How do you paint foamies???

[Jonnor]

I'm about to embark on a Multiplex Easy Glider PRO and I want to paint the foam wings and tail for easier spotting aloft. Other forums have various paint suggestions, but they 're invariably from foreign modellers, suggesting paints that aren't available in this country

Are there any UK Rembrandts out there who've successfully used primers and spray can paints on their foamies?? And, is it really necessary to use weight adding primer?.

[Colin Naylar]

As a cheap option the little taster pots of emulsion that you get in B&Q etc work ok for me

[Romeo Whisky]

With Elapor models like this it's a good idea to use the Multiplex primer before painting, otherwise paint doesn't adhere well and tends to flake off very easily.

Once primed, just use ordinary household emulsion paint and brush or spray it on. Since you won't need much, try Homebase and get them to mix a small "tester" pot of Dulux for you in whatever colour you want (They have charts with a huge range of colours including nice bright vibrant ones). It'll only cost you about £2.50. Alternatively you can buy tester pots at most DIY stores in a range of colours for about £1.50 but they are often only available in light pastel shades. (Radiator paint testers is another similar option). You can use car-spray acrylics on Elapor (after priming) but that's more expensive.

Most of the weight in paint is in the liquid, which evaporates so the extra weight is usually inconsequential.

[Lee Smalley]

No need to use primer use tamiya paints either cans or paints thinned only with the proper thinner sprays on fine and sticks fine

[Cyclicscooby]

I use specific foam safe spray cans from Penn and various other shops..

I don't use primer, and have only peeled the paint off where I stuck on and removed some velcro.. There's no hanger rash

Whatever you use, you MUST test a small un-seen bit first.. And let it go off, cuz sometimes it takes ages to melt the foam, it's not always an instant fizzing reaction..

Luv

Chrisie.. xx

[Alan B]

Hi Jonnor - I did a few posts on another thread last year. I use tubes of water based/ acrylic artist paint. Its widely available - cheap - and there are a few photos of my old BAE Hawk with hangar rash and later repainted CLICK HERE

Al

[FunnyFlyer]

Well, I used the Multiplex primer on my Dogfighter before using acrylic paint.

To be honest, made very little difference! Paint is still fragile and is quite "weathered" after 10 flights or so.

Just a "feature" of foam I guess.

Edited By FunnyFlyer on 29/05/2012 12:57:30

[Jonnor]

Thanks for all the above -- what a kind lot you are. As you say, test a bit first then wait and see. I'll certainly have a go with the Artists' acrylic. I spec the Multiplex primer might cost nearly as much as the kit. And to Chrisie... xx

[Barryorbik]

I stated off buying the specialist Acrylic spray paints and primers at £9.95 a can but found them no better than the significantly cheaper Humbrol Acrylic tins and the paint can be applied by hand or diluted with water and sprayed with an airbrush if required. I also use the paints from a cheap acrylic artist set from Aldi which came with complete with three brushes and an mixing paletteand for all of £3.99 and that works very well too.

Barry

[Rene Wallage]

When I build my 2nd EasyGlider (now sadly RIP) I just got the cheap 'n cheerfull spraycans from a Home Depot store (verifying it was foam and plastic friendly and trying the spray on a piece of elapor from my 1st EZ) and sprayed a few coats on. With 20/20 hindsight, it may have been usefull to sand between coats, but I didn't and she flew just as good as my first EZ.

Edited By Rene Wallage on 01/06/2012 09:32:30

[Stephen Rout]

ive used arcylics paint pink on wing tips small pot £1.50 on my st blaze glider foam i can see it a lot better now i am in the uk

[Tim C]

I am another Dulux convert, both these Multplex Fun Cubs with my Decal conversions(modelmarkings.com)  **LINK**are painted in Dulux

 

A primer is a must, on the Orange conversion I used Dulux difficult surface primer ( I managed a cheap tin from my local surplus store) but it is a std B&Q item, its water based and easy to use.

 

The Grasshopper version used the Multiplex primer, but Mike who painted it reported it to be abnoxious to use and no better than Dulux. In both cases the Dulux tester pots are rolled on with a mini roller, far better than brushing, and overcoated with Ronseal Water Based varnish

Edited By 35mhz on 01/06/2012 10:28:45

Edited By 35mhz on 01/06/2012 10:29:30

[Barrie Dav 2]

I've used methylated spirit to clean off any mould oil then used acrylic paints (ex Lidl). No adhering problems.

[stuey]

35mhz, can I presume that the mini roller used was a foam one? The finish looks good from the pic. It might be an alternative way for me to paint my Eurofighter with the Lifecolor acrylics I bought instead of busting out the airbrush!!

[Ady Hayward]

I use humbrol acrylics, both spray and brush on with good coverage.

Ady

[Tim C]

Study,

I have used both foam and the woolly variety, both work, but prefer the woolly type

[stuey]

Thanks for the info, surprised the wooly one works better. I would have thought it might lay down too much paint!

[James40]

I use the humbrol spray paints, they give a fantastic finish and are foam safe.

[madmac]

Use waterbased house paint (ceiling white sands nicely) If you make sure you cover every spot you can use other paints. MADMAC