mr Color. All those I mention can be found at Hobby Point any any hobby shop

[shadowdancer]

Yesterday, I've introduce the types of items that you needed to do brush paint. Now I will try go into detail on how to mix the colors and how to paint.
Again, experts please feel free to correct me :)


Preparation:

Mixing thinner, retarder and standard paint

Warning: Rememder to open up all your windows for good venting

Add the paint and the thinner with the ration of 60(paint):40(thinner), try to use straw for the thinner to avoid any spill (you don't want to have a heavy thinner smell and messy ya?)

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4831/img23788oe.jpg

Ok, some may ask, how do we know its 60:40? Well, I can say its based on exprience, try on those cheap kits like 1/144 NG gundam first.

If you add very little thinner for mixing, you realise that it become very thick and hard to paint. Like wise, if you add the thinner too much, you find that the paint is too watery. (sounds like art and craft ya?)

Add retarder onto the mixed paint

Retarder actually helps ABIT for slowing down the drying process. This way, you will avoid seeing brush marks once it is dry up.

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8138/img23802zs.jpg

Just add a few drops onto the mixed paint. Too much, and you know what happen ;)

Pre-mixed color

Ok some may ask, there are some colors that can't be found in those standard issue. How?

I too encounter this kind of problem, usually I try to consult those experts from HAG to see how to mix the color to nearly what kit has. Another way is I do some experiments.

Eg, currently I'm doing PG strike rogue, the pink isn't the standard pink, thus I've to mix with 90% white and 10% pink, then play around by mixing bits of both then paint onto the kits to check is it nearly the same as the one that I've mixed (below the picture shows how much different I got as I'm experimenting it)

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/3752/img23818rl.jpg

[shadowdancer]

Kits

How to remove the part out of the "tree"
Removing the part out of the kit you may think it is easy play, it somehow it isn't.

One reason, if you cut out the kits too much, you will notice there will be a hole or some deform on the part where you've cut (sorry no picture for that). So try to cut a few cm away from the kit.


That left some spurs on the parts. How to remove it?
There are many ways to remove the spurs. But first what is spur, well picture below will tell you all (hopefully you can see).

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/6160/img23871fr.jpg

As I've mention before, there are many ways to remove the spur:
1) use nail cutter
2) use needle file to remove it, then use very fine grade sand paper to smoothen the surface (rememder don't over file it)
3) use penknife or craft knife to remove (that is what I usually do, but be prepare to buy extra blades, as it become blunt easily)

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/6889/img23885mh.jpg

[shadowdancer]

Painting the parts

There is alot of problem when painting the parts, but I will highlight the problems for later stages.

But first, another setting up to do before painting, get blue tack and satay sticks. This is use for sticking the kits and paint it without using your hands.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3840/img23828cw.jpg

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/5585/img23837cj.jpg

Once, its ready, paint like what are you taught in art and craft, try to avoid applying too much paint on your paint brush, as it will become too thick. Slow and steady, you will have a very even surface. And of course, try to paint at one direction.

If you got any doubt, feel free to ask. And for experts feel free to correct the methods that I've done. As I'm too learning and want to share what I've learn :)

[tqx2009]

i buy tamiya enamel paint,dat 1 is good or lousy?