pre/post painting

[kamikaze33]

sorry i tried to look but couldnt come up with anything overly helpful
what are the procedures to ensure best possible results in painting abs/plastic? sand it down first obviously but is there a coat or something you can put on before or after the painting? is there a kind of clearcoat that isnt overly shiny?

[swatt13]

just take a scotch pad (purpley wool pad - automotive store) scuff up the surface, wash clean w/ warm water. be careful where you touch (you finger prints can ruin the adhesion and show), spray in a couple layers, you dont need to cake it on; 3 layers should suffice. the more layers the more resilient it is to scratches. dont worry about a clear coat, they hardley ever work out, and there is no need for primer on plastic.

best paints to use is demcoat and krylon. best guy to talk to is madmorbius

[Cilantro]

I use primer even if the gun is black, as it gets me a richer tone, and it helps the paint stick, it's like soldering both ends of a connection, the end result is more stable and durable. As for paints, Tamiya model paints come in all the glorious army colours I like, and they're not shiny in the least. I found Krylon still had some shine to it.

As for how to paint, a number of light layers is always better than thick layers. If you can, rig a stand for your gun, or use tongs for the parts you want to paint, that way you can manipulate it and get the paint everywhere you need it. Spray 12 to 18 inches away in broad sweeps, let dry and repeat. This means that even the nooks will get painted, but without losing the detail because of too much paint.

[kamikaze33]

k thanks! painting the gun today

[Amos]

Go to a model car store and buy an endcoat called "Testors Dull-coat"

It will completely remove any shine.