Painting your gun is not as simple as slapping some paint on. You need to
take the time to carefully paint and to do a good job. This is YOUR weapon. Painting
it add creativity, uniqueness, and intimidation factor to your gun. I believe it was
MiB(which is a super cool
site) who first officially painted their weapons black like a S.W.A.T. Team, and this page
follows in the tradition.Here is what you will need to
think about before you paint it:
1. Do I want to be able to take my weapon back to the store if it
breaks, or 'fix it or bust!' ?
You need to answer this question before you go any further.
Only the elite can paint his or her weapon. Because then if it breaks, you
have to fix it! If you don't want to be so extreme, I suggest covering it in tape or
cloth, which doesn't have the same effect. If you dare to paint your gun, please
continue...
2. Where will you be fighting?
If you are fighting in urban areas, a grey or black may suit you
best. If you are fighting in the forest setting, a camouflage pattern may be in
order. Remember, black always works.
3. Can you take the gun apart?
You need to have the ability to take the weapon apart so that you
don't seal the gun up with the paint, in case you ever need to open it.
If you have answered the following, and are still
willing, please procede...
Painting your gun, v1.0
1. Select the color of paint. The paint brand
should not be a question. I use Testors! You can paint it on the main part of the gun
without having to pre-sand the weapon.(although pre-sanding can sometimes help)
3. Make sure you have good air ventilation.
2. Examine your weapon. Take a look and
see if it has any caps on it preventing it from being opened.
3. Take your gun apart!
4. Select an appropriate brush that doesn't hold too
much paint inside it.
5. Put some old newspaper under the painting area,
so as to not drip paint on an important surface.
6. Pre sand any high areas on your gun with about a
150-180 grit sandpaper. Use the sand-and-paint method. Sand a tiny bit, then
paint a small dab. let it dry, and if it holds, it's good. If it rubs or
sctratches off, easily, sand a little more, and keep checking by painting and sanding
until the paint sticks.
7. Paint you weapon, including all the crevices in
the gun's mold. Paint inside the screw holes if the holes are at an angle such that
the color of the weapon is visible when looked at from the top or bottom.
8. If you are really extreme, and require
absolute cover, sand the screw heads and carefully paint them to cover the shine.
Just make sure the center of the screw, where the screwdriver goes, is free of paint, or
has the lightest of paint layers.
9. Set the weapon's halves aside to dry.
Note: If you have a water gun that hold the pressure where the water is stored,
DON'T SAND IT. Just cover it up. Only sand the tank if it is separate from the
pressure chambers. Then get the plastic water tank (NOT the pressure chamers) and sand it
with a heavy grit sand paper(80-150). Do as you first did, using the sand-and-paint
method mentioned in #6.
10. For the pressure chambers, you can paint them,
JUST DON'T SAND IT! It could possibly weaken the pressure tanks by sanding them, and
they might, um, possibly, um, blow up(don't ask :) If you paint them with out
sanding them, the paint may scratch off, but you wont compromise the safety of the weapon.
Plus you can tape X's on the sides of the pressure chamber(s) so that if you lay
the weapon down, it wont scratch. Please see example here.
11. You may have to do a second coat.
Whenever you are done painting, make sure you clean your brush in some paint
thinner(remember ventilation!) and carefully store your brushes and paints.
12. Put your weapon together, and your ready
to go!
Things to remember:
1. Use good air ventilation
2. Put newspaper under where your painting
3. Use the sand-and-paint method(see #6)
4. Don't paint sloppily. Take your time.
5. Never paint your gun while together, or you may
permanentely seal it up.
6. Take care of your painting supplies
7. Have fun!
