Air bubbles in paint?

[mustangemd19]

I just got done painting an rx-7 im working on and it all looks great except for 2 or 3 air bubbles ontop of the right fender.

Is there any way of removing these without messing up the paint?
Also, what causes the air bubbles?

Thanks in advance.

[MPWR]

Tell us everything about your painting process and we'll be happy to help. What exactly did you use, and how did you use it? The more info you give, the more help we can be.

Pics are great also.

[KevHw]

The air bubbles are hardened into the paint anyway, so there's no way of removing them without "messing up" the paint you already have. The basic way is to sand out the bubbles then to re-spray the area. Sand it down using increasing grades of sandpaper (from a slightly coarse to a fine grade). I don't know what brand of sandpaper you use, so I can't be more specific...just judge it yourself.

Bubbles in my experience have been caused by laying down too wet a layer of paint (only experienced this with spray cans). Because the paint is too thick, and it's straight from a can, the liquid propellant doesn't have enough time to escape into the atmosphere before the paint sets. and so bubbles out. So either spray slightly further away or just spray less heavy coats. That's what happened to me a few times though. Haven't had it with the airbrush.

The more details about your problem, the more people on this forum can help...and with the experience of some of the guys on here...it's really worth it if you want a problem solved and want to learn something too.

[mustangemd19]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Tell us everything about your painting process and we'll be happy to help. What exactly did you use, and how did you use it? The more info you give, the more help we can be.

Pics are great also.

Im using gloss black Testors enamel. out of a spray can. I used the paint just like your supose to from side to side sraying with every sroke. and about 6 inches away.
the air bubble came up after putting on the second coat, and I think it may have been caused by just putting it on too thick. other than the bubbles, the paint looks great and is my best paintjob yet. (this is my 5th model)

Thanks for the advice also KevHw.

[MPWR]

It's very much like KevHw said. You're applying the paint too thick and heavy. Propellant dissolved in the paint will bubble out like that if the paint is allowed to gather any thickness. I'm guessing there is some thick buildup on the fender? This is one of the many reasons that paint must be applied in slow, light mist coats.

Once bubbles appear like that, there really isn't a good way to fix them. You could try to cover them with a decal or the like.

[xpeed]

Yeah, too thick of a coating tends to get air inside the paint. I learned from my mistakes and I sprayed 8 inches away from the model now. I do slow strokes left to right three times. I put about two coats of paint and one coat of clear. So far I find this technique pretty good for spray cans. Also, make sure you shake your can for a minute or two to make sure everything is mixed evenly. This will also lower the chances of having air bubbles appear when you spray too much.

[mustangemd19]

Thanks for all the replys. Ill apply all the advice to the next models I make.

I put on one more coat since the last post and im happy with how it came out. the air bubbles arn't as noticable now as they were before.

heres some pics. (excuse the fibers/dust on the car they are not suck to the paint its just been setting in my dusty room for about 6 hours and needs to be brushed off.)











Please let me know if there is anything i can improve on.

[kaho]

Paint does look too thick. Looks like most of the details on the body have been covered up. Are those the bubbles you were talking about on the line between hood and right fender? If so it is not too bad, If it isn't for the paint being ENAMEL I would have sanded them away before you put on your last coat.

[mustangemd19]

Originally Posted by kaho

Are those the bubbles you were talking about on the line between hood and right fender?

Yes thats were they are, and thanks for the info.