Brush Painting
With Geoff Coughlin
Target project: Frog 1:72 Gloster Javelin FAW.9 – the full build is part of a retro-project I undertook with Les Venus where he’s taken on the old Airfix 1:72 AC-47 and I take on the Javelin and you can find that here.
Introduction
Let’s face it, not everyone owns an airbrush, indeed not everyone wants to own one, despite the clear benefits being able to use one well will bring to your scale modelling.
Sometimes it’s just different to brush paint – choosing to brush paint, rather than airbrushing – for whatever reasons we may have. That’s all very well, but what are some of the things to consider when undertaking this approach?
This is the first entry in your Techniques Bank on brush painting and I will be adding more soon so let’s get into the detail showing what I have done to brush-paint the Gloster Javelin you see here…
(Photo: My completed Frog Gloster Javelin FAW.9 in 1:72 scale. I’m pleased with how it all turned out – not perfect by any means but I learned a lot from taking this one on and feel confident I can do much better the next time I have a ‘play’!)
The videos (and still pics) pretty much cover it I think, but here’s a summary of the steps involved. Each video is quite short, so you won’t have to wade through any fluff.
Materials needed:
- 2-3 broad flat brushes – different sizes for different brush painting tasks on your model
- Humbrol Grey Primer – the rattle-can is ideal making application of the base layer easy and it’s also essential for Humbrol water-based acrylic paints
- Humbrol water-based acrylic paints – you can of course use enamels and other brands for your project, I have just chosen from the Humbrol acrylic range for this project. Select the colours from their range that you need (if available). Water-based acrylics from other ranges offering the colours you need should work just as well together
- Humbrol Acrylic Thinner – comes in decent large bottles that will last a long time and offer great value
- Tamiya masking tape – to create neat demarcation between colours when needed such as the intake rings and nose cone of this Gloster Javelin.
What follows is a slightly edited version of what you’ll find in the extensive full build for the Javelin (see link above). So we pick up the action just as construction is done and the canopy is masked with the model ready to be painted…
Painting…
We need to do a bit of prep first on the canopy. I want to see the dark grey/black framing from the inside and so we need to apply that to the outside of the canopy now.
Mix up a little Humbrol Acrylic Black (No.33) with a couple of drops of their thinner and paint onto the canopy with a medium broad brush, working quite quickly to get a decent coverage before the paint starts to dry.
VIDEO DEMO
Leave overnight to harden thoroughly and then we need to prime the surface. Just before that though I wan to mask out the lower areas that’ll be silver as I may want to blitz that with a rattle can, possibly from a different manufacturer and don’t want to risk an adverse reaction. I may equally hand paint it – just haven’t decided yet so a bit of careful masking will keep the door open for either option.
Humbrol acrylic paints work so much better and are easier to use if you apply them onto their own (grey) primer. Shake the can for a good couple of minutes, spray from about 20 cms and keep the can moving at all times to avoid pooling.
Set aside to dry thoroughly overnight.
VIDEO DEMOS
As you can see I have used Humbrol Sea Grey (No.27) instead of Dark Sea Grey (unavailable at the time of writing in the Humbrol range) but it’s close enough, especially in the smaller scale.
Second grey coat applied…
VIDEO DEMOS
More grey…
VIDEO DEMOS
Time for green…
VIDEO DEMOS
More green camo…
VIDEO DEMOS
Nose radome…
VIDEO DEMOS
Here are a couple more photos on the completed project…
Closing thoughts…
Hopefully this has been helpful, especially if you are new, returning to the hobby or just less-experienced at brush painting. I have been very impressed by these acrylic paints from Humbrol and the ket takeaways for me are:
• Apply your paint in thin layers, avoid any attempt to cover in thicker coats
• When using Humbrol acrylic paints stick to other Humbrol products like primer, thinner and varnishes, that way you avoid any nasty reactions and surprises.
• Leave plenty of time between coats
• Work quickly and efficiently when painting to get the paint down smoothly and evenly before it starts to dry.
Best wishes all,
Geoff C.
Ask a question or add feedback:
You must be logged in to post a comment.