OMG Tamiya! Augh!

So I decided to spray paint my Revell Focus SVT today. For my past few models (I just started to get back into modelling again) I used the krylon spray cans from Wal-Mart, but for my Focus, I wanted a better selection of colours. So I went to the local hobby shop, and found a TS-42 Light Gun Metal Tamiya spray, which I have never tried before (Any brand of Tamiya spray)

Now, I know you guys will freak, and from now on I will do this, but I never use/used primer. I'm not sure how much it would have helped with what happened today...

So, I shake the can for a good minute or so, open the top, spray it on a test sheet, comes out very splattered and uneven, but I let it spray for a while, seems okay.

I started spraying the side of the body, paint splatters everywhere and starts bubbling too. I'm thinking, oh dear god.

So I rush inside, grab some paper towel, and try to wipe some off, then recoat it. The recoat wasn't too bad, covered most of it, we'll see how it looks when it dries. I'll post some pictures of course.

Also, I really suck at spray painting. The whole mist concept goes over my head. I always seem to spray too much and for too long, I have some kind of fear that no paint is getting on the surface...

Hopefully when it dries it won't be that bad... definitely won't be the best though... I really need to hold that freakin' can MUCH further away than I had it before. What a nightmare.

set the can in "hot" water for 5 minutes before you spray it.

also, spray a light coat, wait 5, spray another light coat. heavy coates don't work well

i'm sure there are others with better descriptions, but remember, you can always add another coat, but you can never take a heavy coat off without stripping the entire paint job...

maybe it was a bad can, they happen.

but use primer for Tamiya paints, at least I always do, the paint seems to light to hold onto a unprimed car and leave alot of bodylines showing poorly

Even without shaking I've never had a Tamiya can splatter... I'm guessing its a bad can. Even without primer Tamiya's TS paints shouln't have that result. I used to model without primer and I had ok results straight from the can. Get another can, preferably another color or from another source and test again.

It's best to use primer. TS is lacquer, which can destroy some plastic, so you want to lay down a protective barrier first. But yes, it was probably a bad can.

Alex

I've had the bubbling before when shaking the can. Now I always set the can in hot water and 'swirl' the paint so that you can hear the ball rolling around instead of shaking. I've never had an issue since.

It came out a fair bit better than I thought.
The majority of it was definitely my inexperience with Tamiya sprays though. I tend to do heavy coats, I'm practicing though :shakehead...

Here are some shots so far...

www.hidethelinux.ca/focus

The first few pics are the good side, the higher number'd pics is the side where I mucked up initially. Of course the florescent light + the digital camera flash doesn't help, brings out all the details!

But to the naked eye, it looks okay. When you rub your finger over it, or look close, you can see it's not the most even coat in the world, but I don't think I will go through the hassle of completely stripping the paint and starting from scratch. I'll just try to do better on my next model.

From the pics, I'd guess that the paint reacted to what was left on the plastic... meaning that the plastic wasn't cleaned well enough. It looks like the paint didn't really get in the panel lines either. I would suggest a complete strip and a good rewash with a toothbrush and some dishwashing detergent. The reason I say this is becuase on the panels the paint looks ok.. but where the model has grooves and crannies, it 'reacts'.
If you have a tripod, try taking some pics without the flash. Maybe that would help us see clearer what has happened.

i don't get what you mean "wipe".
you took the paper towel to the paint on the body?

Did you sand the body?

i don't get what you mean "wipe".
you took the paper towel to the paint on the body?

Did you sand the body?

I just wiped the wet paint off the body as much as I could with paper towel... then resprayed

Definitely not the best move in the world.

It's best to use primer. TS is lacquer, which can destroy some plastic, so you want to lay down a protective barrier first. But yes, it was probably a bad can.

Alex

Hi

I have used TS sprays for years with absolutely no crazing anywhere. With commercial 1/1 sprays surely - but not Tamiya TS sprays. Never. It is a paint developed for modelling purposes... If you use TS sprays over enamels it will eat through that though. But that is known quantity - don't use a hot paint over something less hot.

Flemming

Hmm, I never had anyproblems with tamiya spray. Although I've had something like that happen with Testors. The next kit you decide to paint, you should consider primer as it allows the paint to "stick" to the body better, so you won't have to use so much paint. Someone said here something about painting, very helpful:

"Id rather spray 10 mists of paint and get it right, than to rush in and spray 2 wet coats and have something get messed up."

Something like that.

The Light Gun Metal is one of the more difficult colors in the TS line to have spray evenly, by it's nature for some reason seems to splatter more than most other colors. But dry coats, not flooding it on and building up several light coats helps a lot.
Don't let the difficulties of this paint deter you from using Tamiya lacquers in the future, I think you will be pleased with other colors in the line.

Now that is has dried, and the parts where it came out well, showed up INCREDIBLY well.

Perhaps I should change the subject to OMG I can't spraypaint...

I am very pleased with the Tamiya results, and I'd definitely buy their sprays again in the future.

Hi

I have used TS sprays for years with absolutely no crazing anywhere. With commercial 1/1 sprays surely - but not Tamiya TS sprays. Never. It is a paint developed for modelling purposes... If you use TS sprays over enamels it will eat through that though. But that is known quantity - don't use a hot paint over something less hot.

Flemming

OK, but then why does TS-13 demolish TS paint? It seems lame that Tamiya can make lacquer that won't hurt plastic but can't keep it from hurting itself!!

OK, but then why does TS-13 demolish TS paint? It seems lame that Tamiya can make lacquer that won't hurt plastic but can't keep it from hurting itself!!
Don't go there ;) We had this discussion a few days ago :lol:

Now that is has dried, and the parts where it came out well, showed up INCREDIBLY well.

Perhaps I should change the subject to OMG I can't spraypaint...

I am very pleased with the Tamiya results, and I'd definitely buy their sprays again in the future.

Indeed, sounds like a complete lack of preparation. There are some automotive paints you can SORT OF get away with this with, but not Tamiya, and guaranteed your automotive paint jobs didn't turn out as well as they could have either. Always wash the body in soap and water, air dry it for a few days, then primer, then do proper mist coats--mist coats even with automotive paint like Dupli-color will bring out a more even paint job. Just have some patience. :naughty:

OK, but then why does TS-13 demolish TS paint? It seems lame that Tamiya can make lacquer that won't hurt plastic but can't keep it from hurting itself!!

I have no experience with TS-13 as I use Gunze Topcoat. But from what I have heard it may ruin decals.

Flemming