Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Painting, Finishing and Care. => Topic started by: FerryNostalgic on March 03, 2017, 07:29:45 pm

Title: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: FerryNostalgic on March 03, 2017, 07:29:45 pm
 Hi all,

Does anyone know where I can get acrylic paint (suitable for models) custom mixed to specific colours?


I know the British Standard colours I need for my model boat and found several companies on-line that custom mix aerosol paints to any colour, in any finish from high gloss to matt and in paint types of Cellulose, Acrylic or Synthetic Enamel, so I ordered my paints from www.cjaerosols.com (http://www.cjaerosols.com) in Satin Acrylic.


Most were ordered as aerosols but I got the green for the decks in a 500ml tin so that I could use a brush to paint those hard to get to places as the build progresses.


When I opened the tin, I was beaten back by the smell of solvent which I later found even melts the plastic (styrene) that most my model boat is built of (except the hull which is fibreglass). I can get around that by first applying a couple of coats of primer, but the paint is quite thick and starts to dry in seconds. I’ve experimented with thinning it with cellulose thinners but it’s still not great and it's difficult to avoid brushmarks. If I end up buying an airbrush, I suspect this paint may also be too thick.


It seems in this case, “acrylic” doesn’t mean "water-based"! Can any of you offer advice or suggest where I can get the right type of paint mixed to order?


Thanks in advance.


PS: My model is of the 1970’s cross channel ferry “Free Enterprise V” from an excellent kit supplied by www.linkspanmodels.co.uk (http://www.linkspanmodels.co.uk)
If you’re interested, I’m documenting the build on Facebook. Just search for “JP’s model boats”.
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: cos918 on March 03, 2017, 07:49:01 pm
Hi Jean Paul and welcome to Mayhem.
Does not sound like acrylic as we know in the sense of model paints . Need to be careful on solvent paints on plastic . The a man on here by the name of dave and gos by Stavros . give him a PM . He knows a lot .


John
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: Stavros on March 03, 2017, 09:03:55 pm
Right then....try halfords for starters but you really need to know what the car colour that is closest....ANY motor factor that sells Automotive car paints should be able to mix you the correct colour.....Troll through Ebay and there are plenty of shops on there who can mix coulours for you ...if you can't get anything then Pm me and I can get them done  for you.




Dave
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: FerryNostalgic on March 03, 2017, 09:11:41 pm
Thanks Stavros,

It's not getting the right colour that's the problem, it's getting the right type of paint in the right colour... The paint I bought is automotive paint, just like you can get in Halfords or any motor factor, but these paints seem to be solvent-based and quite thick whereas model builders acrylic paints such as those from Humbrol and Tamiya are water based and easier to work with.

Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: Stavros on March 03, 2017, 09:34:56 pm
Th point being is that any car based aerosol is a lot thicker than the watery type that are Humbrol and Tamya paints....Paint from car aerosols can be as thick or thin as you want......simply build up the layers Slowly thats what you need to do....As I don't use Humbrol or Tamya paints then someone else might be able to help as I don't know where you ca get them in the Water based paint,maybee you need to buy yourself and air brush and spray them on that way...Who knows,Maybee someone on here knows where you can get some Water based aerosols from...Sorry I cant be of help






Dave
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: FerryNostalgic on March 03, 2017, 09:46:21 pm
Thanks Dave

I guess I was on the right track then by just thinning the paint down. I think I might just buy myself an airbrush and learn to use that in a very fine spray instead of using a brush.

Cheers,

JP
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: cos918 on March 03, 2017, 09:57:23 pm
HI JP
What livery are you doing Free Enterprise ?
John
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: FerryNostalgic on March 03, 2017, 10:02:07 pm
Hi John

I've decided to do it in the original early '70s pale green Townsend livery for now and maybe in time, if I get bored with it I may repaint it, first in Townsend Thoresen orange and eventually even in P&O blue...

JP
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: cos918 on March 03, 2017, 10:12:57 pm
In that case you real need to plan and map out your paint plan .By this I mean . Take each livery work out what you need. Eg for TT orange ,Red oxide . TT orange ,White deck green ,pale funnel green .
Work out what is available in each colour ,eg acrylic ,enamel ,car paints etc . You should real stick to one type of paint to avoid reactions .
Car sprays are great but a paint to paint in corners on a deck. On Celestine I found a car paint green and a Humbroil acrylic that are all most the same shade so I can touch up.
You have to be so care full with diffrent paints to avoid reactions


John
PS speak to Carl as I think he knows were to get TT orange . I will need some next year
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: Colin Bishop on March 03, 2017, 10:15:50 pm
If using car paints like Halfords then you can just spray some into the can cap and use a brush to touch in any unsprayed areas, it blends in very well and is also useful for covering up unintended blemishes.

