Micro Flake Paint

[gabbymae728]

Hello! 

 

New here to model building, I am starting off with a Revell Peterbilt 359. I have came across a website that sells micro flakes (TCP Global). Has anyone used this before? I am assuming I mix this in paint, but will it go through an airbrush? Looking to do a holographic flake stripe across the truck. Let me know if anyone has used this or has any other recommendations! Thank you!

 

 

Here is a link to the flake: https://tcpglobal.com/collections/metal-flake-jet-black/products/kus-mf21-2z

Edited December 1, 2020 by gabbymae728

[peteski]

Gabriella,

While I do not have any specific info about that paint, the "flake" in its name got my attention.  TCP Global sells paints for 1:1 scale cars, so that is what I'm worried about.

Metallic paints have to be "in scale" to look realistic on a model.  If you paint a 1:25 scale model with a metal flake paint meant for a 1:1 car, the model will look odd in-person, and even worse when photographed.  Model metallic finishes should use very small size metallic particles.  Unfortunately even some metallic paints made for models (Testors One Coat Lacquers are a good example) use oversize metallic particles.  Those do not look realistic on a model unless you are depicting a 1:1 scale vehicle which uses a "bass boat type" metallic flake paint. 

The paint you are looking at might just have out-of-scale size particles.  Have you looked at nail polishes?  Those often feature finely ground holographic or color-changing flakes that are suitable for models.  I have probably around 100 bottles of nail polishes which I bought for painting models, like this one.

 

This particular nail polish had some very fine metallic particles which look good even on a 1:43 scale model. Just some food for thought . . .

Edited December 2, 2020 by peteski

[gabbymae728]

Makes total sense about it looking out of scale since it is meant for larger vehicles. I didn't even think about nail polish, how did you get yours to look so good? I know sometimes it can streak and be uneven, at least on my nails, hence I have to do a couple of coats. Would that go for the same, or are you putting a base coat/color of some sort on there? I am looking to just do a thin stripe across the cab, so that seems like it would work for that. Thank you for the advice and input!

[peteski]

Thanks Gabby!

I airbrush nail polish. It is quite thick out of the bottle, so it needs a lot of thinner for airbrushing.  I don't have the specific proportions because I thin it when I put it in my airbrush jar until it looks "right" to me. Plus, different polishes have slightly different viscosity.  I would say it is probably 50/50 polish/thinner. I used generic lacquer thinner.

The model in the photo above was first primed using Tamiya fine gray primer, then couple coats of the blue lacquer.  I then masked and painted the skunk stripes using Accu-Paint (a model railroad paint that goes on thin and is opaque). For the top coat I airbrushed couple of coats of Testors wet look clear (decanted from a can).

What color will you paint the cab?  If it is dark, some holographic polishes are fairly transparent, so a stripe of that type would almost be a "ghost" stripe which would only show up when the light reflected off the metallic particles. That might be the look you are going for. Or if you want it to be more prominent, shoot the stripe area wit some lighter color paint as a base coat for the holographic stuff.

Whenever experimenting with paints or techniques it is bast to test the effect on plastic spoons, or even plastic soda pop bottles.  They are cheap and disposable. That way you won't have to strip the model if the effect is not what you were looking for.

 

[gabbymae728]

I am looking for some sort of greyish-pearl color, with a teal stripe down the side of the doors, horizontal. I had the idea to line the teal with 2 very small pin stripes, but I am not sure if I am that artistic yet. I have an image in my head, but can't seem to find to right grey or teal - I'll have to order a few colors to see. I like the spoon idea, I was wondering what I can test colors on the see!

[peteski]

Good luck Gabby - let us know what you come up with. We're always interested in member's models, and ideas they have.

[Michael jones]

Gidday Gabby, I have used Pearl ex powder before, which are similar to what you are looking at. They are fantastic! Just grab your favourite clear coat and mix in some powder. The only downside, is they have a limited range of colours currently.

 

Mike

[Steamboat]

I have gotten good results with nail polish, but it takes a lot of experimentation to get the 'paint ' to flow out. I use toluene as a thinner because it dries slower than lacquer thinner.  It's available at hardware stores. Always use primer first because either solvent will attack bare plastic. 

YOU MUST wear a respirator designed for automotive paints when spraying nail polish!