I have just bought an Eduard metal barrel for my tamiya Tiger I. I was wonering is there anything that I need to do when I get ready to attach it to my kit and any thing I need to do to prep it for painting? This is the first time I have used a metal barrel and hopefully not the last since the detail of the barrel is fantastic. Thanks for any help. Tiger33
Ensure the barrel is clean prior to installing it. It may have some oil residue from the manufacturing process. For a barrel as large as a Tiger’s, I will need to be primed prior to painting the tank.
Thanks for the advice Rob. All I am really waiting on now is some PE stuff for it before I begin to work on it. But sitting here and looking at it, I cant wait to start on it. But I have to be patient with it. Tiger33
ya I agree make sure that the barrel is free of oil and prime it well other than that your good to go
You can prime it now before you assemble the tank.
Use vinegar to clean metal.
Good luck [:)]
Some modelers give the metal parts a soak in vinigar to etch the surface a bit. I’ve never done it myself. If you decide to do it, make sure you wash the parts well before painting.
I usually wipe down the metal parts with lacquer thinner, but make sure you don’t hit any plastic!
I use the vinegar on my PE to etch it. I tape it to the bottom of a bowl, and flip the bowl over and put on a dish filled with vinegar and leave it over night. Same trick you may have done with a penny to make green. Roughens up the surface so it holds glue and paint better. Never done it on a barrel- just shoot that with Tamiya primer
Be very careful with vinegar on aluminum , it is caustic ,a quick wash is ok , just don’t soak it for a long period of time .
[;)]
I’ve never heard of the vinegar trick. I’ll try it next time, thanks.