Interior dash, seats....

Hello gang

Just want to start off by saying I am new to the hobby but eager to learn. I have gone through many threads here and some private sites and I'm very impressed by the masterful job and detail put in to some models........one day that will be my work ;)

This brings me to my first question (many others have been answered using the FAQ and search function).
Lead up to question:
While painting the interior, currently working on a Tamiya 350Z, I am using a brush to apply the recommended colors using the correct Tamiya acrylic paints. Aside from the paint becoming tacky rather quickly, I apply an even coat and let it air dry (I read today that many of you prime the interior, I have not). Once dry I notice the bush marks where apparently I applied more or a thicker coat than others spots. I tried to rub out the difference in appearance using rubbing compound, but had no luck.

Questions:
How do you guys paint the interior to appear even and free of blemishes?
Will primer make painting those shinny plastic pieces (seats for example) any easier?
How in the world do you guys keep your hands so steady?
I must be drinking to much caffeine.

Thanks in advance.

Use enamels to brush the interior. They go on smoother and fuller and don't show brushmarks, at the cost of being more difficult to clean.

As for a steady hand, get a very small brush, and practice. Try to rest your arm on a guide so you can just swivel your elbow and keep steady.

You could try spray spray cans. I would prefer Tamiya.

Originally posted by TheSyndicate
Use enamels to brush the interior. They go on smoother and fuller and don't show brushmarks, at the cost of being more difficult to clean.



Ditto....the enamals take longer to dry, therefore giving you a longer time.
Once coated, leave it for a good few hours before trying to put a second coat on.
The first one should be thin and just covering everything you need to paint. The second will finish off what you missed.

For the base colcor of the interior, I use a vinyl paint for car interiors. Also "satin finish" It looks fantastic, and one spray can will last you a very long time. I then go over everything with acrylic for the smaller details or a gundammarker for the really small details, works awesome!

Enamel sucks! :finger:

So lets see if I have this

1) prime all parts of interior
2) use enamels or spary entire interior then paint over parts with other colour?

Will painting over a sprayed part with enamel paint mess thing up?

Originally posted by XXXTERRA
So lets see if I have this

1) prime all parts of interior
2) use enamels or spary entire interior then paint over parts with other colour?

Will painting over a sprayed part with enamel paint mess thing up?

If you use the paint I suggested, you won't need to prime it first. Its designed to be sprayed directly over plastic and vinyl trim peices of automotive interiors.

pick some up from canadian tire. U-fix-it brand, vinyl and "satin finish" paints.

as far as "will it react" well I haven't had a problem with acrylic. I don't know what would react with an enamel spray though, I'm pretty sure acrylic won't.

Tamiya's acrylics are not really suitable for brush painting, more for airbrushing. Enamels will be better as the guy's have mentioned, but just to add to that, thin them down a little with the appropriate thinner and this will eliminate much of the brush stroke marks left in the dried paint. The thinner increases the paints drying time thus allowing it to flatten out completely before it cures. Experiment on scrap to determine what mix ratio suits you best.

Originally posted by flyonthewall
Tamiya's acrylics are not really suitable for brush painting, more for airbrushing. Enamels will be better as the guy's have mentioned, but just to add to that, thin them down a little with the appropriate thinner and this will eliminate much of the brush stroke marks left in the dried paint. The thinner increases the paints drying time thus allowing it to flatten out completely before it cures. Experiment on scrap to determine what mix ratio suits you best.

Just adding on to this........You can leave the jar in hot water for a while as this will help the paint flow better if you have nothing to thin the paint with.

Thanks for the advice. Of course I went out and bought about 20 different Tamiya acrylic paint mini jars before I knew about the enamels. I guess it's time to step up and buy an airbrush ;) For those who have one, how useful is it? I mean I am fairly new to the hobby and still going through the growing pains, but if an airbrush will help me along and improve the final result I am willing to go that route.
Besides I need a good reason to convince the wife :D