Ice on rocket surface - what paint?

[Michael Morris]

I'm planning on making a model of an Atlas Rocket just before lift off using a Horizon Models Mercury Atlas kit (1/72 scale).  When fully fuelled, the previously shiny skin of the main tanks were covered in a layer ice.  My plan is to fill in the panel lines on the tanks, then paint it white.  I'd like to be able to use a white paint that imparts a very slight sparkle to give the impression that it is ice. 

 

Any suggestions on how to do this?

 

Ta

 

 

[Pin]

It is more like a hoarfrost than ice, I would say deep matte flat white. 

[Michael Morris]

15 minutes ago, Pin said:

It is more like a hoarfrost than ice, I would say deep matte flat white. 

I agree, flat Matt white would probably be the most realistic.  However, I would like to explore if I could add a very small amount of (not to scale) sparkle without it looking too false.

[Pin]

Something like this maybe. 

 

 

[cmatthewbacon]

I'd brush on some Klear or Mr Gauzy thin acrylic varnish and blow Microballoons (https://deluxematerials.co.uk/products/microballoons) over it while it's wet. It might take a couple of goes to build up, but I reckon it'll look more like the real thing than paint... Plus you end up with a big pot of something that will last for years and is an excellent filler when combined with superglue...

best,

M.

PS: I don't know why they put those panel lines on... the real thing is very smooth-surfaced... it's pressurised, after all. It needs a bit of a "patchwork" of slightly different shiny aluminium "colours", but those horizontal bands are only really visible on one that's been sitting outside gathering grime for years...

[2Step]

I was wondering abbout this effect, as I was considering to use it on the Mach 2 Vostok kit. As I cannot get my hands on that model, it is a bit of a mute point for me right now.

But I am pretty sure, any sparkle added at this scale would be over the top and just not looking "right". I think plain flat white would do it. I use flat white primer for the "normal" white paint on my launch systems. Sometimes, I haven't really figured out what causes that effect, the primer develops a little bit of a 3D structure that reminded me of an ice cover. Maybe some try and error on some surplus plastic pieces?

[Steadfast]

For a sparkle, especially in this scale, I'd try spraying a very thin layer of a metallic white or metallic clearcoat over the matt white. Test on something like a plastic spoon first, but this may give a sufficient subtle result for the scale relatively easily.

 

Jo

[gamevender]

I might try spraying a dead flat white. Then try dry lightly dry brushing it with a clear gloss coat of some sort. A flat paint has a dimpled surface. Try to ever so lightly just hit the high parts of that finish. With some luck, the lower parts of the finish will remain flat while the high parts will "glisten". Just go very lightly. 

Edited July 13 by gamevender

[scautomoton]

You could try airbrushing pure tamiya flat base. I use it for the white chalky look of certain afterburners.