Question on paint mistake

General Discussion General Modeling Discussion
1

Hello,

I have recently started on airbrushing and have been getting these strange effects on my models.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/En7VNFmqyqSM64xr6

This happens to a few pieces only. Seems like there is something about the plastic.

Any ideas about what this might be?

2

[snWcm]

If you could provide some information about the materials used (primers, thinners, paints, etc) including brand, I’ll bet you’ll get lots of help.

Really hard to say otherwise.

3

It’s good that you posted pictures, that will get you much better answers. It would also be good to know what materials(s) you’re using and what kind of prep prior to piant.

I don’t recognize the parts; are they styrene or some kind of soft plastic? It’s obvious the paint isn’t sticking to the surface evenly, so my first thought is that the surface isn’t clean or the paint is incompatible. Will it flake or scratch off easily, or wipe off with water or a solvent?

These are starter questions. Hopefully others who are familiar with the specific model you’re building will chime in.

4

Also,post this in the Painting Section of the forum.If I had to guess with the lack of info,it looks like plastic wasn’t cleaned or primed but like the others said,we need more info

5

Looks like contaminants on the plastic. I would strip the parts with yellow can easy off, clean parts with original Dawn dishwashing detergent, then prime and repaint.

6

To me, it looks like the paint is so thin that the pigments are collecting is some areas and not others. I’ve done that and gotten this kind of a result. I don’t think it’s the plastic.

Having said that, I second a couple of the other posts. Like Greg, I’d like to know more details about your process.

You didn’t say, but do you prime your pieces, or do you apply the paint directly to the plastic? I recommend two steps to prep for painting:

Clean the sprues with warm water and a de-greaser of some kind, to remove dirt and grease. Dishwashing liquid is good; I use a couple drops of SuperClean.

And use a primer. A primer will provide a surface for the finish coats to adhere to, better than bare plastic.

And I agree with Tojo, I think that you’ll get more answers posting your painting question in the Painting forum.

Hope that helps!

Best regards,

Brad

7

Paint looks too thin.

8

I’m wanting to say that it doesn’t appera as if you used and primer and shot over the plastic/resin which could have had oils from your fingers etc on the surface. Also it looks as if the paint is seperating which could mean out dated paint or thinner or even contaminated paint or thinner.

9

I think that there are some contiminants on the plastic such as human oils or release agent stuff if no primer is involved. It could also be the paint itself.

Best thing to do is to dump the paint and get a new bottle or try something like Xtreme Metal or Vallejo Metal colour and clean off the paint on the part and the nclean the part with normal dishwashing liquid and warm water, cleaning it again in clean running water and then leaving it to air dry overnight.

Get some surgeons disposable gloves for handling as this will stop you contaminating the parts.

Strip your airbrush down and give it a good clean out too.

10

Thank you all for your responses and sorry for posting in the wrong section. I did make a continuation a gave more details to the paint job here:

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/tools_techniques_and_reference_materials/f/18/t/184687.aspx

As a quick summary to all the questions:

  • I did not prime the parts in the photo, I’ve been reading online that some people don’t always do it.

  • Contaminants was one of my original guesses. I did wash the pieces, but maybe not enough?

  • Paints used are Revell acrylics (Aqua)

  • I’m mixing revell paints with flow improver from vallejo. This is my strongest guess right now. I’ve been having a trouble with tip dry (Newbie airbrusher). Basically I am testing different possibilities right now.