Global Scale Modeller

I've been working on the ejection seats for my F-15E recently, and I have discovered I need some help with hand brushing the fine details such as the molded in seat belts and head cushions. I feel that I'm doing very good for this being my first serious model, but I know I can still improve, so I'd like to hear some tips or techniques that you all have found to be helpful. If you know of any good articles or posts on the subject, I would be very interested. Particularly one thing I have found to be a challenge is painting in a 90 degree corner, because when I brush into the corner from one side, the paint likes to jump to the other side, ruining the fine edge I hoped to achieve (I'm using Model Master Enamels in case that is a factor). Any and all help would be greatly appreciated, I've seen plenty of your cockpits, and I know you guys must have some great tips.

It's usually a case of trying different techniques to suit what you're doing. Masking with tape or maskol, different brushes, thicker or thinner paint. The list is endless, lots of stuff on YouTube, just need to spend a bit of time experimenting.

I prefer painting cockpits with water-soluble acrylics such as Citadel or Vallejo. You can water the paint down and if you do make a mistake, a clean brush dipped in water will quickly fix it. I tried using enamels but I find they are much harder to work with in fine detail - they draw themselves onto the model differently. Maybe it's also because I am more nervous of making a mistake as it's not so easy to clean up as it is with Citadel or Vallejo paints.

I used to produce some superb miniatures and vehicles when I was a wargamer, but since switching back to modelling I just can't achieve nowhere near the same level of quality with enamels as I can with the citadel paints. I'm just happy to get a unruined basic paint job on a finished kit!!

James

The other thing is to make sure your brush painting hand is steady. So mount the thing your painting on something. Such as a cork, or old paintpot with some tack. Or if you can, drill a discrete hole in the bottom and glue in a metal pin then stick this in a cork. Then rest your painting hand on your supporting hand as you hold the cork, this should give you a bit more control.

I've also got myself a desk magnifier which really helps for those tiny little bits like pilot eyes. I am tempted to save up for one of these but I dunno if they are step above what I have?

I have an Optivisor and would not (could not) be without it. There are much cheaper options available and they work well too but the one I had fell to bits after a short while and was not as comfortable for prolonged sessions - but it was well under a tenner and ok while it lasted. It had a light on the top too but that was not a lot of cop!

Not really any tips from me other than practice, practice, practice, and some nice red sable brushes. They are expensive, but a worthwhile investment. Not as expensive as Kolinsky sable, though.

This is a great question. Thanks for asking it. And thanks to those who responded. This helps me too.

I dont think the fact you are using enamels and not acrylics makes any difference, and if you wanted to thin them down, or clean up, you could use white spirit. In fact I would have thought the self-leveling of enamels could help get a nice finish in a tight spot.

I dont think it has been mentioned, but obviously a very fine brush would help too - the finer the brush, the more accurate you can be, but obviously it puts less paint down so you might take a little longer, but still quicker than trying to mask off one of the surfaces if access isnt easy.

One tip for painting canopies freehand is to use a cocktail stick to clean up any overpaint of enamels, that might work for you too.

Good luck!

Neils wrote:I've also got myself a desk magnifier which really helps for those tiny little bits like pilot eyes. I am tempted to save up for one of these but I dunno if they are step above what I have?

Neils thanks for this.
I have been searching high and low for something like this and this would be spot on.

John