Weird paint problem help me figure it out!

Sluis Van Shipyards · Post by **Sluis Van Shipyards** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:41 pm

I wish I had a picture of this, but I've got what looks like dust on my paint job, but it's not dust. My first guess would be it's paint that dried before it hit the surface, but it's in areas where overspray isn't likely to hit it. It's mostly in tight areas. Check this picture of the model: http://rogue74.nt3.npsis.com/chissclawc ... 60505b.jpg

In the areas where the outside of the wing joins the wing pylon I get this problem along with the insides of the intakes. There's was also some along the ball cockpit sides. It's driving me nuts.

Mr. Badwrench · Post by **Mr. Badwrench** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 5:34 am

I wonder if it could be caused by static? It seems to be happening in corners, areas that are hard to sand, right? How "sticky" are the grains, can you wipe them off without too much trouble? I've had the same problem with spray paint, when I'd swear the model was clean as a whistle before I painted it.

USSARCADIA · Post by **USSARCADIA** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:40 am

I've had the same problem spraying primer on my Rommie scout, fuzzies in hard to reach places. Wish I knew what it was too. Sorry I can't help with a solution.

irishtrek · Post by **irishtrek** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:02 pm

Did you mix 2 or more colors and airbrush or did you rattle can? If you airbrushed a mix of colors then I'm thinking they did not mix together good enough.

Post by **TER-OR** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:27 pm

It could be your paint is a bit too thick and the pressure high. I've found that when working with flat acrylics in the past.

Sluis Van Shipyards · Post by **Sluis Van Shipyards** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:06 pm

It's just one color being sprayed. The pressure is right (15psi) and the paint seems to be thinned correctly because these areas are the only places this is happening. It's not sticky or anything, but you do need to use fine sandpaper to get it off.

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 1:33 am

Have you tried wiping those areas down with a tac rag after the paint has throughly dried? It may fix the problem with the fuzzies.

I hope this helps.

Kenny

Sluis Van Shipyards · Post by **Sluis Van Shipyards** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:59 pm

Yeah, but it's either the paint or it's in the paint. I used Floquil primer with Testors MM over top. I wonder if those two paints had a bad reaction for some reason? If that was the reason though, it be on the entire model.

Sluis Van Shipyards · Post by **Sluis Van Shipyards** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 8:22 pm

Someone mentioned this problem might be from static. I'm starting to think that maybe the sanding built up a charge because while weathering this thing the chalk powder flew off the brush onto the model in a few areas. I wonder how you get rid of a static charge in styrene if that's the problem?

Post by **TER-OR** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:04 pm

I would think rinsing it would dissapate the static charge. I'm not quite sure what to tell you here...

Sluis Van Shipyards · Post by **Sluis Van Shipyards** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:47 pm

I'm thinking exorcism...

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 11:52 pm

What about walking outside and touching it to the ground?

Kenny

Sluis Van Shipyards · Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:15 pm

I think I ruined my theory. I wiped off some pastel chalk with wet toilet paper and it also created static electricity. So I'm not sure if it's the same thing with the paint or not. I'm going to try and sand a piece of bare styrene and see if the sanding creates a charge too.

Jonas Calhoun · Post by **Jonas Calhoun** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:34 pm

When I was in the hobby shop this afternoon, they had some anti-static swabs. Looked like it was custom made for this situation...

Dan

Tony Agustin · Post by **Tony Agustin** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 7:26 am

Sluis Van Shipyards wrote:It's just one color being sprayed. The pressure is right (15psi) and the paint seems to be thinned correctly because these areas are the only places this is happening. It's not sticky or anything, but you do need to use fine sandpaper to get it off.

I think you are airbrushing too far from the model. Get closer.

Sluis Van Shipyards · Post by **Sluis Van Shipyards** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 9:55 pm

I'm pretty sure I'm close enough, around 4-5inches. That's what I thought initially, but if this was the problem the paint would be like that all over the model, not just tight areas.

Post by **TER-OR** » Mon May 01, 2006 9:38 pm

I had a problem with PolyScale flat for a little while. Eventually I figured out I was spraying at too low a pressure. I was painting at low pressure/low volume detail work and just left the pressure low. When I eventually brought it back up I got better atomization and bettery pre-drying and had no problems. Also, I painted a lighter coat.

Now no problems with PolyScale again. It's my favorite acrylic flat.

I do like and use PolyScale's Plastic Prep too. It removes surface oils, and addresses the static issue, too.