Sharpies instead of paint

[ChrisCornell24]

Just started with the car model kit experince today actually and I had a question that google couldn't answer.

Instead of using paint, I was wondering if a car could be done completly in sharpie.

Im going to experiment with it later on and see how it turns out.

[Monty]

Technically it's probably possible, but I think you'll find they work best in smaller areas by virtue of the size of the tips. Many parts of a model have (relatively) huge areas of plastic that need painted, such as the chassis, interior panels & engine blocks, and you're talking about using something with 1/2" or less tip size. Would you paint your house with a 4" brush? There's a reason we use spray paints and airbrushes. I'd think your results would be streaky at best.

Another reason against is the vast array of colors used in replicating an actual car. There are untold numbers of model paints to help accomplish this, and if the specific color doesn't happen to be available, they can be mixed to get the needed result. No such option with markers.

OTOH, they seem to be indispensable to the NASCAR guys and others who need a blacking agent around the edges of windshields etc. Red Sharpies can also be used to enhance clear red tail lights, and in conjunction with blue Sharpies, can help create the illusion of anodized fittings, while narrow silver Sharpies seem to be a go-to item for painting hardlines on chassis.

As you've probably gathered, I use them to augment my paints.

JMNSHO

[Art Anderson]

Just started with the car model kit experince today actually and I had a question that google couldn't answer.

Instead of using paint, I was wondering if a car could be done completly in sharpie.

Im going to experiment with it later on and see how it turns out.

Getting an even coverage will be a problem--given that Sharpie inks (to an extent even the black) are somewhat transparent. In addition, they do fade over time--if you've ever seen a sign or writing with black on paper, it tends to turn brown with age or prolonged exposure to light.

That said, there are uses I think: I've used the Micron brand of razor point pens from Sakura--which come in a WIDE range of colors, with points ranging from .5mm down to a very fine .2mm--these are finding more and more uses at my bench.

Art

[ChrisCornell24]

Thats very enlightening. Thank you. As I said I'm new to the car models and I feel I've come to the right place to learn.

You're right the sharpie does end up being streaky and doesn't fit into the incredibly small holes needed, such as the grill or vents. However, it does give a shine or gloss texture that I haven't seen from anything else.

But again thank you for the response.

-Chris

[zenrat]

I've done some experimenting in this area.

I thought it might be possible to do a full body psychedelic sixties flower power paint job using a set of kids felt tip pens whilst sitting in front of the TV on long winter evenings.

I primed and undercoated (white) some styrene sheet and tried colouring that in but no matter how long I left it I had problems with the nibs of the pens clogging and the ink not flowing. The issue seemed to be some chemical from the paint being picked up by the felt nib and then preventing ink flow.

Sanding the nib away helped temporarily but they soon reclogged.

Clearing the undercoat didn't help.

It might be possible to do on an unpainted body but you'd have to clean it up very well and polish any areas you'd shaved trim etc.