base coat

[Ian Aylmer]

Hi All

 

Again thanks for the great tips on gap filling, worked a treat..........I think.

 

Well, I am going to start painting tomorrow, I was wondering if I should first apply a base coat. If so why, I am assuming that this might show up any imperfections and give the colour something to adhere to.

 

Also, I shall be using humbrol enamel, what ratio should I use thinners to paint?

 

Finally, I was wondering, what do the IPMS do and is it worth joining???

 

Thanks all

Ian

[Haggis]

Ian

 

When I do my paint thinning I just use trial and error. I have an old kit on standby which gets blatted with every colour I use, I can see if the paint needs more or less thinner straight away.

 

As for IPMS, hmmm. I am a member but to be honest the only reason I joined was to enter the competition at the Nationals and my club gives me a £10 rebate. I find the magazine ok but not a lot is my thing and there are usually reams and reams of minutes from comitee meetings, yawn It's up to you, a lot of people get a lot out of it, why don't you join for a year as a trial and see how you get on. If there is a local club you would get much more out of that.

[Edgar Brooks]

I always use an undercoat, for two reasons. As you say, it shows up any imperfections, that might need further attention, but, also, it gives a uniform base for the top coat(s.) If I've used a filler (which is, nearly always, the case,) the surface is likely to be a different consistency from the original plastic. This can show up as an annoying "flat" area, where the paint has soaked in. I've also found that using a white primer tends to give the top coats more "body," and that is especially useful with metal finishes.

Edgar