Painting

Airbrushes use compressed air to atomise paint which is then delivered through the airbrush onto the subject model. Although most of the paint from the airbrush will go on the model, there will inevitably be paint that ends up elsewhere. This...

Weathering powders are a great way to bring an extra dimension of realism to a model. There is a wide range of manufacturers who are producing weathering powders. Some manufacturers concentrate on producing individual colours or tones, whereas...

Occasionally modellers will have a requirement to weather a model to indicate heavy use and time-based wear and tear. There are a number of techniques that can help achieve this, one of these is the 'Toothpaste Technique' covered in a previous...

There are a wide variety of techniques that can be used to paint realistic brickwork and pavements and the approach will be broadly similar for both subjects. Some modellers may take the approach of painting individual bricks or paving. While this...

Liquid Mask by Vallejo is a liquid medium designed to be used by modellers to mask off areas during painting. It can be applied either by brush or airbrush and dries in about two hours leaving a transparent rubberised surface that will protect...

Occasionally, a modeller will have a requirement to paint a model with contrasting colours or tones. Sometimes this can be achieved with masking tape that has been cut and precisely placed as required. This works very well for creating a sharp...

It is important to have a good cleaning regime for brushes when using acrylic paints as unwanted deposits can severely affect the lifespan of any brush. Whilst painting it is a good idea to periodically remove excess paint using a cloth or tissue...

Flow improver is a liquid compound that is designed to be used with an airbrush. Most modellers will thin their paints prior to using an airbrush, this helps with overall paint consistency giving the optimal painted surface on a model. One issue...

Tamiya produces a wide variety of paints for different purposes and each is identified by a unique prefix. For the majority of projects, modellers will generally use 10ml bottled Tamiya paints which fall into one of three categories: LP, X or XF....

Many modellers use washes to help bring out that extra level of detail in a model by creating elements of weathering or general wear and tear. Black coloured washes are an effective means of achieving this and inevitably when used will help bring...

Many manufacturers create metal figures for inclusion in kits or layouts. Some of these figures can be supplied pre-painted by the manufacturer for ease of use and to save time. That said many figures are supplied unpainted to satisfy the...

As the name suggests, 'Liquid Mask' by Vallejo is a liquid-based masking agent, specially formulated for use by modellers. Liquid Mask can be used either in combination or as an alternative to traditional masking tapes or sheets to mask off areas...