Do you thin the paint before brushing on?  I'm trying to crest over clear laquer and I'm having trouble getting a good coat on.  I have to lay the enamel on thick just to get it to coat well and it's too much.

If you thin it out, do you have a ratio that you use, or do you just eyeball it?  

Trying not to re-invent the wheel...

Thanks.

Adam

MO Bow...i just use a Q-tip , i dip it down in thinner can and quickly hold over a testors bottle and add a drop or two and shake , and look at how thin it makes it, usually 2-3 drops will do...hope this helps  SteveT

Yup, some of it needs thinned. Like Steve said, 2-3 drops and try it, it thins quickly. I've also noticed it varies from color to color, some need more, why???...I dunno.

Also dont know how enamel will get along with laquer, I think its ok as long as the enamel is on top.

Eric

Thanks guys, I'll try it out.  

I'm using black, bright orange and gold.  The gold is covering well, but I'm having trouble with the black and orange.

Enamel over lacquer is fine.

Adam

Use thinned flat white as an undercoat/primer (just needs to be a bit opaque) the other colors then go on better and with truer color.........works for me.....YMMV

I thin all paint whether enamel, oil, acrylic, or otherwise. It needs to be free flowing or it will dry with cakey looking spots.

All:

Thanks for your input.  I'm brand new to the painting/cresting world.  I put a few drops of thinner in the Testors enamel and it worked wonders.  Night and day difference in application.  

I appreciate the help.  It'll make for less frustrating work!

Adam

well now that you got it all figured out post some pictures and show off your work. i wanna see how this gold black and orange look together.


steven

It looks GOOD. I did that combo years ago. About time to revisit it.

I'm also new to tradgang so I don't know how to post pictures?  It asks for a URL. How do I do this?

Posting pictures:
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=faq#custom-6

Guy

Here's a pic of the cresting job.  Keep in mind that this is an arrow from a kit I got from 3Rivers so I could find the correct spine.  The arrow wasn't exactly straight, so it wobbled in my jig and I got some uneven lines and my gold pinstripes came out too thick because of the wobble.  The arrows I will be making will be stained grey with a white cap dip.  Feathers will be orange barred and solid black cock feather...shield cut...with orange nocks.  I'll post pics of the final product when the shafts finally make it in.
 

I dont know if you are going to try a protective coat over your cresting but if you do, my experience is, that gold runs a bit. As does silver.

Your cresting looks great on this computer screen.

Mike

Nice work Mo Bow very nice !!!

I think I'll leave it like it is.  It's Testors enamel, so it should hold up after it cures.

The orange should come out a little brighter since I'll be painting over the white cap dip.

I'll probably start a new build-along thread once my shafts arrive.

If you don't put something over the testors it will smear most likely.

The gold and silver Testors will smear. If you put the arrow in the crester and brush a couple of coats of water based poly (I use minwax polycritic) over the cresting you will have no problems.
Jack

I'll be sure to do that.  Thanks guys.