Airbrushing metallic finishes

You can use Post-it notes to mask adjoining panels.Some modelers use Friskit Film,it's a sheet of plastic that labs use to seal the tops of test tubes.

Spray a black primer before applying metal finishes.

Tojo72

You can use Post-it notes to mask adjoining panels.Some modelers use Friskit Film,it's a sheet of plastic that labs use to seal the tops of test tubes.

Tojo, did you mean Parafilm?  I know it's original use was for sealing lab equipment like beakers, jars and tubes. I think frisket is used more by artists, iirc.  Have a great day!

Gary

Texgunner

Tojo72

You can use Post-it notes to mask adjoining panels.Some modelers use Friskit Film,it's a sheet of plastic that labs use to seal the tops of test tubes.

Tojo, did you mean Parafilm?  I know it's original use was for sealing lab equipment like beakers, jars and tubes. I think frisket is used more by artists, iirc.  Have a great day!

Gary

Yes,thats it,thank you.Friskit is used by artists for masking,it could be used also

Chrisk-k

Spray a black primer before applying metal finishes.

Does the black primer cause better adhesion of the metal paint,then say gray or white primer ? thanks

Some metallic paint brands are more fragile than others. Alclad paints are really durable. Model Master Metallics can be pretty fragile,and pull up easily, primer or not.

I have used both Post-it notes and frisket paper for panel masking.  They are both very low tack.

I have also been trying a different technique, but still too early to say how well it works.  I prime first in gloss black, then mask and paint some panels different colors, including semi-gloss (like Testors black chrome) black, and gloss gray. I do get slightly different shades but still not sure which other colors I like best (even used gloss yellow on one panel for a more magnesium look).

Also, some of the hardware and building supply stores near me are selling real cheap sheets of a paintable low tack paper. It is used to paint a patch and stick it on your wall to see how you like the color.  It is less than a buck for an 8.5 x 11 piece- cheaper than I can get frisket film in my area. Only downside is it is not transparent like frisket paper, so it is harder to cut to size/shape.

According to several FSM articles, a black primer makes metallic finishes look more real than does a white or grey primer.  

Chrisk-k

According to several FSM articles, a black primer makes metallic finishes look more real than does a white or grey primer.  

chrisk-k is right but for panel color variation paint some panels with white, silver, blue, or ?? the color of your say, Alclad will be changed  on the not black panels; after you top color drys, you could gently rub some panels with 11-12000 sanding sponge. That will change light reflection (ie color) too.

I've found a primer helps metallic paint stick better. I used to have the same problem of metallic paint lifting when painted directly onto bare plastic but been okay since I started priming my model first.