I've messed up the paint finish on my USCG HH-3F Pelican

Tough situation, but I think it's fixable.

Did you use Future to prep the canopy before you masked and painted?  It makes situations like this a little easier, because there's one last protective layer to protect the plastic. 

I've heard some people mention a product called "Goo Gone" to remove masking tape residue.  It's an office supply type of product.  I've never used it, but I've been told that it's strong enough to remove the residue.  However, it's delicate enough not to damage plastic or Future'd over clear plastic. 

The thick paint that's hanging over is a little tougher.  I guess you could use a Hobby Knife, but you'd need the knife control of a surgeon.  I have a 3 grit sanding stick (OK, It's a fingernail polisher) from "Sally's Beauty Supply."  Its smoothest part is a fingernail buffer that is will buff away problems with clear plastic, but it takes some elbow grease.  Whatever you do to correct the paint overhang, BE CAREFUL.  If you do mess something up, make it as smooth as possible with a fingernail buffer and then apply a little future with a Q-Tip.  The Q-tip should be just barely wet with the Future. 

I recommend clear Frisket Film for remasking.  It's clear so you can see where to cut and it masks well.  However, it doesn't get around sharp bends very well, and it doesn't adhear well when set to mask areas with very small surface areas that bend.  However, it'll most likely work well for your HH-3.  I love the suff.  I buy it Michael's art supply. 

However you fix it, Good Luck.  We've all been there.

Semper Fi,

Chris  

Hi chris , I greatly appreciate all the advice but I must admit , am I just trying to avoid the inevitable . Perhaps some carefull slicing with a thin very sharp [new] razor blade and cut through the canopy glue along the edges of the canopy where it meets the fuselage . It would make stripping the canopy much easier and I will just have to accept the fact of repainting the whole front section again after re-attaching the canopy. I didn't dip the canopy in any future , prior to fitting it first time . I will prep the canopy with future before re-glueing it back on . Usually I finish the airbrushing on each Helicopter/Aircraft before I start another kit , only leaving aerials and weapons to add after decaling , which is okay to start and stop often as I need while I work on the next kit . Unfortunatly I've got these darn Huey gunships flying around inside my head , I really should have tried to show a little more Patience and restraint and finished what was already in front of me . I also had started some preliminary work on two other Coast Guard helo's , thankfully only some airbrushing of the insides of the fuselage halves and cabin floor , I haven't glued anything together as yet . So I've put those two kits aside to get the Huey's out of my system . I have never used that Frisket Film before but as you suggest it probably will work well and this might be the perfect situation to try something new. Thank's again for all the advice and help chris , I'll just have to bite the bullet and remove the canopy . Kind regards John

That's probably the best thing to do.

I know what you mean by getting excited about the next project.  It seems like I get hungy for the next project about halfway through the current project.  I make a big enough mess with one project that I have to build one at a time. 

If the canopy is too big to "Dip" in Future, you can hold it with tweezers or forceps over a catch container and squirt the Future over the canopy.  Wick away the excess with a clean paper towel and then cover it with a cup or something to keep the dust off while it dries. 

Semper Fi,

Chris

After getting a good nights sleep and looking at the pelican with fresh eyes , the rest of the helo turned out okay . So I guess it's not a total disaster . The Revell exhaust and rotor housing blended in well , just like my previous H-3 build , so I should be happy about that . With a clear head and some patience it shouldn't be to difficult to remove the canopy and strip. I've emptied a large can of peaches into a ceramic bowl and I'll wash the tin in sink and use it to fill with Future , it's large enough so I can hold the edge of the canopy with the tweezers and dip the entire canopy in as you suggested chris . Kind regards John

Dude, you're making me miss helicopters.  I have a couple of GB's to work off, then It'll be Phrog time.  Your Pelican is looking great.  Little problems appear in every build. Working through problems is the... Uh... fun of the hobby.  But, you have this one well under control.  I can't wait to see it finished. 

Semper Fi,

Chris

hey chris ridle is correct. Goo gone works great for the tape residue. as for the paint i would get a new sharp blade and score the framing of the windscreen. then get either a tooth pick or a sharpened piece of sprue, as this won't scratch the clear plastic. then slowly with light pressure remove extra paint. hope this helps

 

semper fi

Dan 

Hi Dan , I decided to go with removing the canopy completely . I've stripped of the paint with some Mr Muscle Oven Cleaner and I'll re-glue the canopy back on again tomorrow . I'll look around for some of that Goo Gone , I've had a little bit of tape residue on some of my clear parts from time to time , it will be handy to have some on hand . I've also ordered some Frisket Film that chris suggested from the hobby store . So thank's guys ,at least I have learnt about two new products to try . Kind regards John