AD's Patented Blu-Tack painting method

[AeroplaneDriver]

Please, AeroplaneDriver-San, be our Sensei and teach us how to work with O-blu-tac to achieve that ragged/veiny look!!!

No problem Rafa!

The tools of the trade are pretty simple.  Blu-Tac (or a similar poster-hanging putty) and some sort of chisel pointed thingy.  This is from a 99 cent nail care set I saw in the checkout aisle of a discount store.  It had 2 or these things, a nice file, and a 4-way nail buffer.  I thought it looked very useful for modeling!



I roll the putty into 'snakes' or 'sausages' then outline a rough pattern.



Next I use the chisel to push the putty down onto the model surface in the more intricate pattern.  The putty adheres well to the surface, but isnt sticky, so there is no risk of lifting paint.  



I also use the pointed end of the 'nail stick' (my term, no idea what the ladyfolk call it) to create smaller shapes in the camo outline.



To mask the rest of the model I use a plastic grocery bag.  I put the model in the bag and cut a slit over the area to be painted.



Then using the chisel again I push the edge of the hole into the putty to seal it.



I do a lot of painting with Tamiya spray laquer in cans since it is easier than getting the airbrus out and the paint gives a beautiful and durable finish.  Whether you use cans or airbrush though it's just like painting anything else, using multiple thin layers for the best coverage.



Once it dries (quick with the Tamiya paint) I pull the bag away from the blu-tac and take the model out of the bag (which can be reused once the paint is fully dry).



The blu-tac lifts off easily.  If any stays stuck to the model just lift it off with another piece of blu-tac.  Roll the blue-tac around and knead it a little and it's ready to use again.



This is not the quickest way to paint camo, thats for sure, but I like doing it a patch at a time so I can look at the overall effect as I go.  To paint the section shown above took a total of about 30 minutes from start to finish, so doing the whole model takes several hours.

This also works with Silly-Putty  BUT NOT WITH LACQUER PAINT.  Silly Putty works really well with airbrushed acrylic, and OK with spray-can enamel, but lacquer turns it into a gooey mess.

[AeroplaneDriver]

Well it took allllllll day (with a few other things going on too), but the camo is done.



With all the masking removed to show the wavy demarcation line...

[philp]

Mods!!
Can someone save the step by step process on page one and put it on the main site after the upgrade?  It is a great little "how to" article, quick and to the point.

[lancer]

Mods!!
Can someone save the step by step process on page one and put it on the main site after the upgrade?  It is a great little "how to" article, quick and to the point.

I agree with this request. I gained some useful ideas from that. Also, another request. Can a thread or section be started so that all these 'how to's' can be kept in one place please?

[HOG]

AeroplaneDriver
That is one clever adaption to an old method which I am definately going to try as a way of weathering. I`ve tried the salt method which I found to uncontrolable but this looks like it will let me put the mask where I want it and it will stay where I want it.
Thanks for a really great idea,
regards Gary


ps that idea of a how to section is a really good one B)  

[John Howling Mouse]

No problem Rafa!

The tools of the trade are pretty simple.  Blu-Tac (or a similar poster-hanging putty) and some sort of chisel pointed thingy.  This is from a 99 cent nail care set I saw in the checkout aisle of a discount store.  It had 2 or these things, a nice file, and a 4-way nail buffer.  I thought it looked very useful for modeling!


[/quote]
It's called a "cuticle stick" or "cuticle shaper" (My stepmother had some sort of cosmetics/modeling agency going when I was younger...surrounded by gorgeous women at the age of six     ).

Anyhow, this paint scheme actually caught me off-guard.  I was in mid-sentence talking to my wife when I saw the first camo shot and blurted out "Oh wait, what's THIS?!"

Very, verrrry cool, AD.    

[Sisko]

I have to agree that Blu-tac makes an excellent masking agent.

If you roll it down very thinly you can get a nice sqiggle camo job like my SF3D Neuspotter.



I also used it to get the wavy demarcation line on the tail of my Ta-183