Revell 1:72nd Gato class Submarine..looking for some spray paint

Air brushing may seem scary and expensive, but it's not. It IS a bit more work, but the results are wonderful. TAKE THE LEAP!

No amount of wishing and hoping will change some simple facts - air brushing will give you scale (thin) paint that looks awesome (even if done so-so!), brushing will be thick and streaky, and spray cans will pile on paint about a foot thick in scale.

Those great success stories of brushing and spray canning are rare, and they would still look better in air brush.

I bought my brush 2nd hand and have never looked back. You can start with air in a can, but that has troubles. Small-med compressors are cheap ($50-100). AND a an extra benefit is custom color - just mix up what you want. There is such a huge paint range. Spray cans are for the yard shed.

I urge you to TAKE THE LEAP! You'll fly! 

 

 

Just to let you guys know, I used a spray gun for the hull, The kind used for cars!

 

I have the Gato too and I would spay paint that monster because it's huge! I'm sure there must be some spray can paints in the shades you're looking for. Think if I were to bush paint that model, I'd use a 3'' house paint brush....just kidding.

On the bench....VIIC/41 (still)

AWM- another VCII, 1/350th Bismark, Arizona, GATO, 1/32 F-105 D/G and the rest of the stash.

Scott

Ok, now I stand corrected, spay the paint is better, bought a olive green spray paint can for a tiger 1 but I also painted other model such as a Warhhog (anti-ank jet plane) a M113A1 (persenal carrier vehicule) and another tank that had a horribule paint desine, The results are beautiful that I just have to post it up, It may have noting to do with ships but it way better than brush painting.

Since the paint is spread out it isn't in one directing. better result after, just make sure is in a vetelated room in a wooden or carboard box.

This should help.

The "rivet counters" will probably cringe when I tell you this, but too bad! For the darker gray I used Rustoleum Painter's touch gray primer #1980, testor's flat gull gray for the lighter color. For US Navy ships I use Plastikote sandable gray primer # T-235 and for flat black their black primer. These are automotive parts store items. To me these colors are close, and the spray cans are much bigger and cheaper than model spray paint. No, they don't "attack" plastic.

I'm not sure about the FS numbers, but you might want to check te Tamiya Aircraft color sprays (AS xx) I'm pretty sure they exist in Ghost Grey, in fact I believe that's the color I used as a basecoat for my S-7 Schnellboot (check the Kriegsmarine GB to see the pics)

I used an airbrush twice...first time in the early 90's on a Ea-6E Intruder in which I won second place in a model show (not a huge event) and the second time in 2003 on a Monogram PBY Catalina. I started spraying the blue-grey and splatter went everywhere.

With the lack of experience and the cost/wanted precision of this boat..I didn't want to take any chances.

 oh and thanks for the welcome...I have been a member here but have not visited since around 2004 I guess.

 

Please, I have a 1/125 Revell U-99 sub that a finish a month ago (best watercraft I made so far). It long but I didn't spay it, not just because I don't have a airbrush but I only painted below the water line flat gray, The model looks great i'de just had some problem on the tower and periscope thats all. What i'm trying to say is you don't need to spay it just paint brush it cause you could be more presice on the model.

Hope this help.

First off..... Is it your lack of an air brush or you aren't comfortable using it? As you say the beast is big, I know it is sitting on my bench also. The reason I ask is because of its size it is very easy to airbrush. And that way you could use the bottles of paint. Just becareful as some Light greys are almost on the white side. I repainted mine a shade darker and it looked a lot better.