Professional Paints for Vehicle Models

Zero Paints bodywork paints are specialized, ready-to-use lacquers designed for airbrushing car, motorcycle, and other vehicle models. These are cellulose-based solvent paints, which ensures excellent adhesion and allows for a very thin, smooth coat that does not obscure the miniature's details. The greatest advantage of Zero Paints products is their exact match to the color palettes of real vehicle manufacturers. This allows the modeler to precisely replicate the original paint of a specific car model, whether it's a civilian or a racing vehicle. The paint formula is pre-thinned for airbrush application, eliminating the need to mix thinners and simplifying the process, especially for beginners.

How to Paint with Zero Paints?

Proper application of Zero Paints requires correct surface preparation. The model should be clean, degreased, and covered with a layer of primer to increase paint adhesion. The paint should be applied in thin, even coats until full color coverage is achieved. Due to its chemical composition, painting must be done in a well-ventilated area, and the modeler should use a mask with a filter to protect their respiratory system. After the base coat is applied and has completely dried, it is essential to protect the entire surface with a clear coat. The clear coat provides the final finish to the bodywork—high gloss, satin, or matte—and creates a hard protective layer over the base color, preventing scratches or damage during further work on the model.

Metallic paints from Zero Paints are high-quality cellulose lacquers, specially formulated for scale modeling. These are ready-to-use products, factory-thinned to the proper consistency, eliminating the need for additional thinning. They are designed for airbrush application only. Thanks to their finely ground metallic pigment, they produce an incredibly realistic and smooth finish that faithfully replicates genuine automotive paint and metal parts. The range includes colors matched to the original paints used by car and motorcycle manufacturers, which is essential for building accurate replicas.

How to Apply Zero Paints Metallic Paints?

Applying these paints requires some practice but is easy to master. Proper surface preparation is key; the model should be clean, degreased, and primed. It's best to apply Zero Paints metallics with an airbrush at low pressure, building up several thin, even coats. This prevents runs and ensures the metallic flakes lay down perfectly. Once the painted surface is completely dry (typically after 15-20 minutes), it is recommended to apply a clear coat. This will protect the delicate metallic layer from damage and provide the desired finish—matte, satin, or high gloss, depending on the chosen clear coat product.

What Are Metallic Paints Used For?

The Zero Paints metallic color range is extensive and versatile. They are perfect for painting the bodywork of scale models of civilian cars, race cars, and motorcycles. They are also indispensable for detailing other components, such as wheels, brake calipers, suspension parts, engine blocks, and frames. With these paints, you can accurately replicate the appearance of parts made from aluminum, steel, titanium, or chrome. This makes them the ideal choice for modelers who value authenticity and want their creations to look as realistic as possible.

Texture paints are specialized modeling products that revolutionize the process of creating realistic surfaces. Unlike standard smooth paints, they contain fine particles that create a three-dimensional texture once applied. They allow you to easily imitate materials like mud, sand, rust, concrete, or even coarse fabric. In this category, we feature a selection of texture paints from Zero Paints, a brand renowned for its high-quality products. While primarily aimed at car modelers, they are also successfully used in other modeling fields. They are the perfect solution for adding authenticity and depth to your models and dioramas.

Application and Effects in Modeling

The primary purpose of texture paints is weathering—the technique of aging models and adding signs of wear and tear. Zero Paints products enable the easy and controlled creation of complex effects. They can be applied with a brush, spatula, or sponge, allowing you to build up layers until the desired result is achieved. They are perfect for creating realistic dried mud on tires and chassis, simulating thick rust on an exhaust system, or replicating the coarse surface of asphalt on a diorama. The possibilities are virtually limitless, and the final effect often surpasses what can be achieved with traditional painting techniques.

Who Are Texture Paints For?

Zero Paints texture paints are versatile products, perfect for both beginners and experienced modelers. For those new to weathering, they provide an easy way to achieve excellent results without the need to mix various products. For advanced enthusiasts, they serve as a precise tool for achieving hyper-realistic details. Regardless of your skill level, these paints ensure high quality and repeatable effects, significantly elevating the final appearance of any model.

Why is a Primer Crucial in Model Making?

A primer is the foundation of any successful model paint job. It's a specialized paint applied as the first coat directly onto the model's surface—whether it's plastic, metal, or resin parts. Its main purpose is to create an ideal base for subsequent layers of topcoat paint. By using a primer, the main paint gains significantly better adhesion, which prevents it from peeling or rubbing off in the future. Moreover, a primer unifies the color of all model components, which is especially important when assembling parts of different plastic shades or combining them with photo-etched elements. A uniform, neutral base color (most often grey, white, or black) allows for the true final color to be accurately represented.

Another key function of a primer is to reveal any surface imperfections. Minor scratches from sanding, small indentations, or glue residues become perfectly visible after its application. This provides an opportunity to correct them before applying the final color, resulting in a professional-looking finished model. Skipping the priming stage can lead to numerous problems, such as uneven paint coverage or even a chemical reaction between the solvent and the plastic.

Zero Paints Primers – The Professional Choice

In this category, we offer primers from the renowned brand Zero Paints, valued by modelers worldwide, especially those specializing in vehicle miniatures. These products are formulated to provide a thin, yet very durable and perfectly smooth base layer. They are primarily designed for airbrush application, allowing for full control over the coat's thickness. The range includes various types of primers, including standard primers and filler primers, which effectively hide minor scratches and imperfections, reducing the need for additional putty work. Zero Paints primers feature excellent adhesion to polystyrene, resin, and metals, forming a solid foundation for the brand's basecoats and clear coats.

How to Properly Apply Clear Coat?