Colin
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: cos918 on March 03, 2017, 10:20:13 pm
If using car paints like Halfords then you can just spray some into the can cap and use a brush to touch in any unsprayed areas, it blends in very well and is also useful for covering up unintended blemishes.

Colin
You can do that . But spray paint does not like to be brushed . I is very hard to get a good finish . And a car touch up pen in the same shade is even worse . Been there done that .


John
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: FerryNostalgic on March 03, 2017, 10:22:45 pm
It's OK John, I already have all of the right British Standard colour codes for the model. When I built my first ferry model "Super Viking" back in 1978, I wrote to Townsend Thoresen to find out the correct paint colours! Let me know when you need them and I'll send you the list.

I've hear about the issues with mixing different types of paints which is why I'd like to stick with one type, but I'm a stickler for accuracy and the only paints I can get to the exact colour are automotive paints, hence this post. It looks like I'm going to have to stick with this type of paint and get used to it.
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: Colin Bishop on March 03, 2017, 10:24:30 pm
I've not had any problems with doing that but you do have to have a very delicate touch, the idea is to 'lay' the paint on the surface in a single pass. If you try to brush it out then the solvent can interact with the existing finish and produce drag marks. As with many things, it's just a question of technique.

Colin
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: FerryNostalgic on March 03, 2017, 10:25:35 pm
Colin, John

This was the very point of my post... I can get any colour I like mixed to order in solvent-based automotive acrylic paint, but it doesn't like to be brushed on, certainly not neat... you have to thin it first and it's a pig to work with as it starts to dry in seconds and tends to leave brush strokes.
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: FerryNostalgic on March 03, 2017, 10:27:33 pm
I guess you're right Colin, it's a matter of technique. I've only just started doing this, so I guess I'll get the knack of it eventually.

Certainly being able to get the paint made to order in any colour is a great advantage, so I think I'll stick with this type of paint and just learn to use it as best I can...
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: cos918 on March 03, 2017, 10:31:32 pm
if you were to go down the route of enamel for the whole lot then you can get them custom made . You can air brush enamel paints but I am not  a fan of them . Much prefer acrylic paints . If you want me to I can ask Mike at Howes were they get there paints done and how much .

John
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: FerryNostalgic on March 03, 2017, 10:36:03 pm
Being able to wash brushes in water is the obvious advantage of acrylics as I see it, but I'd be interested to know why you prefer acrylic to enamel and what you feel are the pros and cons, John.

I'd certainly be interested to know where you can get enamels mixed to order, but if anyone reading this knows where you can get acrylics mixed to order that would be good.


Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: Colin Bishop on March 03, 2017, 10:41:27 pm
If you are overcoating/overlapping existing paint then one of those cheap flat nylon artists brushes can be very good. Spray the paint into the can cap and it will be quite runny. Dip the brush in and just kiss the surface once with it when you apply the paint. Don't put too much on. If it doesn't quite cover then have another go but only when it has dried. The technique is only really good for small areas but it does usually work.

I have never been very good at painting myself but with age comes patience and that seems to be the key to it! (plus don't try to mix different types of paint - the results are unpredictable!)

Colin
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: cos918 on March 03, 2017, 10:44:58 pm
good old google and i found the supplier that they use to do the Railmatch paint in the enamel range.
https://www.hmgpaint.com/ (https://www.hmgpaint.com/)


You have found the main one . cleaning is so much easier .  differently with an airbrush
I fine acrylic dries a lot quicker than enamel so in an evening I can get two coats on a fitting if I use acrylic.
On Celestine i had to do the orange hi zis above the bridge . to say humbroil enamel is crap is an understatment. Some people may love them far play . Me wont touch them . Have a look on the net there enough comments about the over price chines poor paint that Humbrol sells
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: Colin Bishop on March 03, 2017, 10:52:12 pm
I think Humbrol paints are now manufactured in the UK again following the quality control problems when they were outsourced to China but there may still be stocks of the Chinese stuff around.

