by BWBrown » Wed Feb 21, 2018 8:14 pm
Two additional comments/suggestions:
Paul - Wooden airplane models usually use a lot of putty at the seams, particularly to create a faired curve. Strippers can also remove the putty, thus making restoration more difficult.
Dennis - I often find myself trying to match paints, particularly for ship models from the 1920's and 1930's. There is an entire color range of acrylics available in 2-oz. bottles used by artists. These are made by companies like Apple Barrel Colors, Craftsmart, and Americana. They have virtually every hue imaginable. They are available in craft supply stores for $2-4/bottle. Since we go to a lot of garage sales, I started picking these up whenever I saw them and they were cheap. I probably have 200 bottles now, and they cost me only $10 in total. A lot of the time I can match a color right out of the bottle. The sheen may vary, but that's fixable with some clear satin or matte. In the cases where I need something a bit unusual I mix and match and spread the samples out to dry. With 5 minutes work I can then literally watch paint dry for the next 30 minutes or so. It's a rush! To refinish large panels like a stabilizer, I use an air brush. For small parts I just use a water-color brush. So far, it's worked well for me.
Bryan