Homemade Paint Colour Swatches

[beany]

If like me you have model paints numbering in the 100s rather than 10s then you may also find it is difficult to keep track of what you have and to compare them - e.g. who's RLM 71 looks best (to me that is) type of thing. Some time ago at work they started issuing us with business cards which were about as much use to me as a chocolate tea pot - but I immediately saw the potential in these pre-cut mini sheets of card. I simply have them to hand whenever I open a tin of paint these day - write the description underneath and keep them grouped by colour - greens, greys, browns etc, in an old Ferrero Rocher box. Some need a couple of coats (as you will see in the picture), and some require duplicates or even triplicates - do olive drabs go best with the greens, browns, or grey - I just put one in each. Here is a (poor) photo of a few of the many greens that I have.



Cheers
Al.

[Ian]

I like the way you've added notes as to the paint equivalents.
It's a good idea but Mrs. Ian would seriously take the proverbial if I did that.

[PaulBradley]

That's a very good idea, Al - I'll have to borrow that...

[JohnRatzenberger]

Do you think the paint on paper will give you a somewhat false color compared to plastic ?
Do you coat them beforehand, say with Future ?
Am I overthinking this ?

[SJPONeill]

Great idea - have stock of old business cards (mine and others) so this will put them to good use...

[beany]

Do you think the paint on paper will give you a somewhat false color compared to plastic ?
Do you coat them beforehand, say with Future ?
Am I overthinking this ?

No - it is stiff card rather than paper, so not unlike plastic.
No, but Gloss paints often need several coats to get good coverage.
Possibly, you'll just have to try it yourself John and see what you think.

I forgot to mention, but it is probably obvious, that I paint on the unprinted side of the business card. I am toying with the idea of painting both sides but just having the colour on one side without the written info. When colleagues have left the company I ask them for their old business cards so I have built up quite a stock of them for future use.
Cheers
Al.