paint problem (see pic)

http://img6.exs.cx/img6/4485/IMG_1741.th.jpg (http://img6.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img6&image=IMG_1741.jpg)
(click for 400KB huge pic)

I think I did everything I was supposed to do, but as you can see, there is some icky dried paint on both sides of the engine and the transmission.
First, I washed the piece with warm soapy water and a toothbrush, and let it dry for a day (in a slightly open container). Then I put Tamiya Fine Surface Primer in hot water for 10 mins, and swirled/shook it for a while. Finally, I sprayed one quick light coat, and let it dry in the container once again.

What can I do to stop the dry gunk from happening again? Was the coat too heavy or something?

Is it fixable (knife and toothpick work)? Or is it not worth it and I should just strip the primer and start over?

I wouldn't worry about stripping it.

Personally if it was me, I would sand down the entire piece with some low grit paper. I would pay paticular attention to the areas in question, and then hit it again with another light coat of primer.

Someone, may have another view and hopefully they will share it.

I wouldn't strip it either, just lightly pass a knife blade over the bad bits of paint, it should chip the "gunk" off. My guess here is that it didn't try, that there was a little bit of water left in those spots and that's where the gunk came from. This happens to impatient old me a lot, and it looks just like what I get. Let it dry in the open, and brush any dust off with a soft brush. The washing is to remove oils, brushes remove dust. If your in a hurry, used air from your compressor/airbrush to help blow water off.

Like Willimo said, it's water that made this mess. Just scrape it away and give it another pass with the primer and you should be fine. You guys are not alone out there, I managed to do this on two bodies in a row just the other day. When heating my can under running water I managed to get a couple of drops on the body shells without noticing. Grrrmmmblllftjjuu, and all other foul word you can imagine, turned out allright with a light sanding and another shot with the can. Now I don't take the bodys in to the kitchen before I'm through tampering with the water.

Niclas

I used a knife to pick at the dried paint, which came off easily. Then I sanded as best as I could (too many nooks and crannies), and I washed it again. I could see exactly where the water was hiding, now that I knew where to look for it. I'll make sure it's completely dry this time.
Thanks everybody!

You can use hair drier also to dry it quickly, just shake the model good of water and blow the rest with airbrush or hair drier.

it looks like that primer is kinda thin. I know you said you warmed it and shook it vigorously, I just don't like the way that primer looks :dunno:

May want to get another can of primer.