Paint pens

Don Stauffer

I was at Menards yesterday picking up some Rustoleum spray paint and the had a new color called chrome.  The finish on the cap was a super-bright chrome look.  I wonder if it is as good as that from the Molatow pens.  I see more paint companies offering super-bright super-smooth "chrome" color.  I was tempted to pick up a can but had my hands full of paint I needed.

 

I've seen those Don but I just don't have that much use for plain old silver paint if I am as disappointed as I was in the last can of supposed chrome paint I bought. I'm thinking of buying a Molotow refill and airbrushing chrome that way ( pricey but I know it works).

I was at Menards yesterday picking up some Rustoleum spray paint and the had a new color called chrome.  The finish on the cap was a super-bright chrome look.  I wonder if it is as good as that from the Molatow pens.  I see more paint companies offering super-bright super-smooth "chrome" color.  I was tempted to pick up a can but had my hands full of paint I needed.

oldermodelguy

And I keep the tape seal and put it back on when done, then put the pen in a snack baggie all rolled up tight. My theory is to keep air out, so far it's worked pretty well for me.

That's a very good idea, thanks.

And Ed's tip about not using the magic markers is too. I got educated about that ink soaking through once.

It took a little time to get the paint to dispense.  I tried it on some scrap pieces and it flows nicely and covers well.  At $12 a pen the baggie thing is probably a good idea.

wpwar11

the toothpick idea sounds good.  I’m going to give it a try.  I just picked up the Molotow chrome pen.  Thanks for the detailed and timely response.

 

Just so you know, you might have to pump the heck out of that Molotow to get the paint going. And I keep the tape seal and put it back on when done, then put the pen in a snack baggie all rolled up tight. My theory is to keep air out, so far it's worked pretty well for me. I also periodically shake the pen up when not in use ( every couple of weeks or so if need be).

the toothpick idea sounds good.  I’m going to give it a try.  I just picked up the Molotow chrome pen.  Thanks for the detailed and timely response.

While we're on the subject of markers, avoid using Sharpie-type or Magic Marker-type pens as a pre-shade.  It sounds like a good concept but the marker will bleed through overpainting, especially when using enamel paints

Sorry about that, I was being a wise-guy, without regard to anyone who might not understand the "****" is the automatic censor. Thanks to Tojo for explaining, and a belated welcome to the forum.

Back on topic, FWIW in addition to the Malotow Chrome pens with I already mentioned I have and like, I also have some assorted acrylic paint pens and to be frank, I've yet to find a real use for them. I tend to agree with Don and OMG, I like the controllablity of doings dots and spots and whatnot with detail brushes and maybe toothpicks and such.

I keep a selection of paint pens and markers.  Most I use only occasionally, but use the Molatow chrome pen a lot.

Markers are great for making a transparent color for lights, like position lights, tail lights, etc.  I paint the light silver and then do a color coating with a marker pen.

For very fine dots I use the tip of a toothpick- those sharp double-ended ones.  Here is how I do it- I shake the bottle of paint, take the cap off, and set the cap town inverted on the bench.  There will be a thin layer of paint in the cap.  I touch the tip of the toothpick, held vertically down into the paint, then apply it to the model.  I always check on a scrap surface first- if the paint layer is too thick I then do the first dot on the surface and the second drop on the model. If the first drop on the scrap is okay, I then dip again in the cap and use that drop on the model.

wpwar11

Hey Greg New member to the site as of January of this year. Did you put the **** or did the site do that for the D word?

 

That's the "nanny-bot" the site's auto censor.You can beat it like this 

D*i*c*k's Hobbyland in Cranford N J my old local shop that closed up a decade ago.

So Im using Proarte series 60 size 0 brush for this application.  Fine brush but I feel a pen would have better control and constant flow of paint.  The Molotow pen looks great.  Their 1mm liquid chrome seems to be their best seller.  $12 is a lot for it.  The price we pay for the art of perfection.

you guys are great.  Thanks and stay healthy in this tough time.

Off topic but maybe have a closer look at your detail brushes and expand your set. There are various styles and some have short bristles with an oval tip. Just a thought.

In chrome I use Molotow as well but I believe Molotow also offers some colors too. I just keep a 2mm chrome personally.

And maybe this page from *** Blick might be helpful. Acrylic markers, oil-based markers, even some of the chrome markers Ed mentioned (I like those too)

**** Blick is an art supply supply store. **** is short for Richard, or a ...........wait, probably best not say that.

Not a specific response to your question,  but I have found Molotow Chrome Markers to be a good tool.    They are an alcohol-based ink marker.   The chrome ink is opaque and covers well.   The ink does not have flakes or grain like seen on many metallic paints.  They come in 3 sizes,  1, 2, and 4mm.   The 1 mm size is a hard tip like a gel roller pen,  the larger sizes are fabric/felt tip.  I first found one in Staples office supply, but have since found them in the art pen aisle at Hobby Lobby.   They are not cheap -- $12 bucks apiece.

These pens are my current go-to choice for landing gear oleos and the like where you want to replicate polished metal.  I have also found a neat trick of painting ship propellers chrome, then coating the metal with Tamiya clear yellow to make an effective brass without the typical out-of-scale brass flakes seen in metal paint.    My most current use has been to paint the metal piping on several if the 1:10 scale ejection seats by Squadron/True Detail.   You may be able to pick out instrument panel bezels.

I tried several other paint pen brands for modeling and have not found them to be as effective as a fine tipped 5/0 and smaller brush for general modelting applications.