Colin
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: cos918 on March 03, 2017, 10:56:26 pm
damage is done the brand is tarnished . A lot of modellers wont touch Humbrol enamels . Sill move be Hornby to lose quality control on paint . 
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: carlmt on March 03, 2017, 11:26:40 pm
Just touching base here......  Hi JP - onto the painting stage already eh?  These types of ship can be a beggar to paint and I have been giving a lot of thought as to the sequence of painting the Norland lately as that is a job that is rushing over the horizon.
 
For the prototype Free Enterprise, we used regular Halfords automotive paint off the shelf - red oxide below the waterline and Fiat 'Capri Blue' for the P&O colour.  Halfords white primer for the white superstructures seemed to go on well.  The decks were Humbrol enamels painted by hand with a GOOD flat artist's brush (much less masking needed that way). 
 
Just read the 'small print' on the Halfords can I have here (the blue) and it says it is 'an advanced acrylic based formulation'.....but it clearly uses a solvent as the 'carrying medium' to carry the paint from the can to the surface and then this solvent evaporates off leaving the paint dry. (STAVROS - I guess that is what the solvent is for???).  It expressly says to use thinners to clean the nozzle...... So I don't think it is water-based at all.
 
The whole model was then covered in a sprayed coat of satin varnish.
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: FerryNostalgic on March 04, 2017, 07:58:33 am
Thanks for your input Carl.... Painting the hull and superstructure is a long way off yet and I've already got the spray paints for that from cjaerosols.com.
My immediate requirement is to paint the enclosed and "hard to get to" deck spaces that will be too difficult or even impossible to do once the model is completed. Some bits of this can only be done with a paintbrush.

Even if I spray paint the decks before fitting them, there will be some touching up to do wherever I've used glue or filler or done some sanding. The solvent-based automotive spray paint I have is not well suited to being applied with a brush, so here's my dilemma: Should I...
What do you thoughts on this? Perhaps it's worth me trying some of these ideas on a sample off-cut of styrene sheet and then decide...

JP

Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: cos918 on March 04, 2017, 08:23:14 am
Just touching base here......  Hi JP - onto the painting stage already eh?  These types of ship can be a beggar to paint and I have been giving a lot of thought as to the sequence of painting the Norland lately as that is a job that is rushing over the horizon.
 
For the prototype Free Enterprise, we used regular Halfords automotive paint off the shelf - red oxide below the waterline and Fiat 'Capri Blue' for the P&O colour.  Halfords white primer for the white superstructures seemed to go on well.  The decks were Humbrol enamels painted by hand with a GOOD flat artist's brush (much less masking needed that way). 
 
Just read the 'small print' on the Halfords can I have here (the blue) and it says it is 'an advanced acrylic based formulation'.....but it clearly uses a solvent as the 'carrying medium' to carry the paint from the can to the surface and then this solvent evaporates off leaving the paint dry. (STAVROS - I guess that is what the solvent is for???).  It expressly says to use thinners to clean the nozzle...... So I don't think it is water-based at all.
 
The whole model was then covered in a sprayed coat of satin varnish.


Carl white primer is ok for prep work but has a low pigment . I would go for Halfords appliance white . High pigment and a very white finish
John
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: cos918 on March 04, 2017, 08:37:47 am
HI JP
if you want Brunswick green , You could look at Vauxhall pine green and for touch up Humbrol acrylic no 3 brunswick green . It not 100% the same put very close
john
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: Colin Bishop on March 04, 2017, 09:29:21 am
I agree with John, Appliance White is a very good finish for model boats, probably best over white primer though. It is nominally gloss but is actually a nice sheen finish.

Colin
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: cos918 on March 04, 2017, 09:34:17 am
there was another thread were it was revealed that a lot of car specific white paint has a lot of yellow in and some of the more pure white colours has blue in them .


John
Title: Re: Custom-mixed paint colours
Post by: Stavros on March 04, 2017, 05:35:50 pm
If you want to go satin on the brunswick green then ASK your local Painter and decorator if he has any MATTING AGENT then you can add some a bit at a time...trial and error on this one to matt the paint....you could also ask in your local paint stockist and I don't meant B&Q Wicks etc a proper paint shop


The only other alternative left to you is to ask in B&Q for them to mix a ltr up of satin paint and hand paint your decks with it.... they have a rather large choice of shades of it on their paint swatches...


Carl,   YES it is the carrier and thinner inside the aerosols

Dave