The Ship Model Forum

what type of paint brush's do you use? i have just started to use flat brush's and the results are great.! i mainly build 1/350 ships so there are a lot of flat surface to do.

I use:

for any surface above 20 cm2 - airbrush
for smaller surfaces, and details - sometimes airbrush, and a large assorment of paintbrushes, both flat and pointy ones, only natural red marten hair. Have all sizes here from 5/0 to 8.

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Model kit manufacturer and distributor: https://b2b.modellbaudienst.de
Distributor of Very Fire, Snowman, Milania Master Korabel, Falkonet, Microdisign in EU
1:350 HMS Diana 1794 - nearly released
Further kits in preparation.

I always paint by brush (except primers). I use nylon-bristled paint brushes with most acrylic paints. I get the best quality I can for my fine-detail brushes, but for flat ones, I buy them in bulk lots from art supply houses.

I only use flat brushes for hulls (especially below the boot-topping line) and for large areas like flight decks or painted decks where there is no wood planking. I discard the brush after such use, which is why I buy in bulk.

The only exception to my nylon-bristle rule is from size Zero and finer, where I find that natural-hair brushes serve me better. These each cost almost twice the amount I pay for a bulk-lot of nylon flats, but they are worth it.

I keep these expensive tools tipped with spaghetti tubing to protect the bristles and stored in a vertical rack, away from sunlight.

FWIW
Dan

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Danny DON'T "waterline"...!

I only use brushes for small detail painting.........well I have brushpainted some smaller subjects but that's rare for me. I use flats, rounds, stumps and soft puffy brushes depending on the medium and what I'm trying to do. For painting and drybrushing I use "golden taklon" bristles because it holds up better in my use. Mostly acrylics for painting with a few odd enamels or lacquers and drybrushing with oils. Drybrushing literally wears brushes down so go cheap there.

For decal setting solutions I use those cheap camel hair brushed we grew up with from a bin on the hobby shop counter that had a few hundred in it.

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How do I get the pen to write here? Now my screen's all smeared with ink.........

Best I have found are sable.

Cheers,

Rob

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IPMS Fine Waterline Special Interest Group

I agree sable are the best type of brush you can get and it is in my opinion worth buying the best you can. I my case i have not bought a new brush in five years but then again I have got a stash of spare brushes.

I also have one brush for each job type such as:

Base coat (hardly used these days as i use a spay primer and base coat)
Drybrush
General paint jobs
Inks/washes
Fines detail (three sizes)