Having Trouble with Hairspray Chipping. Any Suggestions?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

I just attempted hiarspray chipping on an aircraft as I think it looks the most realistic. So after two attempts I just can’t seem to get it to work. This is what I did:

Primer-let dry overnight
Tamiya flat aluminum-let dry overnight
Hairspray from airbrush-let dry
Top coat Tamiya Olive Drab thinned with Mr Surfacer Leveling thinner.

The top coat dried for a few days before I was able to get back to the model and when I applied water and rubbed with a brush the paint would not start to come off no matter how long I did it. Even with a toothpick scratch to get it started it was next to impossible to get the top layer to chip. Even with the toothpick it was difficult to remove the top layer.

So then I did an experiment on old unpainted wing from my scrap pile.

no primer
Tamiya flat aluminum-let dry 15 min
hairspray-let dry 15 min
top coat-let dry 15 min and used a hair dryer to make sure

Upon adding water to the surface and gentle rubbing with a brush the paint did start to peel but down to the plastic surface.

So what am I doing wrong? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

2

You need to begin chipping within minuites of applying the top coat.

3

I did on my experiment but it chipped down to the plastic surface. Each layer had dried for about 15 min. Do I have to let the base layer dry for several hours first?

4

Yes, 24 hours.

5

Try this…

Primer-let dry overnight
Tamiya flat aluminum-let dry overnight**.**

**Coat with Future,**let dry completely

The future gloss coat protects and also provides a slicker surface for the hairspray to let go of.

**Double hairspray from airbrush,**let dry

Top coat Tamiya Olive Drab thinned with 91% ISP alcohol instead.