Hi guys. My son and I are having a little competition. We are seeing who build the best model. Mine is the Tamiya Nissan Skyline, his is the AMT/Ertl Mitsubushi Eclipse. My question is about painting. How do you make / apply a pearlescent finish? And who supplies the necessary paints in the UK? Thanks

No-one?

shaun,
Try either using Alcad or Tamiya do some areosol sprays for the car range. Another method is to go to a place that mixes car paint and get them to mix it into an areosol for you costs around £6. If you go down this route just make sure you use a car primer all over to stop it eating the plastic. The good thing about the areosol is they can mix an exact match of the paint of the car they should be able to do FS no's as well

Thanks davy!! have you tried this yourself? My concern would be the thickness of car paint. Is it anythicker than model paints?

I havebt tried it but it must be similar to model paint mixes so it can clear the nozzel I can get you the no of a shop that'll mix the paint for you if you need it . Also as long as you take it easy and apply it in nice thin coats you should have no problems

That would be great! Thanks davy

from what I understand, this is how it's done in a professional paintshop:

First, after priming, a coat of gloss black is added, and left to dry.

Then to create the pearl effect, they generally mix 2 metallic colors, say, blue and red, and dilute this mixture extremely. ( 90 % thinner to paint ratio is not uncommon )

they will spray this in several thin layers, and top it with a gloss cote.

I am yet to experiment with this though, and I wouldn't do it on a tamiya kit yet lol.. I'd probably buy a heller or airfix kit to practice on.

hth,

Richard Renes

Hey Shaun Testors has a paint out BOYD, crafted by Boyd. 2oz bottle, enamel paint. I used the purple pearl with no problem. Here's a link, maybe it'll help. Good luck
http://dwp.bigplanet.com/ubhobbies/displayroom/category.nhtml?catuid=10400