Painting

[ibaker]

WARNING...noobe questions

Started on my first model (Tamiya 1:350 Bismarck) and doing some preliminary painting. The paints I have are Tamiya Acrylic Minis and I read somewhere that it is best to thin the paint as you use it by a mix of 1:1 paint and 91% Isopropyl Alcohol. I purchased a bottle of Diggers Isopropyl Alcohol which is 100% Isopropanol. I mixed drop for drop of paint and Alcohol and applied to some starter parts but found it to be too thin as it has resulted in the need to do 2 coats...am I on the right track or am I doing it wrong???

Also, any advice on how to paint the name plates? I thought the best colors would be black background with the raised words and frame edge in brass but not sure what is the best way to paint it and have the letters standing out...any advice?

[Timmy C]

Multiple thin coats are better than one thick one! As long as you're not seeing much in the way of brushstrokes in the paint, then you're doing well.

Nameplate's entirely up to you, but I would do the same as you. The tough part is to decide whether you're going to paint just the top surface of the letters, or the side of the letters as well.

[ibaker]

The tough part is to decide whether you're going to paint just the top surface of the letters, or the side of the letters as well.

WHAT!!! crikey, it's hard enough for me to paint the top of the letters let alone the sides of them...give me 10 years maybe...I was thinking of painting it all black and then using a sponge block dipped in paint and slide it across the top of the letters (perhaps that may be cheating though )

Thanks for the advice Mate...very much appreciated!

[Ross MacMillan]

Since my Academy Bismarck came with two nameplates I set one aside for the usual black/gold/silver style, and did the other one in verdigris, just for the fun of it. I'm undecided as to whether it looks a little bit cheesy but it certainly stands out.