Post your Fixes to Modeling Screwups here!

[MercCougarXR7]

Hi Guys - it's been a while since I've posted here, but I'm BACK !

OK - I just cleaned off my modeling desk yesterday, got bored, had nothing to do - and realized it's been almost a year since I've touched my modeling hobby. Oh well - I've saved a bit of money from not buying new kits though .

After doing inventory, I realize that I have several kits that have the chassis and interiors built, but haven't done the body's. Oh yeah - cause I SUCK at painting !!!

Hence the topic at hand - I need help fixing a screwup, and figured that a Screwup post is a good idea for us all to show eachother how we fixed things we didn't manage to get right.

My screwup, is an excessively thick paint coat on a plastic kit - and it's got spider cracks in it . I didn't primer it, which was mistake #1, but rather than toss the thing, I'd like to fix it.

I'm thinking that I can polish it out, but want your imput on what kind of polish (if any), and how to do that .

Kevin.

[Jay!]

Welcome back, man! Good to see you again!

If it's cracked, I'd think it's easiest to just srtip it and repaint. Check out the FAQ we put together at the top of the forum for info about paint strippers (like CSC ).

[TheSyndicate]

Broken part = Superglue.

I can't exactly think of anything right now.

[rcmaxx]

easy!!!!!! get some bottles on Brake Fluid(not cleaner) and sink the model in, wait a few hours and just rub the paint off with something

some people will tell you to use CSC(castrol super clean) or oven cleaner, however, with CSC, you risk loosing your skin, with oven cleaner you risk having permanent lung problems, with the brake fluid, it all fine, your hands may get a little dirty but nothing that can be cleaned with regular soap.

[TheSyndicate]

Does brake fluid have the possibility of melting the plastic? Is it cheaper than CSC?

[rcmaxx]

brake cleaner will melt plastic, but thats NOT what you use. its Brake Fluid, real cheap, get the crappiest type, like 98 cents a bottle, I ussually put my models inside like those 1/24 scale display cases, dip 2 bottles of the 98 cents thing in and its plenty.

[2quick4u]

my screw up so far???...admiring the car while it's on it's paint stand..ya....dont' do that....i turned my back and it must of slipped of or soemthing cuz i heard it smash onto the floor..i was like NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.........but it's ok..i just need to get some CSC and start again....sigh...model is fine though..and the yellow was such a nice color on my ITR...DAMN! So if that happens the only fix is to restart..unless any of u got an easier way to fix it?

[hirofkd]

Dropped and cracked...


Surfacer...


Silver, decal and clear coat.

[primera man]

Muck up....just paint body and it slid of stand onto the floor.
Answer....Kicked the cat that was near by

[wkma7six]

I once had a Tamiya Honda CBR 1100xx Super Blackbird in the "With Me" color scheme. I was all done with the bike and while putting on the decals I used a little Micro-Sol ( the one with red lettering on it ) and FUCKED up the decal. It literally melted away and not just wrinkle up as it normally does on other decals. WARNING: Never use micro-sol on Tamiya decals! Just the Micro-set ( the one with blue lettering on the bottle - essentially its just vinegar)
After this little mishap I was outraged and smashed the finished kit into smithereens. I have since bought another one, but it is still in it's shrink wrapped package. I'm afraid to open it now. I still have some spare parts from the other bike which will now haunt me forever. Am I crazy?
-Walter

[Guido]

I had several screw-ups over the years and tried oven cleaners and used brake fluid.
Oven cleaners will only work good, if the paint has been applied freshly, say 1 to 2 weeks. after that you'll have to repeat the process over and over :o
Brake fluid is to greasy and there's a risk of bits that are staying on and so will destroy your second run also

sooo

I buy a new kit, use the screwed up parts from the first kit and add the rest to the scrapbox. Wheels, suspension, steering and decals. A bit more expensive, but no hussle on getting the dam thing right again.

Screwed up so far: Ford Escort Cosworth GrA, Honda NSR Repsol 500cc,
Sauber Mercedes C-9....

oh and Walter, you're NOT crazy!!! I know the feeling

[MercCougarXR7]

Thanks Jay, for the welcome .

Starting over is a last resort, but I did buy myself a 1L bottle of cheap brake fluid - just in case it has to be done.

The car has a custom color, so I can't just sand and repaint. What I was hoping to do was to buff out some of the top layer of paint, where there's cracking. If nobody knows much about that - I'll guinea pig this, and report back. If that doesn't work - brake fluid time .

Good to know that I'm not the only idiot that screws up nice kits - some pretty good tips overall in this post.

Great fix on that Mercedes - it looks like that 'break' is supposed to be there.

BTW Primera - read your post about body prepping, and have started with a Cougar model, using a 'Non-Metal' primer, specifically for plastic surfaces. But - I'm not pleased with the results - the surface is bumpy.... That's what sand paper is for, eh? Good to see you here too .

Great to be back, I wish I had more time to piss away in the lounge area, but that isn't to be. However, this modeling section RULES!!! I have yet to see a site that comes even close to the level of expertese and skill of it's members. With that, I hope to be a regular reader/contributor in this section of AF.

Keep up the good work,

Kevin.