I've stayed away from painting as much as possible, because I always found it somewhat daunting. When I decided to tackle the American Spirit, I thought I would learn as much as possible up front. One of the most important things (maybe second only to surface preparation) is masking tape. Home Depot, Lowe's, and Ace DO NOT sell masking tape for modelers; they sell masking tape for house painters. I used Tamiya tape almost exclusively, but I had this thin Nitto tape that was more like electrical tape than your typical masking tape that I used for the canopy when I needed curved lines. When applying tape, carefully burnish the paint side edge, especially if you have tape overlaps. Get in there with your fingernail and get the tape firmly seated the entire masked area and especially those pesky corners. Your first coat of paint should be a medium-light dusting from about 12" away along the masked edge and throughout the entire area to be painted. You should still see LOTS of the base color below what you just shot. Let it dry for a minute or two and repeat a couple more times. The idea is to put down something so thin, that it partially dries before it hits the surface and slowly build that up along the tape edge. This "seals" the tape edge and the next coats can go on thicker in later coats.
I know there is better tape out there. I have gotten better results than I got this time with the same tape. I was impatient with this one. The more I tried to make it better the worse I made it. Right now I am considering it a base coat. It will get a repaint in the future after I get some enjoyment out of it and want a better look for it again.
I went the extra steps of putting glazing putty on it to get it smooth. I think my problem is I got flat white paint and tried to clear coat it then put the blue on.
They where a impressive race team
I've stayed away from painting as much as possible, because I always found it somewhat daunting. When I decided to tackle the American Spirit, I thought I would learn as much as possible up front. One of the most important things (maybe second only to surface preparation) is masking tape. Home Depot, Lowe's, and Ace DO NOT sell masking tape for modelers; they sell masking tape for house painters. I used Tamiya tape almost exclusively, but I had this thin Nitto tape that was more like electrical tape than your typical masking tape that I used for the canopy when I needed curved lines. When applying tape, carefully burnish the paint side edge, especially if you have tape overlaps. Get in there with your fingernail and get the tape firmly seated the entire masked area and especially those pesky corners.
Your first coat of paint should be a medium-light dusting from about 12" away along the masked edge and throughout the entire area to be painted. You should still see LOTS of the base color below what you just shot. Let it dry for a minute or two and repeat a couple more times. The idea is to put down something so thin, that it partially dries before it hits the surface and slowly build that up along the tape edge. This "seals" the tape edge and the next coats can go on thicker in later coats.
I know there is better tape out there. I have gotten better results than I got this time with the same tape. I was impatient with this one. The more I tried to make it better the worse I made it. Right now I am considering it a base coat. It will get a repaint in the future after I get some enjoyment out of it and want a better look for it again.
I just built one myself runs great now I'm building one out of fiberglass
Cool. I put some triangle wood pieces on the bottom to get some better turning out of it. We will see if it helps.
@@brandoncocola1322 I have pictures not sure how to show you are you on instagram
You are having the same troubles I had on the miss pay n pack
I went the extra steps of putting glazing putty on it to get it smooth. I think my problem is I got flat white paint and tried to clear coat it then put the blue on.
@brandoncocola1322 I have had all kinds of trouble with spray cans lately 2nd coat same can finish wrinkles
@@boatwerks The wrinkles are due to not fully cured paint under the newly applied paint. Patience Grasshopper.......
@@Dr_Jet you are correct I was trying to finish that project before I had to leave Oregon