How to Paint Model Cars

Painting model cars is a challenging, addictive hobby. Model cars allow you to build up a collection of automobiles on a budget, and assemble and paint each car yourself. Once you learn a few techniques, painting model cars is a rewarding part of the process.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Enamel model paint
• Enamel white primer
• Brushes
• Paint thinner
• Newspaper

1. 

   Paint the entire car with white enamel primer. This will allow the paint to adhere to the model and make sure that each color is bright. Let the primer dry for two hours, or until completely dry to the touch. Paint the body of the car in red enamel. Paint the tires with matte black enamel.

2. 

   Let the red and black paint dry for two hours. Mix one brush load of white enamel with one brush load of red to create a pink hue. Dip the tip of your brush in the mixture and gently brush off the paint onto a piece of newspaper until you can just barely see the pink. Brush the pink over the body of the car's raised details, as well as the corners and sides. This dry brushing technique will help the details of your model car stand out.

3. 

   Paint the grill and hubcaps dark gray. Paint the headlights yellow. These are base coats.

4. 

   Dip the tip of your brush into the white enamel and add small semi circles of white to the inside of the head lights. Mix one brush load of silver paint with one brush load of white enamel. Brush off the excess on some newspaper to prepare the brush for dry brushing. Gently brush this mixture over the grill and hubcaps to create shiny metallic highlights.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with paint schemes on a drawing of your car.
• Always clean your brushes with paint thinner or turpentine, or the paint will dry and ruin the brush. Always paint in a well ventilated, open environment.

Resources

• Custom Built and Painted Model Cars
• Well-Painted Model Cars