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Clean, precise and neat delineation of colours - what's the trick?


Raven Morpheus

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Hello

Since I started painting models in the early to mid 90's I've struggled to learn many things and this is particularly true with one particular area of my painting - getting a clean, precise, delineation between colours.

Mostly related to GW figure painting but I've also noticed it recently when painting helicopters (panel lines for example), both with a brush and airbrush, I find it difficult to get that crisp look to an edge of a colour, I can't paint a straight line to save my life without masking, and my models do tend to look like I've blobbed the paint on as a result.

I look at other people's models, both GW style figures and more regular models like aircraft, across the interwebz and the vast majority of them seem to look very neat and very crisp.

So, when not using masking tape (often not possible in my view on smaller parts or hard to reach areas) what's the secret to getting a neat crisp and precisely painted model?

Edited by Raven Morpheus
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Hi Raven,

Good quality brushes with straight bristles, correctly thinned paints, a steady and/or supported, (preferably both), hand, no coffee and a calm environment.

Brushes with a long bristle, (liner brushes I think they are called IIRC), are usually best, but that depends on the surface and area being painted. Usually best to use the brush at 45 degrees to the surface, (so that the bristles are being drawn, (pulled), across the surface), so that you can see where the point of the brush is going and try to complete the line in one smooth action. Sometimes, such as on raised detail, it is better to use the side of the brush.

Properly thinned paint should flow freely from the brush, with differing people having differing magic formulas of paint to thinner/water, so go experiment! If the paint is not opaque after one coat you can always add more layers. Also, a thinned coat is usually easier to remove, or paint over, if a mistake has been made.

Try to paint with your wrists resting on a solid surface and/or place what is being painted in a vice, or some similar support, as this will reduce any human induced shakes!

Coffee, I find that if I paint after a coffee the result is not as good as it could have been had I waited for a couple of hours.

For the calm environment, get comfortable, put some relaxing music on, play R4, (well, it works for me!), breathe, enjoy the moment, etc...

HTH!

Christian the Married and exiled to africa and Golden Demon winner in 1987, (soooo many years ago...... :crying: )

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