How to smooth out brush lines in XF-1 paint?

[CoolHands]

Hi I've painted a driver body with tamiya paint. But the black xf-1 shows up the paintbrush lines. Any ideas how to get rid of it so it looks like a smooth matt black? It's not as bad in real life I've tried to take a pic to show it at it's worst

Do I just repaint it? - I've done that a couple of times. The drivers body is coming out alright, it's just the black floor that's a problem.

thanks

[Grastens]

There is probably another solution, but I would just re-paint it, giving the previous coat a sanding with fine sandpaper prior to the painting. The matt finish does well to hide some of the brush-strokes, though.

[mr crispy]

I find brushing on Tamiya paints to be real hard work. Now that the black is already applied you could thin some paint with a little ordinary tap water and spread it over the area. Cover it all before it drys and you should get a more even coating. Alternatively you could mask the driver out and spray a light mist over with a matt black spray can.

[GregM]

I had the same problem with some types of XF paints. Eventually, I went for TS spray cans where possible.

[Skottoman]

I typically spray the entire figure/base with flat black before I start painting the driver.

Also I find the black backing on the actual driver makes the painted colors look more realistic.

In your case right now, I'd just add another layer of black brushed on... Your driver figure looks great BTW.

Cheers,

Skottoman

[CoolHands]

thanks

can't spray it now - too late!!! I will have another coat applied with a different brush this time. Probably try some fast 'sweeps' to reduce the opportunity of brushlines showing. Also must not be tempted to fiddle with it! Just apply and leave it. I've enjoyed doing it to be honest, trying to get the drivers body suit a little more realistic has been fun.

[Kokuzu]

The only way to get the surface flat and smooth in matt black without any brush lines is the spray can.

Even a lot of paint applied (a little lake) and then letting it dry won't be a guarantee for a smooth surface as the already existing brush lines will shine trough again.

Second option:

Matt black self adhesive decal foil. Just make a sample from cartoon and then cut the foil and apply on the flat surface. Voila!

[alfagta]

hi, this is quite easy to sort out, thin the paint so its really thin , i would suggest 4:1 paint to thinner , then apply in very wet coats, the thinned paint will pool in the shallows of the brush stroke marks and will build up to give a more even finish , it may take several coats but it works,

i had the same issue doing some of my f103 shells ,

all the best

[kontemax]

Mask the driver and use spraycan.

Or give another coat of semi gloss black and then spry matt transparent coat.

Max

[Tamiya1/10]

This is interesting. A paint expert could provide the answer as could be is just crappy paint? the paint is too thin or too thick? a better paint brush needed? or the right paint brush for the type of paint used? or is just the nature of flat black?

There has to be a reson for the result.

I recall I just paint it over a few more times and the result seems to be better.

[alfagta]

hi, the reason it happens IME is, puting the paint on without loading enough onto the brush, tamiya brush paint must be stirred and dry's really quick so you have to work quickly and apply fairly heavy coats, this allows the paint to flow and any brush marks disappear and dont go over a part thats already painted until its dry , but, you can do it with less on the brush to achaive the brush strokes which can be used to give texture,

[CoolHands]

I think my initial coats were too thin. I've since done a couple of heavy coats, which has improved it, but still not good enough. I should have done heavier coats from the off. I am going to try masking the driver and spraying today. I will add pics later of how it is now, & then after spraying. You can learn by my mistakes!

here's the pics after extra coats:

[CoolHands]

thanks chaps, I shall re-read the comments later. Unfortunately I've spent over £60 buying new tamiya paints as I thought they were intended for (brush) painting I don't have airsprayer etc. Really annoying as I could have just bought enamel paints if I'd known. I just bought the paints as referred to in the instructions. After a day of masking, spraying with undercoat, matt black (halfords) and painting by hand around the arms (cos couldn't get the masking tape exact) I've made the best of a bad job. Also only got two brushes so I've painted and repainted the face and helmet today! (need finer brushes). Fed up with it. The paints are too watery and don't flow so I've had to redo and redo them around the face etc.

Anyway not too bad overall. Looks a bit worse in the flash of the camera than it does in real life (IMO!)

He's not massively visible as sits quite low (bodyshell not painted yet)

[Skottoman]

Nice work, and an appropriate looking driver for the F1 shell.

Cheers,

Skottoman

[Theibault]

There is another solution. Spray with a matte or gloss clear sealer. Helps to hide brush strokes and protects your paint job.

[Raman36]

I've been using Tamiya paints since I was in my early teens. I still find them to be the best brush paints.

The most important thing you must always do I stir the paints thoroughly. The detergents in the paint settle at bottom and need to be mixed well. If you're paint a large surface, you may need to stir it 2 or 3 times before you're finished.

The thinning agent in the acrylic paints is denatured alcohol. So if you're leaving the cap off while you're painting (which is what I mistakenly still do) the alcohol is evaporating. This in turn makes your brush strokes visible. The black paints in particular are very sensitive to this, because black shows everything.

So the solution is to make sure your paints are always properly thinned.