PATRIOTIC TWIST

Step #1

To prep the gunstock for paint,

Step #2

Primer the parts using a 2 part epoxy. I prefer PPG's DP48-LF. This primer has excellent adhesion properties. In the following  picture (step #3)  you can see the black guide coat that I sprayed. This is done so when sanding, high and low spots will be visible. Using a soft block, I wet sanded with 400 grit wet/dry paper.

Step #3

Before painting, use a wax and grease remover (PPG DX330) to remove any film from sanding or impurities, such as finger print oils. For this step, I sprayed a 2 stage PPG Diamond White Pearl base coat. For this application I used an Iwata LPH-300. This spray gun is awesome for base coats and especially pearls.

Step #4

Layout the "Twist" design using 3M's 1/16" fine line tape. Criss-cut all the tape corners into points. Use a new razor blade for this so you don't cut into the paint. This is being done because you will use both sides of the tape for paint.

Step #5

Apply transfer tape (a sign making product used for vinyl lettering) over the entire project. Do Not use masking tape for this step. Using a new razor blade, lightly cut the transfer tape and follow the center of the fine line tape. Remove the area to be painted.

Step #6

To make my stars, I used a computer vinyl plotter. Most sign supply shops carry a paint mask material. Notice that I made several shapes and sizes of stars. If you don't have a plotter, use transfer tape to sketch out and make your stars.

Step #7

Apply the stars to the areas to be painted blue. Remember, this is a "twist" design. You don"t want everything too uniform. At this point, we are done masking. The nice thing about this design is you only have to mask the job one time. Now we're ready to start painting.

Step #8

Before painting, use some masking paper to seperate the blue field from the red field. Lightly spray a couple of coats of House of Kolor "Majik Blue Pearl. Let the paint dry for a few minutes, then remove the stars. Here I'm using a weeding tool to remove the stars. You want to be careful not to scratch the paint outside of the stars.

Step #9

Flip your masking paper around to protect the blue area that was just painted. Apply your red feild. For the red, I used House of Kolor "Raspberry Pearl. Here I'm using a Sata Mini Jet to spray the red. Make sure you keep you paint build up to a minimum.

Step #10

Give the red ample drying time so you can handle it. Now to add some depth to our design. Using a Iwata HP-B and an over-reduced mixture of black, spray in some shadows.

Step #11

Remove the transfer tape from the entire job. Be careful not to remove the fine line tape just yet, Mix up some "Weak Black". You don't want the black to be dominating for this step. Now with your airbrush, give a light halo around the outside edge of the fine line tape.

Step #12

Now it's time to remove the fine line tape. Pull the tape at a upward angle so it will cut both sides of the paint. This will give you a clean and sharp edge. Now we've given the illusion that this job was striped.

Step #13

Before going back into the spray booth, you want to wipe down the entire project with wax and grease remover. This will remove any over spray from the airbrushing.

Step #14

Before clear coating, make sure you go over the surface with a tack rag to remove any dust particles. Now apply four coats of clear. For this step I used a Iwata LPH-400 and Matrix MS-42 Clear.

Step #15

To acheive a smooth glass finish, it's time for the necesary evil of color-sanding. Using a soft waffle pad as a block, I start with 1500 grit sandpaper and finish with 2000 grit. Keep soapy water running over the surface to keep the sandpaper from clogging.

Step #16

For buffing I recommend using a 3M foam pad with 3M Perfect-It II compound. Clean the surface to remove excess compound and polish using a 3M Foam Polish Pad and 3M Polishing Compound.

Clean the surface again to remove any film left from the polish. To finish the project off I like to go over the finish one more time using Meguires Quick Wax and a soft polishing cloth.

Step #17

Step #18

Time for re-assembly. There you
have it. The final product in all its
glory. This design can be done on
anything and it'll look awesome.

Written By Steven Craig

ARTIST PROFILE

STEVEN CRAIG

DATA

Steven Craig is the owner and head painter of SKC CUSTOMZ in Lake Havasu City, AZ. In the past Steven has won the House of Kolor Prestigeous Painter Award and was a 1st Place winner of Dupont's Hot Hues Awards. He most  recently was awarded the Matrix System's FX Grand Prize Award. Steve paints a wide range
of jobs from guitars to large off shore boats. Visit  his web site at

Airbrush : Iwata HP-BH, Custom Micron B
Spray Guns: Iwata LPH400 and Iwata LPH300
Paint Media: PPG, Dupont and Matrix Systems
Surface Media: Everything I can get paint to stick to.
Masking : R-Tape and 3M Masking Tapes
Projector: Artograph
Lighting : Natural and Florescent. Spray-Line and Spray King Paint Booths

copyright 2006 Airbrushtech.net

 Custom Paint Gun Stocks

Patriotic themed paint jobs are as hot as ever. In this article I'm going to show you how to do a very simple and yet striking paint job. Once you do one of these, you'll have many customers asking for it. My customers have named this the "Patriotic Twist". What's nice about this design is its fast design to do and if done right you can demand a good price for it. Time is money and this is a moneymaker. To make this work right and give it a very kustom look, you need to use colors with vibrancy and depth. You will be bouncing off the background color so don't use a solid white. I was able to paint both these guns, from start to finish in about eight actual working hours.