Spray check

Even though (most of) model horses are painted with brushes, as a hobby, we go through a lot of spray cans.

photo by Stephanie Blaylock

And those spray cans can cause a lot of trouble.

photo by Katie Breneman

Katie Breneman writes: Just a friendly reminder as we approach the starting day, keep your primer can far away from your sealer! Every year I feel like someone grabs the wrong can and puts primer over their hard work. It’s so devastating! So please do yourself a favor and move the cans, mark it with tape, or anything else to prevent this disaster. Can’t wait to see all your pretty ponies!

photo by Elizabeth Hart

Here's how Lynn Cassels-Caldwell addresses this issue: As soon as I open a new can of spray, I *always* write what it is on the top of the can with a sharpie. That way, when I grab a can I will immediately be sure of what it is (because spraying primer instead of sealer once was enough!). I write it on the side opposite to the nozzle, so I have to see it before I actually start to spray.

photo by Lynn Cassels-Caldwell

Tina DeCaussin takes this one step further: I write on the can what they are, I also add the date I bought it on the can. Helps weed out old cans that may cause trouble. I also add my initials, since I do travel to a friend's for art days.

photo by Tina DeCaussin

Of course, not all issues are due to mistaken identity. Earlier this month, Corina Roberts ran into an unexpected issue with her Stone Horses Bunny custom. She writes: I swear by Dullcote. When I sprayed my Bunny and she came out glittery. I never thought it could be the Dullcote. I repainted her. And then again and again. With gel medium in the paint. With a color that has more opacity. No matter what, there was glitter. I cleaned my room...I thought the original culprit was a brush with mica powder in it...no. I finally sprayed the belly of a black horse that's never been sealed. This dullcote is full and I mean full of glitter.

photo by Corina Roberts

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. Upon the advice of several hobbyists, Corina contacted Rustoleum via their web form. A representative got back to her within two hours and in less than a day, an order for four replacement cans was on its way to her.

photo by Corina Roberts

That's a good after-the-fact resolution, but of course, it's better to avoid the problem altogether. To that end Jaime Castleman recommends the following: I use a black spray painted model as a "test" model. Before I spray anything on a horse I am working on, I test it on the black model first. This will stop accidental primer events and lets me know if my sealer has gone to crap, starts spitting specks, going on too thick, etc.

Jaime's test model, almost time to spray him black again!

Thank you, Katie, Lynn, Tina, Corina and Jaime. Your sage advice has almost certainly headed off at least one NaMoPaiMo disaster!