The Ship Model Forum

Hello All,

I am looking for some opinions/information about the paint sequence for a model. Specifically in regards to sanding between coats....what grit to use and when....

I searched the forum and found some information but I didn't find a complete sequence leading to a final paint finish.

I don't want to go too far before I get it straight in my head what the steps are....not fun to find out AFTER you make a mistake that you skipped a step and end up with a trashed kit....

Could someone point me to a source or just a description here would work wonders. Thanks.

SC

Car modellers sand between paint coats to achieve a glassy smooth finish, but I haven't heard of military, or ship modellers doing that. Just prime where, and if, neccessary (especially if you're using a lot of brass or resin parts). Pre-shade, if you prefer, then spray on your base coat. Future (Pledge), or a gloss coat to seal. Apply decals (if any). Seal again. Apply black oil wash. Brush off oil wash where not desired. When dry, matte coat, then dry brush with lighter color to emphasize raised detail. Final matte clear coat to protect paint job. Place on shelf and enjoy!

Thanks 'Big"..... That clears it up considerably.... I'm still new to airbrushing and thought maybe there would be more sanding...I guess I got that idea from reading some 'car' posts on other sites while I was looking for ideas......