What to paint ABS with?

[rc_sjo]

Hi all..

I did a quick search for 'ABS' in this forum and didn't find anything so here goes... I've got an 'ARC Beaver' model to assemble soon which is made from ABS plastic.. Rather than stick with the factory white, i'd like to paint it, most likely in the silver/orange USAF colour scheme.

Can anyone advise what kind of paints (and prep) should be used to achieve this? I am guessing I need something fuelproof with a clearcoat too? I don't really want to pile lots of lacquer onto it as that can make a model look tacky.


Thanks,
Stu

[MarkusN]

ABS is a modified styrene, so most paints used in plastic modeling (enamels, acrylics) should work. You'll have to fuel-proof them in the end.

Careful with lacquers. The thinner is quite aggressive and can etch styrene, but thin coats usually work as well.

[rc_sjo]

Thanks Markus. How do you go about fuel-proofing? Is it like a clearcoat you can purchase?

[MarkusN]

My toys usually don't have an oily appendage at the nose, so I'm not too experienced with that. I hear that two-component clearcoats work best. I assume there are solvent based clearcoats that also work, but let's hope that some experts will chime in.

As for the color paints: I mentioned the typical plastic modelling types. But I think most everything that is common in modeling should work, excluding water colors and tempera.