Newby need HELP

I am a total beginner to modeling and am making a motorbike at the moment and was wondering how to get a nice finish on smaller parts like the engine and other small parts, do you guys primer and hand paint these parts or spray them. As the finish i am getting with just hand painting then out of the box (no primer) looks poor.
I plan on spray painting the body pannels and have found some good hints on this.
Also is there any other good forums for modelling or any good hints sites that you guys know of.

Cheers for all your help

Really you shouldn't have terrible problems handpainting little and complex part like engine's subassembly: looks like to me you haven't washed the parts, BTW:

1- You're welcome :) .
2- The best way is wash well parts, prime and spray metallics trought a good airbrush
3- You'll find here around all you need, concerning finishing, detailing, modify ecc. so just start to search and browse, good luck and enjoy this amazing hobby.
4- the other thing you need is experience: so just try :)

I am a total beginner to modeling and am making a motorbike at the moment and was wondering how to get a nice finish on smaller parts like the engine and other small parts, do you guys primer and hand paint these parts or spray them. As the finish i am getting with just hand painting then out of the box (no primer) looks poor.
I plan on spray painting the body pannels and have found some good hints on this.
Also is there any other good forums for modelling or any good hints sites that you guys know of.

Cheers for all your help

Really you shouldn't have terrible problems handpainting little and complex part like engine's subassembly: looks like to me you haven't washed the parts, BTW:

1- You're welcome :) .
2- The best way is wash well parts, prime and spray metallics trought a good airbrush
3- You'll find here around all you need, concerning finishing, detailing, modify ecc. so just start to search and browse, good luck and enjoy this amazing hobby.
4- the other thing you need is experience: so just try :)

Cheers i do not have a airbrush and have purcahed quite a few revell enamel paint tins, and plan on using them until i can justify the outlay for a airbrush, on parts like the engine should i prime them before handpainting or am i best priming them then sparying them (with a spary can)?

cheers again

Cheers i do not have a airbrush and have purcahed quite a few revell enamel paint tins, and plan on using them until i can justify the outlay for a airbrush, on parts like the engine should i prime them before handpainting or am i best priming them then sparying them (with a spary can)?

cheers again

Usually you want to spray as much as you can in order to get a smooth coat. However, I personally still handbrush engine and smaller parts too; just make sure you have good brushes and use even coats of paint.

You'll find a few differing opinions on primer around here. I've personally found that as long as the plastic is clean, primer isn't really necessary. I typically only use it if it's a colored plastic with the potential to bleed through or if I'm painting something a dark sprue a lighter color. Hope this helps a bit.

Usually you want to spray as much as you can in order to get a smooth coat. However, I personally still handbrush engine and smaller parts too; just make sure you have good brushes and use even coats of paint.

You'll find a few differing opinions on primer around here. I've personally found that as long as the plastic is clean, primer isn't really necessary. I typically only use it if it's a colored plastic with the potential to bleed through or if I'm painting something a dark sprue a lighter color. Hope this helps a bit.

cheers i will bear this in mind, so the revell enamel paints i have could i airbrush with these?
if so what would i be looking at for a good begginner airbrush for modelling.
Am gutted a i have just sold a iwata and compressor i used for custom car work :banghead: :banghead:

Yes, you can airbrush the Revell paints. I find it takes me about as much time to paint little parts with an airbrush and clean it as it does to use a brush and clean that, and you get a much better finish (And use less paint too).

Spray cans work OK for larger objects, but you end up spray way more paint than you need to for a single part. Try and group parts of a common color together and spray them all at once (I saw the website of a guy who builds NASCAR models, lots of them, and he was painting the semigloss black from about 6 cars all at once. All those parts sitting on rods and sticks looked like a little forrest LOL).

If you already have experience with airbrushing, I would just save up and at least get another good airbrush first, rather than buying a cheap one and replacing it in a little while. You could always save money using an air tank you can refill at the service station or something for now, and get a compressor later on.

Yes, you can airbrush the Revell paints. I find it takes me about as much time to paint little parts with an airbrush and clean it as it does to use a brush and clean that, and you get a much better finish (And use less paint too).

Spray cans work OK for larger objects, but you end up spray way more paint than you need to for a single part. Try and group parts of a common color together and spray them all at once (I saw the website of a guy who builds NASCAR models, lots of them, and he was painting the semigloss black from about 6 cars all at once. All those parts sitting on rods and sticks looked like a little forrest LOL).

If you already have experience with airbrushing, I would just save up and at least get another good airbrush first, rather than buying a cheap one and replacing it in a little while. You could always save money using an air tank you can refill at the service station or something for now, and get a compressor later on.

so should i stear clear of revell etc airbrushes and go for a iwata, badger airbrush.
also how would i go about using the tins of paint i have now do i just thin them down?

Welcome :)

Most of your questions have been covered here before and will already be listed in either the FAQ, How To section or on http://www.Scalewiki.com

As for bottles and cans of paint, they will need to be thinned for airbrushing, this isn't difficult and is, once again, a topic covered here frequently.

Recommendations of either Badger, Paasche or Iwata airbrushes are right on, they're good brands and a few more dollars spent now will be some money you don't have to part with at a later date.

Ray