What is best paint system for tuning scale back plate

[BigClick]

Hi all,

The white background behind the tuning glass on my project radio (regentone A.155) is yellowed and isnt cleaning up at all well. So a re-spray is required.

What type of paint should I use? There are a few options...

Flat white spray, gloss white brushed, enamel spray, pearlescent spray etc

is the whiteness of the chassis behind the glass important or should I just leave it yellow?

[Radio Wrangler]

Was it white originally or was it cream?

Modern white paints are much whiter than vintage ones, so you may need to darken the paint a touch. Halfords etc have thousands of colours of aerosols and as long as they're acrylic, not real cellulose, they'll go onto most things without bubbling. If you want it matt, you can use 1200 grit wet&dry paper on it to kill the gloss.

David

[BigClick]

Thanks RW,

I was hoping for some direction as to should it be matt or gloss etc

[mark pirate]

Most sets had a silk or eggshell finish, never gloss. I never brush paint these, a spray can gives better results.
You could try some of the big DIY stores for something suitable.

Mark

[Radio Wrangler]

Most radio background plates are off-white or light cream and matt or eggshell finish.

Sprayable paints in non-gloss finishes aren't easy to get in moderate quantities. Have a look in a modelmaker's shop or a wargamer's shop, but you may need an airbrush to apply it, otherwise it's Halfords aerosols and some very fine emery to take the gloss off.

David

[BigClick]

That's great thanks for the advice folks

[paulsherwin]

I've found it makes surprisingly little difference. Minor imperfections to the finish aren't usually visible through the tuning scale. The last time I did one I slapped on some household magnolia emulsion with a paint brush and it was fine.

[Panrock]

Equally, for the same reason, it normally looks the same behind the dial regardless of whether it's matt or gloss.

[pmmunro]

A specialist supplier of paints for the motor vehicle refinishing trade will mix you an aerosol with any colour or finish you want. Most will match the mix to a sample provided by the customer. They can also advise on suitable primers.

PMM

[stitch1]

Originally Posted by BigClick

The white background behind the tuning glass on my project radio (regentone A.155) is yellowed and isnt cleaning up at all well.

Have you tried using t-cut or similar?

Rust-Oleum do an antique white. I've used plasti-kote successfully on radio cabinets and they do a matt white and an antique one. Available at Amazon screwfix etc, Wilko also do a spray paint range.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rust-Oleum-4...te+spray+paint

John

[Boater Sam]

I am rather partial to Screwfix radiator aerosol white. Large, cheap, fast and hard. Covers anything without reacting.
Usually can't tell if its pure white, gloss or whatever once the glass is fitted. Does make the bulbs look brighter though.

[BigClick]

Sounds ideal, thank you

[vidjoman]

A clue might be in the colour of knobs. Many sets have cream knobs, not white, so a pale cream satin paint would provide a coherent colour match. The use of white seems to me to give an over-bright glare.

[Scimitar]

As above, a car bodyshop supplier will mix you an aerosol (a proper one that doesn't spit!) to any colour you wish and will incorporate a matting agent. Do it once, do it right!

[BigClick]

Thanks for all the suggestions

In the end my other half got a small can of Plastikote project enamel in flat-white from B&M for about £2.50

Seems to have done the job :thumbsup

Why paint, a bit of card works well.

[BigClick]

Originally Posted by merlinmaxwell

Why paint, a bit of card works well.

Now you tell me

I like the idea but its done with paint now and it looks pretty good to me.

[Skywave]

Originally Posted by merlinmaxwell

Why paint? A bit of card works well.

For a period of time, maybe. But that bit of card will be hygroscopic - and then there is heat rising from items inside the cabinet. Those two together, with the heating and cooling of the set as it is switched on and then off, are likely to lead to distortion of that card.

Al.

[ms660]

B&Q.....Magnolia, slap it on with a roller, just done some steel beams in our living room with it, looks good.

Lawrence.