I just got done painting the wing on my R\C Spitfire and I wanted to try a camo scheme masking with Silly Putty. The paint, Testor’s Model Master spray cans, went down alright and I gave it a day to dry. The paint on the wing seemed dry, it wasn’t even tacky, but as I pulled off the Silly Putty, the paint came off of the putty and stuck to my fingers a lot.
So I’m wondering if the paint will fully dry on the putty and if I should chance using used Silly Putty on another project.
Lots of us use Silly Putty for masking.
To answer your question, some paints may, effectively never dry on Silly Putty, which contains a silicone compound. Silicones, in small amounts, can impart very glossy, weather resistant finishes to paint. But too much (it takes very little) will inhibit the cure tremendously. As a lark, we once made a “non-drying” paint in the lab. Six months later it was barely tacky—and the occasional insect was leaving red footprints on things.
Good to knwo. Most of my paint jobs I try to use acrylics, Tamiya mainly, any idea how they will react?
I used the Testor’s this time because I’m painting a foamie GWS Spitfire and I know the Model Masters paint will not eat the styrofoam but when I airbrush I always try to use acrylics.
Might dry, might not—but it doesn’t matter. If it doesn’t wipe it off with a damp paper towel and roll up the Silly Putty. If it does dry, just knead it into the putty.