Is airbrushing the ONLY way for quality/unique paintjobs?

[Vegetta]

I've been building models for almost 10years and I've always painted using spray cans. I've gotten by with mixxing silver or gold base-coats, then layering transparent top-coats....but now, I'm looking for colors that I just CAN'T make with using the old-skool paint cans.


I've seen a couple documentaries on "Taggers" (graffiti artists) connecting two cans of regular spray paint and mixxing the colors....is this possible for the mini-cans of Testors or Boyds pains?


Or?........should I just take the plunge into air-brushing?



I know the quality of air-brushing is much better and much more controllable, but....well........I guess I'm just old-skool.



There are 2-3 colors I'm looking for....(maybe this belongs in new thread)........


...a dark-metalic pink

...a light-metalic peach (like the Factory/Custom Diablo color)

...and maybe a lighter Imola-Orange found on the Acura NSX





(sorry, I'm new to this forum, and I searched and searched but couldn't find any answers)


(btw I REALLY like this smilie :flash: ....reminds me of my DJ/Rave days )


Thanks for your imput in advance.

[tonioseven]

...a dark-metalic pink

Hi. I'm lazy but I prefer to use a spraycan when possible. The color quoted above is availsble in a spraycan made by Pactra for Radio Controlled cars; it's called "Metallic Burgundy" but it's really a dark metallic pink. House of Kolors paints are now available in a spraycan also. They're sold through Black Gold they have a wide variety of colors including Kameleons and Marblizers. Good luck with your searches. Hope this helps.

[hermanchauw]

What abt doing it anyway u like (brush or spray can or whatever) and then doing the normal sanding/polishing techniques. Anyway the sanding removes all unevenness in the paint right.

[daggerlee]

While it certainly would be possible to find exact color matches, or attempt to "connect" the spray paints, you'll save a lot of headache by getting an airbrush. Airbrushes just make it a lot lot lot easier to mix colors.

[Vegetta]

Originally posted by hermanchauw
What abt doing it anyway u like (brush or spray can or whatever) and then doing the normal sanding/polishing techniques. Anyway the sanding removes all unevenness in the paint right.

Sandingi is only 1/2 half the problem. I used to build/pain REAL cars, but finding paint that will match the color I want on model cars has become a bit*ch.

[Fooesboy]

If you are using automotive lacquers then you should be able to have the colour you want mixed in the paint shop, and then put into a spray can. (at an extra cost)

I would be cairful with holding 2 cans togeather, the amount of paint you would get could swamp your detail.

[Guido]

to my personal taste it's airbrush, airbrush. No spraycans unless they are only available in cans, like Tamiya ones. Then I will half empty the spray can into my airbrush bottle and use the airbrush. Once you've tried it, you'll never use the spraycans again. In the past when I used the cans, there was always something bothering me about it, and stuff that went wrong.

But like I said, that's my personal preference.

Guido

[Murco]

For certain custom colors and finish effects an airbrush is the only way to go. BUT, I have found that most any color you are looking for is available if you look for it. Black Gold, Metro Paints, even local PPG shops are all sources for unique or hard-to-find colors. Sometimes it may cost a little more, but that's the price of fidelity.
I have won 12 "Best Finish" awards, 7 of those in national meets - all with rattle can paint jobs!