Paint like a pro with cans??

On large areas,if I can find the color I need in a can,I go that route every time. I hate cleaning air brushes

I did a natural metal finish on a P-51 not too long ago, and that was with Model Master's plain 'ol silver in a spray can. I hadn't used a spray can in probably ten years, but I was impressed with the way it came out. I think it can be done as long as you're careful.

Many car modelers use spray cans of lacquer touch-up paint, such as Dupli-color.  Hobby spray paint is a bit harder to use.  Flat colors such as camoulflage schemes are easier to do than gloss.  A flat aluminum would be a lot easier than a gloss aluminum (any gloss paint other than auto lacquers are hard to do with spray cans) but there are few sources of a good flat aluminum in spray cans.

I've had very good results using spray cans on larger exterior surfaces.  Tamiya synthetic lacquer works especially nice.  Main thing is to use several very light coats., letting each coat dry thoroughly

before proceeding.  I then use an airbrush to add shading and weathering effects.  Again, less is more- spray lightly and repeat using maybe a slightly different color, then  quit before it gets too heavy or dark.

This technique works for any kind of paint.

The problem with painting areas like cockpits with spray cans is that you have no control of the amount of paint being atomized and if not carefully applied can partially cover up delicate shallow details. With an DA air brush, you have absolute control of the process. Spray cans are generally ok on larger areas but don't deliver the same quality finish that an AB gives.

If you are on a tight buget, Harbor Freight has a real good priced sets that will not break the bank:

www.harborfreight.com/.../result

You are correct, sir!  I always use an airbrush at low pressure and low flow for cockpits and other small details, inside and out.  I only use the cans for things like the wings and fuselage, then later go at them with an airbrush to bring out details, etc.

Also, I paint and weather the cockpit as I am building it.  It's darn near impossible to get a decent effect after it's fully assembled.

If you are set on using cans, it is possible to find the testor's model master metalizer aluminum and metalizer sealer in spray cans.  The metalizers are ok, I am more a fan of the buffing metalizers but you have to be careful with them.  The non-buffing ones are labelled, all others are to be buffed about 10 minutes after spraying and then sealed right away.  If you don't seal it, you will get sticky metallic colored paint on your hands every time you touch it.  I believe it would be good for a large area.  Personally I prefer to use bare metal foil for NMF aluminum finishes, but that's probably more of a statement about my painting (in)abilities!

Groot

I was building a car for the Fisher body contest when I started college, and lived in a dorm. I couldn't afford an airbrush, and couldn't use spray cans. I made a simple airbrush using an old paint bottle and K&S brass tubing. I attached a long length of model airplane fuel line tubing to it and used my breath for powering it. It worked fine. I got 70 coats of model airplane dope on that thing- a really impressive finish since the car was carved with balsa instead of hardwood that the Fisher guidelines recommended.

That's nothing,my air brush is powered by a bamboo bicycle ridden by a chimpanzee

We want to see pictures of that Don!

My AB setup is currently in storage, so I am using rattle cans (mostly Duplicolor). The result can be quite good. But you have to change certain techniques. For instance, pre shading is impossible with rattle cans so I use post shading with pastels. Likewise I do mottelring with pastels.

Make sure you mist on light coats and properly mask.

Here are some examples for rattle can builds:

waikong

We want to see pictures of that Don!

That thing is long gone.  That was in 1956-57.  Didn't survive my first move from college (built the model, and did the painting in my dorm room).  Eventually lost the model, too. I think it went up in a fire in my in-laws attic. It was a car for the old Fisher Body Contest.