paint or stain

[lionfish]

is one better than the other? what do you prefer and why?

[vossy]

personal choice plays a big part i reckon, but for me on my golden hind painting

below the waterline was a godsend. i reckon the kit was missing (among many other

things) at least 16 second layer planking strips. luckily i had many of the same dimension

left over from amati santa maria and although a different colour because i painted

below the waterline nobody (ok, except you guys) knows any different. staining

or more to the point clear coating looks fabulous on a well planked hull though.

sort of like looking at the admiral in a swimsuit as opposed to a trench coat  ...

 

cheers chris

[hornet]

Painting adds another dimension to the hobby. Especially playing with an airbrush or using a steady hand to create fine detail. Some models look great stained or sprayed with polyurethane. Others look great with some paintwork - as long as the colours are accurate. I have models which have parts painted and others with no paint at all. I try to build everything as if it was going to be stained - it encourages me to work slowly and carefully!

[mog]

Agree with everything that has been said,   it’s all a pens- on, it depends on the ship, the type of wood, the effect your looking for. Some say historical accuracy drives all, which is great if that’s the desired end. Using the Rattlesnake as an example if everyone went for the same historical colour scheme we would have allot of builds that mostly look alike.  For me it’s all about the look and feel  I want to achieve, when I do paint which is very little  it’s for detail,   I don’t like hiding the natural wood tones so I stain and oil, using different types of wood, letting the colour, tones and shades take their own course, but that’s just the way I build.  Everyone is different on how they get to their final result.  I guess that’s what I enjoy about this hobby you can see the same ship in so many different ways each with its own style and feel.  Just my thoughts.

MOG

[Jaager]

If the proper choice of wood species and quality has been made, there is another option: wood dyes.   A stain is sort of a semitransparent paint. A dye is totally transparent.

[JPett]

Ahoy Mates

 

I have thinned paint and used it as stain to color wood. I use Winson and Newton Artisan Water mixable Oil Colour

 

http://www.winsornewton.com/na/shop/oil-colour/artisan-water-mixable-oil-colour

 

I use mineral spirits to thin it for use on wood. Takes a little bit longer to dry but I feel it penetrates better. Then I clear coat it with poly 

 

The only problem with this method is I can not get a fine line to delineate so must use paint to transition it. After doing the poly top coat, I tape it off and do a paint line. I usually work around trim or the wales so where I do have a paint line it looks accurate.  I am sure it would be the same for anyone trying to use different stains. 

 

I find the yellow ocher produces a nice period color but still shows off the wood.  

Edited October 15, 2014 by JPett