I am new to this forum and am building two replica ships Erebus and Terror each 1 metre long to be launched in Antarctica later this year. I have sealed the hulls with Stockholm tar since all materials have to be biodegradable.The bottom of the hulls will be copper plated to prevent any marine growth does anyone know of a none toxic paint for painting the copper.

Hi Colin, I have ordered a small amount of the Laquer you recommended because i will use it on Katie but not on the MTB because i want it Matt and i think Halfords do a Matt rattle can anyway. Thanks for your Help on that Colin.

Cheers Jon

Hi Jon, sounds good for both models.
I like to rub down using1200 wet and dry before the colour coat, and 2000 wet and dry between coats.
And a final rub off the top coat with frecla g3 compound. You can get good finishing compound at most motor factors.
Cheers Colin.

Hi Colin, Katie has primer coat on it but it needs some fine wet and dry running over it just to smooth it out a bit, so for Katie I will give it light priming and the colour. The MTB I will give just light flatting down and paint that with matt grey, so it a trip to Halfords and paint with rattle cans.

Cheers Jon.

Hi jon,
I always used 2K paint for the ABS parts. For wood and constructions first a primer (spray) then 2x the desired color. On some models (sailing boats) I even painted the surface with clear varnish.
1 coat diluted so that it seeps into all cracks. Second layer a little thicker and the third layer without thinning! I hope to have normalized my way of working to some extent. A bit complex, but my ships are "tight"
Greetings from Michel-Claude

I have used rattle can paint from Halfords on my RAF fire tender.

Good question,
First consideration is what is on there already,
Secondly does it need priming.
Thirdly budget.
As most of my boats are ancient refurbished models, I prefer to use car paints in rattle cans on large areas as they are relatively cheap and usually have good colours available. And primers to suit.
But all my detail work I use humbrol enamel.
And if needed I will coat with polyurethane lacquer.
For woodwork I use letonquinures gold marine Varnish.(probably spelt it wrong). See picture.
Hope that is helpful for you, cheers Colin.