Painting with a brush

I can't...

Not really. While you can stipple with a brush to get a feathered edge, the effect is still not as soft. But that is not to say that you can not get some fantastic results from hand brushing. All it takes is some decent brushes and practice.

I was thinking more in terms of using a brush to get that high gloss finish you see on cars.

Sure, why not? In that case you are less likely to get "orange peel" surface. The gloss finish depends upon your skill with a brush, quality of brushes used, and paints used.

Great, thanks stikpusher. Still new at this so sure what you mean by "orange peel" though.

Nickg

I was thinking more in terms of using a brush to get that high gloss finish you see on cars.

Yes, I know a couple of people who can.  But it is extremely difficult. I gather it is far more difficult than doing so with an airbrush or spray can. If it is the expense that keeps you from airbrushing (hey, it is only a few kits worth of money) then consider spray cans. I know a number of people who do great jobs with rattle cans.

I gotta agree with Don that it is cheaper and easier to get a high gloss finish with a spray can over a hand brush. But yes the hand brush can get you a nice high gloss finish, it just wont be otained as quickly.

"Orange peel", which you can also get from a spray can, is when once the gloss airbrushed or sprayed paint dries and cures it has a "pebbly" texture finish that looks like the surface of the skin of an orange. I dont know what causes it, but I have had it happen on a couple builds myself.

Thanks very much. Very helpful.

hand brush the base coat, sand (carefully) any really bad brush marks,  apply a few coats of future as this is self leveling (or any substitue) and sand flat where needed (apply more coats if you need as you go) polish to finish (dont sand through the future though so plenty of coats!! as future etc go on very thin)

it is much better to use a spray can though as its very (very very) time consuming to do it by hand and if you sand through to the base coat you will want to kill yourself.

stikpusher

I gotta agree with Don that it is cheaper and easier to get a high gloss finish with a spray can over a hand brush. But yes the hand brush can get you a nice high gloss finish, it just wont be otained as quickly.

"Orange peel", which you can also get from a spray can, is when once the gloss airbrushed or sprayed paint dries and cures it has a "pebbly" texture finish that looks like the surface of the skin of an orange. I dont know what causes it, but I have had it happen on a couple builds myself.

Orange peel is usually caused by spraying with too great a distance between can and model.  The paint partially dries before it hits model and doesn't flow out.  Also, too thin a coat contributes to roughness.  To me a good gloss coat is an exercise in brinkmanship.  You must put on a heavy enough coat that it is just a second or two away from running.  How do you know just before it runs?  Experience and a good, positionable workbench light.