Model Master enamel spray paint on wood?

Yep- I use Testors enamel on wood frequently.  Takes several coats of prime to fill grain.  By the time you have grain filled, you will have a good prime coat on wood that will take enamel fine.

You can use a sealer if the wood is very fine grain like basswood. I make a sealer from clear polyurethane varnish thinned 50:50.  Sealer cuts down on number of prime coats needed.

I use Krylon primer. It dries fast, about 20 minutes, so it doesn't take long to get three or four coats of prime on.  Sand between coats, of course.

You can use the MM spray enamels just fine. I've done it many times on wood, with no issue. Prime first if you can. Alternatively, as you stated, you can also use Tamiya, no problems.

Thanks Don, I appreciate the help.

Karl

Thanks very much for your help!

Karl

I agree with the others about the need to seal the wood but you may also want to consider using something other than pine because it's both porous and has a strong grain pattern that's hard to hide under paint. For a fairly cheap althernative try poplar which takes paint very well and is readily available everywhere including the home centers. Then seal, sand and paint for great results.

jeffpez

I agree with the others about the need to seal the wood but you may also want to consider using something other than pine because it's both porous and has a strong grain pattern that's hard to hide under paint. For a fairly cheap althernative try poplar which takes paint very well and is readily available everywhere including the home centers. Then seal, sand and paint for great results.

As long as you're looking at other woods at the hardware store,  take a look at MDF - Medium Density Fiberboard.   This wood product has absolutely no grain.  It cuts and machines with typical woodworking tools, and it finishes to a glass-smooth paint finish with just a couple of coats of spray.  I'll use hardware store spray lacquer, spray and sand between coats.

There are wood sealers used in the R/C side of the hobby for those who build with wood.

You also probably already have another very good sealer on your bench...FUTURE.

The goal is to seal the wood pours/cells so they don't absorb the cover coat, just as one has to prime a brick wall to seal the concrete before applying paint to it.

jeffpez

I agree with the others about the need to seal the wood but you may also want to consider using something other than pine because it's both porous and has a strong grain pattern that's hard to hide under paint. For a fairly cheap althernative try poplar which takes paint very well and is readily available everywhere including the home centers. Then seal, sand and paint for great results.

I'd second this.  While Basswood is particularly good for making models (scratchbuilding), Poplar is almost as good, and for bases and such it is fine. It is considerably cheaper than basswood and many home improvement stores now carry it, whereas you need to go to a hobby shop or wood carving shop for basswood.

When making solid hull ships I use poplar because that much basswood is a significant cost.

I do have Future. I didn't think of using it on wood. Thanks for the help.

Karl