Painting Whites

[Mossie]

Has any one got any tips for painting white areas?  I know it's an age old problem & it's something I've always had problems with.  I've heard Halfords Appliance White spray cans are good for large areas, anyone any experience with it? I tend to use Humbrol Enamels & although in general there paints tend to be goood, the whites don't cover very well (to be fair on Humbrol this is typical of most white paints) & are a bit thicker than their other colours.  I've heard Vallejo acrylics better than most, does anyone know if there are any paint ranges that are better than the rest or have any hints for painting white?

Thanks,

Simon  

[Spey_Phantom]

i have the same problem, what i would do is first give it a primer coat and then apply the white.

however i dont use primer, i apply a first coat of matt white, and then give it 1 or 2 coats satin white.

[Mossie]

Thanks Nils.  I've found that white primer doesn't really help, it just seems to be like adding another coat of paint.  I'm experimenting at the moment with several coats of matt white & then Klear on top.  So far (four coats!) it's not a lot better than using satin, although the coats are that bit thinner so it may prevent obscuring detail.

[Allan]

Mossie

Can I recommend Testors flat white in the small spray an?

I used one many years ago and it well on very well.

Allan in Canberra

[van883]

Games Workshop Skull White in a spray can is something I'm experimenting with....seems ok so fsr.

Van

[Allan]

I've heard of that paint, but it's bloody expensive!!!

The Testors stuff is really the way to go in my view.

Allan in Canberra

[nev]

Halfords White Primer for teh win!  Appliance White on top if you need a really good gloss finish (say a Concorde)

I haven't tried them, but I hear titanium white oil paints are pretty good.

[NARSES2]

I've used both Halford's Appliance White & Games Workshop Skull White (spray can) and they are both very good

[Mossie]

Thanks guys!  I'll give the Games Workshop stuff a go.  Allan, I'd try the Testors stuff but I never see their paints in the UK, & I can't find a mail order company that does it.

Cheers all for the suggestions!

Simon.  

[Brian da Basher]

I've used Testor's White acrylics almost exclusively and have had no problems. You might want to let a little of the water or whatever evaporate off it you're using a brand new jar. I've also used artist's gesso which works well too and can be used to help "thicken" other less-opaque water-based paints.

Brian da Basher

[philp]

Here is a secret for those of you who use an airbrush.  This is from a guy who builds rockets.
White models tend to yellow with age.  To counter that, add a few drops of blue to the white when you originally spray.  Can't tell the diffence and it won't yellow on you (or the model).

[matrixone]

When painting white basecoats ALWAYS use flat white, it covers quite well and I never have to add more than two coats. For painting large pale yellow areas I base coat in one layer of flat white and then spray the yellow paint.

What philp said is true about adding a drop of blue to your bottle of white paint, it works great but only one drop of blue paint is needed, any more than that will turn your bottle of white paint into a bottle of late war RLM 76 white blue (as seen on late production Ju 88Gs).

Matrixone

[Howard of Effingham]

i have switched to using tamiya acrylic white in flat and gloss forms and it works
ok for my standard of modelling.  ^_^ though it is best not to over thin the white.
it takes two or three coats of flat white and then a single coat of gloss.

[Radish]

I always use white primer from Halfords if I want a white finish.
It's also great for undercoating areas of yellow, red, orange, etc..

Rarely do I need a Gloss White finish, but if I did, I think white Primer followed by a suitable Gloss White (also from Halfords) would surfice.
I'll need these for my  gloss white "Bunny" from VX-4.  

[Supertom]

Hey Mossie, I have two bits of advice on painting white:

1) the best white paint I've used is Polly Scale's Reefer White, in acrylic or enamel.  It just seems to cover really well for some reason.  If you're using the enamel though, add a tiny drop of blue into it.  For some reason white enamels yellow over time.

2) For white I tend to "mist" a coat over it, let it dry, then spray again.  White pools really easily so I tend to build it up in layers over time.  Takes a while but leaves a more even finish.