Question to the Kitbashers: Spray or brush?

[Paulbot]

I've lined up some spare toys to repaint over my summer holidays and was wondering if the kitbashers of the board have a recommendation on whether to use paintbrushes or spray paint?

I imagine spray painting would be much quicker (despite the dirty stares from the shop owner when you buy it ). i_amtrunks' spray painted Feedback looks good to me.

Using a paintbrush would be slower I think but perhaps more solid or controlled?

Is using both the way to go, spray paint for large areas, brushes for fine details?

[TheDirtyDigger]

Spraypaint all the way. No lines...total coverage. Once you've tried both this is a no-brainer.

EDIT: The retard in me hit paintbrush too quickly...this isn't what was intended. Of course you need a paintbrush for all the little fiddly bits though.

[iceburn]

i'll go both for kitbashing i guess.....
it's really slow to use paintbrush for large surfaces

[kup]

I have been more more successful with sprays than paint brush. When I brush I can never get a smooth surface and it always looks messy and uneven with brush marks. Maybe I lack technique but I never been able to get it right.

[Omega Supreme]

I have been more more successful with sprays than paint brush. When I brush I can never get a smooth surface and it always looks messy and uneven with brush marks. Maybe I lack technique but I never been able to get it right.

I have the same trouble with painting using a brush, havent had the chance to try a spray but hoping to in the near future.

[GoktimusPrime]

Spraypainting is trickier and requires more skill and time. Paintbrushing can have good effects if you know what you're doing. Either way I would recommend cleaning the surface and applying and undercoat first. I don't know about spraypainting but applying multiple coats is useful for paintbrushing - and that is time consuming too as you have to wait for each coat to dry. A spray on sealant (purity seal) is also useful.

Have you considered Gundam markers? I've never used them myself - they might be useful for very fine details.

[gamblor916]

Airbrush everything

[i_amtrunks]

After some experimenting with both mediums, I have to say spray painting (although technically you need both).

Not sure what others do, but I found taking figures completely apart, and spraying them as needed works great for outer pieces, then using scotch tape or masking tape (or foil held down by masking tape for larger areas) for more detail.

But thats mostly because I'm rather untalented with a paint brush, which you still need to do smaller details.

Sprays are the way to go, but make sure you get the good hobby stuff (and not the clear's, they are for radio controlled car bodies), as the $3 sprays from Sueprcheap are great for spraying metal or wood, not so good for plastics. (do not adhere well).

[stencilator]

I use both. You need to practice both techniques to get a good finish, but in general I spray the base colour(s) and then mask up and brush on the details. There are also some finishes that can only be achieved with one technique or another.... like drybrushing metallic paint over a black base that can only be achieved using a brush... so I'd say go for both.

As a tip, acrylic brush on paints will work perfectly over the top of sprayed enamel paints, but not the other way around.

[1orion2many]

Spray cans for large areas, paint brushes for finishing and detailing. You get a superior flat finish on the large areas with the spray can as long as you know how to use it. Nothing worse than gluggy dribbles everwhere, practice on something flat first to get used of the spray can if you haven't used one before.