AMT Model Kit - Clear Plastic parts question

[daedalus5]

I have this model kit now:

http://web.ipmsusa3.org/content/star-trek-deep-space-9

However, I can't find any sites on the web that tell me what types or colour of paint to use.

I have had success with Tamiya spray paints before (e.g. TS-67, As-25 and Ts-81). I don't need to prime the models and the other Tamiya paint pots stick no problems to it.

I have never painted a clear model before an I'd liek to know if I can just stick to the Tamiya or do I have to buy some "special" paints - if wo, what type?

Also, I don't want to paint it the "Afrika" sandy colour - I want it to look like it does on-screen, ie. grayish - any recommendations (the same colour as used in the Star ship collection DS9 die cast model would be great!)

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

All I know is I painted the Enterprise-D clear parts on the inside, at least the ones that weren't already colored.

 

[Albertese]

Are you going to light it? That makes a big difference in paint choice. If no, then you need to paint it with a few layers to opaque the surfaces you don't want the light coming through.

If you are not lighting it, it becomes a bit simpler, but you will still need a primer of somesort to block out the light, as light from outside the model will still get through clear plastic and normal colors aren't that opaque. I would probably prime it with a good solid black, applied in thin coats until it blocks all light, then paint your colors on top of that.

If you are lighting it, then I suggest you first paint it white, to better reflect internal light, then silver to completely block the internal light from getting out and the external light from getting in, and then black or gray on the outside so you aren't just painting on the silver paint, which could give you some grief. Again, always in thin coats so as not to obscure the details.

And I would apply all the colors to the outside of the parts. If you put it on the inside, then it will look like there's a weird thick clear layer of something on the outside of the station... which would be true.

As to a specific color, I am sure the Tamiya line has a good one that will work for you. But I couldn't guess your taste as to what you think would look good. So you're on your own for that.

--Alex

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

^ I don't think the whole kit is transparent, just some of the parts.

The only all transparent AMT kit was the USS Yamaguchi.

 

[Albertese]

Check out the link to the kit review he posted in the OP. This re-pop is entirely clear ABS. That's right, the whole damn thing. The old one was styrene with clear parts here and there. But this one is all clear, even the Defiant is clear.

--Alex

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Ugh! I didn't realize it was all clear. I don't think I'd ever but an all clear plastic model. Isn't that type of plastic a lot smoother and harder to paint?

I was only suggestion back-side painting small parts, like I did with nacelle caps and deflector dishes.

Though, I wouldn't mind inside painting one in a single color, lighting it and using it as a night-light kind of thing.

 

[daedalus5]

Afraid that the model is ALL clear!

No, I don't plan to light it, just make it and sit it ontop of my bookcase!


So, from the above posts, I am assuming I have to apply a primer.

Is this one suitable:

http://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/tamiya-surface-primer-plasticmetal-grey-100ml/

Its on sale and is grey! If the colour of this one is fine, is it ok to just leave this as the normal background colour?

I want my ds9 to be a grey colour anyway (the filming models are yellowish and the instructions on the kit say to paint it 'Afrika' yellow, but I don't like that colour.

Tamiya do a light metal grey:


http://s683.photobucket.com/user/Ar...nshot2013-09-07at43816PM_zpsa90a6ad8.png.html

Can I avoid priming and go straight to this, or does it need primed?


(It's a shame model instructions are so crap and not really user friendly for newbies!)

Thanks for the advice so far (apologies for the typos, it's ipad and my fat fingers!)

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I would be concerned about how heavy or thick a primer is. You don't want to lose detail due to a heavy primer coat plus the paint.

Yeah, DS9 does look gray, but a very specific gray, not to mention a lot of areas with different shades.

 

[Albertese]

In my opinion, You should definitely prime it. I would be afraid that the paint on it's own would not block light sufficiently. Even if you aren't lighting it, ambient light from the room could filter through the paint and out the other side. Especially if you display it somewhere where it might be viewed from an angle where a brighter light is behind it than from where the viewer is looking from.

It is true that too thick of paint can definitely obscure detail, but if you test your spray on a sacrificial item (not your final model) you can see how well it covers. Remember, all you really want is a very thin coat of primer, the mistake people often make is to spray it on much too thick. Go nice and easy. Two or three thin coats to get you where you want to be is infinitely superior to one thick coat that just gobs it on there.

Now, I have never tried Tamiya's primer, but their other sprays are very nice lacquer based colors which cover smooth and don't obscure detail. I'm sure their primer is worth checking out.

The other thing with primer is that it dries with a super matte finish for the purpose of paint to better adhere. But this surface is almost impossible to keep looking good if you just have that be the surface of the model. Finger prints will turn up, dust will stick to it in the nooks and crannies and the model will just look dirty a few weeks later and stay that way forever. You really do want to prime and then paint. Paint dries with a sealed surface that Primer doesn't have. Now, if you really love the color of the primer, you could just top-coat it with a clear lacquer (Gloss if you like, but I think dull looks better for this kind of thing... or even satin might look nice on DS9.)

Also bear in mind that the station does have other colors on is. Parts look red and yellow on it, even if the rest does look kinda gunmetal gray...

--Alex

 

[daedalus5]

Well, I finished it (except for the small Defiant).

The bits where the pylons meet the rings left very large gaps, and I had to cut out bits of the plastic "frames" the model parts are held in and use PVA "filler" to plug the gaps. This took ages and it was hard to see where the gaps were as everything was clear. I ended up mixing black paint with the glue in order to see the seams/weld lines!

I ended up priming it with Tamiya Grey Primer. The large can! The model gobbled it all up. Its difficult to say how many coats were done due to the large surface area (I painted it all at once, when it was assembled).

The light grey metal had a surprising metallic tint (the lid has no reflection at all on the actual color, which is significantly lighter). I sprayed the whole lot and again used teh full can up.

I then used the goldy/yellow colour from my Galor class to paint the yellow bits and a flat red for the other paneling. This took some time as the panels wer raised, meaning it wa hard to uniformly paint everything.

The instructions say to apply a dark grey "wash" - but I don't think I'll bother as the shiny look appeals to me and it doesn't look that bad at all in ambient lighting.

Its a massive beast, and its final resting place is ontop of my book shelf:-

http://s41.photobucket.com/user/daedalus51/media/DS9/IMG_20140901_175329_zps023de8bd.jpg.html


http://s41.photobucket.com/user/daedalus51/media/DS9/IMG_0066_zpsce0b6321.jpg.html

http://s41.photobucket.com/user/daedalus51/media/DS9/IMG_0063_zps3817ddd1.jpg.html

http://s41.photobucket.com/user/daedalus51/media/DS9/IMG_0065_zps91085add.jpg.html

http://s41.photobucket.com/user/daedalus51/media/DS9/IMG_0064_zps3ad68629.jpg.html


Thanks for the primer advice!!! I have bought a cheap £1 can from the Poundshop to test on the Defiant. Will let you know if this is good compared to the large £7 can!!!

 

[MadMan1701A]

Wow, that does look great... I really like the metallic look that it came out with.

-Ricky