Restoring the Blue Diamond

[ngc2632]

I haven't seen this covered anywhere. What is the best material and color to use to restore the Parker Blue Diamond?

 

David

[FarmBoy]

I haven't seen this covered anywhere. What is the best material and color to use to restore the Parker Blue Diamond?

 

David

Testors model paint. #1110 or 1111 are the colors of choice. Use an extremely small paint brush.

 

Todd

 

[Ron Z]

Testors model paint. #1110 or 1111 are the colors of choice. Use an extremely small paint brush.

 

And thin the paint a bit too - as supplied it's too thick to apply easily.

Edited May 26, 2009 by Ron Z

[Douglas]

I bought the Testor's paint as mentioned above by Ron in a small aerosol can because the small glass container dried up over time. I spray a small amount of the paint into a very small container then thin the paint further with a small drop of mineral spirits. Dip a very fine piece of wire into the paint and gather a small drop on the wire's end. Then with the help of magnification touch the drop to the center of the diamond on the clip. Rather than painting with a brush, the idea is to fill the diamond area as if you were filling a shallow pool to its rim. This may take several trials. Too big of a drop and the paint overflows the raised edges of the diamond. If the paint is not thin enough, it won't flow and fill. If the paint is too thin, it won't be opaque enough. If the paint flows to the point that it covers the top of the diamond's rim, you can remove this under magnification after the paint has set up but before it is fully cured by carefully rubbing accross the very top of the diamond's rim with a round metal probe.

[framebaer]

Ok but which is closer? 1110 or 1111?

 

( I can probably guess the answer: "one's a little light, one's a little dark")

Edited February 4, 2009 by framebaer

[Ron Z]

I find that the diamond color is all over the map. I think that Parker used a blue, but didn't worry about the exact color. I would guess that there was variation between batches, or maybe even different vendors. Therefore either color will work just fine.

[Okami]

Thanks for this information - I really needed it.

 

My addition is this - I did not have any wire fine enough handy, so I got to thinking... :hmm1:

 

High quality paint brushes are made from hair and our dogs are always dropping whiskers around the house (I happen to save them if I find them) so I dipped a whisker end in the paint and used it to paint the diamond.

 

My diamond is now blue again. :bunny01:

[Ron Z]

I use a 000 or 0000 brush. Really fine. As in really really fine brush. Keep the paint thin.

[ngc2632]

I ended up thinning it a bit and using the end of a 'G' string end from one of my guitars as the applicator. I tried a brush, it was too hard to control.

 

A 1:1 mixture of thinner vs. paint seemed about right. The drop on the end of the string was just the right volume to fill the diamond perfectly. Didn't need a magnifier... just touched the center of the diamond, that was it.

 

david

Edited May 30, 2009 by ngc2632

[fergs40]

Apologies for resurrecting a thread this old, but I haven't been able to find the answer to my question using the search function...

 

I too want to repaint the blue diamond on my Vac, but being in the UK can't get hold of Testors paint (I balk at paying to ship some from the US to paint something so small...). Have any UK people found a locally available paint which does the job? Or should I just visit the local modelling shop and choose one that looks about right?

 

Many thanks

 

Mike

[Ron Z]

Or should I just visit the local modeling shop and choose one that looks about right?

 

Bingo.

 

The truth is that Parker's colors for the diamond were all over the map. Some darker than others, some leaning towards transparent, most opaque. Just make sure that the paint that you pick has some gloss to it, and is not a matte finsh as some of the model, especially RR colors are.

[nigelg]

Apologies for resurrecting a thread this old, but I haven't been able to find the answer to my question using the search function...

 

I too want to repaint the blue diamond on my Vac, but being in the UK can't get hold of Testors paint (I balk at paying to ship some from the US to paint something so small...). Have any UK people found a locally available paint which does the job? Or should I just visit the local modelling shop and choose one that looks about right?

 

Many thanks

 

Mike

 

This site might help to match a suitable colour - perhaps Humbrol 222 ?

 

HTH

 

Nigel

[antonio ilmonaco]

Hello,

 

I use Heller/Humbrol/Revell #52 blue enamel paint.

 

All the best,

Antonio