CUSTOM
PAINT JOB
In his first article Gunmunki tells us how to
completely change the look of your gun
F
irst things first: be absolutely
sure you want to change your
gun before you start as it can
be difficult to reverse the
process.
I suggest testing your skill on a slightly
cheaper airsoft part, such as a magazine,
before moving onto your more valuable kit.
Also be aware that painting will invalidate
any warranty with the shop you purchased
it from. So, no free repair service for your
electric blue M14 if you break it!
Preparation
When painting or changing the finish on
your gun you need to spend some time on
preparation.
Protective gloves and glasses are essential
– and seeing as these are standard airsoft
attire you should be used to wearing them
by now. Some paints and chemicals can
070
December 2011
cause skin cancer so please be
sensible.
Choosing the correct paint or
effect is essential, especially if
working on ABS plastic parts, as
some paints can react with the
plastic and cause the surface
to bubble. You will also need to
decide on the lustre of the paint
finish: matt, satin or gloss? I
would generally recommend
matt if you are the sneaky type,
as reflective surfaces rarely add
to the value of camouflage!
There are paints specifically
manufactured for use on airsoft
guns. The main manufacturer
is Krylon which makes a
vast range of colours. More
importantly though, Krylon
has re-released its popular
camouflage shades in its ‘Fusion’
range.
The next stage is masking off
or stripping down your gun.
It is vital that you do not
spray or paint your gun without
protecting the moving parts and
barrel opening. DIY masking
tape is ideal for this. If your gun
is older and has been through
the wars it might also be a
good idea to clean the mud and
debris of battle off the bodywork
before painting.
After choosing your colour or
preferred camouflage pattern
you need to decide on how
to achieve the final result
most efficiently. This could be
straight from the can, through
an airbrush, sponge application