SPA Modeler

keavdog wrote: ↑Fri Aug 14, 2026 6:42 pm That's wild and screams Mad Max! Not bad for a first try. The makey dipping specific 'paper' that you float on the water, then hit it with activator and it turns to liquid. The demo you shared the paint method seemed to gloop a bit and add texture.

Yeah, it did. I did my test hydro dip in a gallon water bottle, not in a 5 gallon bucket or tub - thus it resulted having a bit of gloop and texture I didn’t want. I didn’t swirl the paint away from the cab before taking it out of the water. So that’s on me.

I need to go slower next time I hydro dip.

I plan on doing more hydro dipping tests until I get it right to achieve a smooth coat.

Having not done another hydrodipping session, im seriously having second thoughts on actually using it on this van kit. If I do, it will be gold and metallic brown by Testors. I would have to spray a lot of gold, then brown, then gold and brown again before dipping.

I see why my first test subject was mostly black than red is I sprayed black first the red. I have to do the opposite light color first then dark, light then dark again.

If im.not happy with it, it'll be Metallic brown all round.

Never heard of Hydro-dipping, is that like screen printing?

Loving the subject - when I was a kid I always wanted a Tamiya Lunchbox radio controlled car.

Here’s the video on hydro-dipping for beginners


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpr74nXXwTQ&t=9s

BlackSheep214 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2026 4:11 pm Here’s the video on hydro-dipping for beginners


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpr74nXXwTQ&t=9s

Thanks Tom, I'll take a look.

Shelving this one. Losing my mojo with car kits. Time to finish a pair of armor kits and restart on military subjects.

I get that. Sometimes shifting gears can be inspirational.

My completed kits so far this year

120mm Verlinden Bazooka gunner (vietnam)
1/14 MK 82 Snake Eye Bomb
Suyata Titanic
1/72 Hasegawa X-29
1/350 Bronco SUNG class attack sub
1/48 Hasegawa Aichi D3A1 Type99 Val
Hughes 500 CHP Helo

On the bench - 1/48 Hasegawa F-18C, 1/24 Italeri Toyota LandCruiser Safari

So ya - shifting gears.