White Paint- Stop from yellowing?

jimboh1 · Post by **jimboh1** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:41 pm

Can anyone suggest how I can stop white spraypaint from yellowing? I've done a few kits w/ white spraypaint over the years, and they always seem to end up yellowing to some extent.

Besides the obvious 'keep it out of direct sunlight' can anyone offer any other suggestions how to delay/ stop the yellowing?

better quality spraypaint? Grey primer underneath?

Any advice/ suggestions appreciated!

Jim

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 1:21 am

jimboh,

you're right about the grey primer underneath, and the sunlight. I would also suggest sticking to acrylics for white. This is purely anectdotal, but I've never seen acrylics yellow. I don't think the pigments in the solvent-based stuff like UV B.

Also, add just a tinge of blue to your white. I mean, not even an entire drop to your mixing palette or airbrush jar. Seriously.

I hope this helps.

Kenny

LuiS_42 · Post by **LuiS_42** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:48 am

3 words.. "Shift to Acrylics". Avoid the Heartache.

HWR MKII · Post by **HWR MKII** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:10 am

I have seen acrylics yellow quickly too. Tamiya lasts the longest but if you want a white that will stay wihite for a good while try automotive paints. I made a 1/8 scale camaro and used auto paint on it. The thing is still as brilliant today as it was 2 years ago when i first painted it. I will have to give it a wash and wax when i get home though

big-dog · Post by **big-dog** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:14 am

Interesting point regarding auto paints. My 1:1 scale Intrigue in Bright White is still pure white after 6 years. And it's sat in the sun in Texas, Arizona and Utah (the worst, at close to 1 mile elevation the sun's really frackin intense). It is clear coated, don't know if that makes a difference.

jimboh1 · Post by **jimboh1** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 11:29 am

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and experience!

Jim

irishtrek · Post by **irishtrek** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 11:51 pm

I've yyet to see flat white turn yellow, every time I use a gloss white it has a yellow tinge tto it even MMs acrilycgloss white, even clear gloss will develop a yellow tinge, so you might want to airbrush smoe future floor polish over the flat white to make it gloss.

Post by **TER-OR** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:22 pm

There is the trick of adding just a touch of blue to the white to counter the yellowing. I almost never paint pure white, either, as it just looks bad. I usually add just a bit of light gray for a scale effect.

Sometimes it's not the paint but the clearcoat which yellows. This is frequently the case with lacquer coats. I have some older planes which have yellowed, but since switching to acrylics I haven't seen the problem.

DX-SFX · Post by **DX-SFX** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 7:02 pm

Oil based paints like enamels have a tendency to yellow with age. Lacquer based car paints however are formulated so they generally don't for obvious reasons. Red and blue pigments in car paint might fade over the years but the carrier lacquer doesn't yellow.