Paint

[mlipst]

It's been a while since I built a balsa/tissue model. What is the consensus for the best paint to use these days?

[Scott]

Is the model going to be for display only,or do you intend to fly it?

[collinmccallum]

I use testors acrylic, some testors silver enamel and all kinds of spray paint. much respect! -collinmccallum

[kittyfritters]

I usually cover with colored tissue and add markings and trim with colored or inkjet printed tissue. (See photo, there is no paint or decals on that model. It is covered with Esaki metallic tissue, no longer available. )

Sometimes, I have to paint to get the look I want. Most of the time I airbrush with acrylics or opaque acrylic airbrush ink. The inks are a bit pricey but they are the lightest paint that I have found and come thinned to the proper consistency. For some WW2 models I use Testors acrylics since they have an authentic range of US, British, and German colors in one of their product lines.

I haven't found a good metallic tissue since Esaki went out of business so when I want to have the bare metal look I use Design Master silver floral spray. The Design Master floral sprays are the lightest rattle can paints I have found.

Beaver_1.jpg

[Scott]

Beautiful work on that Beaver,Kittyfritters.

[kittyfritters]

Thank you, Scott.

[jswroth]

Nice work Kittyfritters. Is your colored tissue paper a special paper for this application, or do you just use colored tissue from hallmark store, etc?

[kittyfritters]

The Air Force Beaver is entirely Esaki tissue. The insignia was inkjet printed on white tissue, cut out with an Xacto knife and applied with a glue stick. The dayglo areas were cut out and applied with glue stick. I use permanent glue stick, nothing labled "school". School glue stick is not water resistant so it can be washed out of children's clothes. I sometimes use package store or dollar store tissue when I can't find the right color in a model airplane tissue but that is only for markings applied dry with glue stick. The wet strength of wrapping tissues is unpredictable ranging from acceptable to nonexistent.

KF

[jswroth]

"The wet strength of wrapping tissues is unpredictable ranging from acceptable to nonexistent."

Well dang, I thought I had a hack for the two colors I planned to use on kit 1004 Corsair. I guess it's back to paint...