First, if you’ve recently bought one of my products, Thank You !!! Here are some tips to enable you to get the best results when painting your 3D print model.
All my 3D prints are fully cured and cleaned before they are shipped, however following these tips certainly wont do any harm.
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Preparation:
As with most plastic models, a bit of tidying up may be needed. I take care to place the model supports where they wont be seen, but in some cases this is not possible, however, I do check all models to ensure a good product.
If there are any stray support “nubs” these can easily be removed with a sharp Exacto knife. Anything left can be removed with some light sanding. You want to use a high grit number (~320) or a precision file and use gentle pressure. Some of these models are delicate. For example, the bracket that supports the aircraft warning light on the Communications Tower is less than 1mm thick.
The filament printer is laying down each layer at 0.12mm, so there shouldn’t be any gaps, however, if there is a tiny gap, this can be plugged with a filler putty such as this one. https://amzn.to/42tzG6I Let the putty dry completely before light sanding.
If you’re going to use the putty, make sure you wash the 3D print in MILD soap and water, rinsing well to remove any remaining residue and oils from your hands BEFORE you apply the putty. Wear latex/nitrile gloves to handle the print after you’ve cleaned it.
Painting:
If you want the best results possible I highly recommend using an airbrush. You don’t need a complicated setup with compressors and air lines, I’ve obtained great results with using one of these. https://amzn.to/4jvvZ7n
They are portable, rechargeable and easy to clean. For $20 you cant go wrong.
… if you want the ultimate paint finish do this.
- Get your airbrush ready https://amzn.to/4jvvZ7n
- Clean up the 3D print https://amzn.to/4lrmWpN
- Wash the 3D print
- Wear latex/nitrile gloves from now on https://amzn.to/4jrM0ez
- Airbrush a coat of primer https://amzn.to/4ivwnlD
- Airbrush your base color https://amzn.to/42AUBF8
- Airbrush any color variations you want
- Apply the Dirty Wash if you want it to look grimy. https://amzn.to/4jgaGqw
- Apply weathering powders https://amzn.to/3Rbz6p5
- Airbrush a clearcoat https://amzn.to/44kabXU
- Marvel at your handiwork!!!
I know that’s a lot, and I certainly don’t do all those steps for all the 3D prints I use. Experiment with different things, work slowly, use real-world pictures off the internet to guide you on what things really look like, and overall, enjoy it !!! Hobbies are meant to be fun. Not a chore.
