Paint For Radiator Recommendation

[cloudswimmer]

Not a paint guy at all, but I’d like to paint this plastic 3D printed radiator grill to get an aluminum look, could you guys recommend me a good paint to use? Thanks

[Panther6834]

While the LHSs specializing in RC have excellent selections where Lexan-specific paint is concerned, they don't carry much (if any at all) in the way of paints for "hard-bodied" vehicles. However, if you have a local hobby shop specializing in gaming miniatures (ie. miniatures for D&D, Warcraft, etc), they'll have exactly what you need.

One example would be Game Kastle, which has locations in several states (primarily in Northern California), but there are others throughout the country (if you're in the U.S.), as well as around the world.


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[ScaleLifeNewbie]

I’m not fancy when it comes to paint so I’d just get a can of silver spray paint and possibly even anodized silver for a shinier look.


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[Phildirt]

Rustoleum metallic silver looks like aluminum when it dries. Plus it’s easy to work with and dries very fast.

[Panther6834]

The problem with spray cans is that it works coat the entire part. I have a feeling the Op only wants to cover the actual grill (probably not even the "frame" of the grill). In order to do that, to our requires hand-painting, with a fine brush.


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[mikemcE]

Silver Tamiya TS 17 to shoot the entire radiator (I personally prime first) then a flat black wash or two to separate the screening
Wash is an acrylic thinned 10 or15 to 1 and “washed” on then it’s sealed with flat or semigloss clear after rubbing.


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[cloudswimmer]

Originally Posted by mikemcE

Silver Tamiya TS 17 to shoot the entire radiator (I personally prime first) then a flat black wash or two to separate the screening
Wash is an acrylic thinned 10 or15 to 1 and “washed” on then it’s sealed with flat or semigloss clear after rubbing.


Hang up and Drive

Originally Posted by Panther6834

The problem with spray cans is that it works coat the entire part. I have a feeling the Op only wants to cover the actual grill (probably not even the "frame" of the grill). In order to do that, to our requires hand-painting, with a fine brush.


~ More peace, love, and kindness would make the world a much better place

Thanks for helping out guys. I’m gonna pull the radiator off that assembly and just paint it. Here are some Griffin Radiators which I’d like to get as close to as possible .. I think the grill on the one on the far right is the closest pattern to my plastic one. Question for Mike .. is the wash applied with a cloth or brush, and do you wipe it with a clean cloth after applying? I’m not familiar with the washing process. Thanks again man

[Phildirt]

You can even wipe the wash with your finger or a napkin. A rag or brush may pull pigment out of the recesses.

[cloudswimmer]

Originally Posted by Phildirt

You can even wipe the wash with your finger or a napkin. A rag or brush may pull pigment out of the recesses.

Ok so then I spray the whole thing silver and let it dry for a couple days, then take some flat black and dilute it 16 to 1 with paint thinner, then brush it on so it gets down in the ‘pores’ of the radiator, then immediately wipe the black off the top with my finger thus leaving the black underneath and the silver on top, correct? Actually I was just looking at the radiator in my real Jeep and it’s a dirty black, but I think a silver radiator would look cool behind my scale gloss black Jeep TJ grill don’t you think ? Thanks

[mikemcE]

Originally Posted by Phildirt

You can even wipe the wash with your finger or a napkin. A rag or brush may pull pigment out of the recesses.

I use a fat brush. With the lacquer base hard, a soft rag is used to buff when totally dry. Dry brushing is another technique , used for darkening recessed areas.


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[mikemcE]

Originally Posted by cloudswimmer

Ok so then I spray the whole thing silver and let it dry for a couple days, then take some flat black and dilute it 16 to 1 with paint thinner, then brush it on so it gets down in the ‘pores’ of the radiator, then immediately wipe the black off the top with my finger thus leaving the black underneath and the silver on top, correct? Actually I was just looking at the radiator in my real Jeep and it’s a dirty black, but I think a silver radiator would look cool behind my scale gloss black Jeep TJ grill don’t you think ? Thanks

When to wipe depends on thickness of wash, surface covered, look wanted. You can also layer washes to get better coverage


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[Phildirt]

I use acrylic hobby paint (water based) for that kind of detail. Easier to wipe off/start over if you mess up.

[mikemcE]

Originally Posted by Phildirt

I use acrylic hobby paint (water based) for that kind of detail. Easier to wipe off/start over if you mess up.

Yup, Tamiya acrylics thinned with X20 work best over lacquers


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[58_Willys]

Originally Posted by Phildirt

Rustoleum metallic silver looks like aluminum when it dries. Plus it’s easy to work with and dries very fast.

X2 on this.