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I'm beginning work on the Eduard 1/48 Albatros D.V.
I've just used (for the first time) Vallejo's Metal Color aluminum. I airbrushed it on yesterday late afternoon and am wondering if I can mask it safely in the next hour or two. That would only be about 17 hours of drying time.
Do you suggest I have more patience - or do you think I'd be OK masking that paint now?
Just looking for opinions - I'll probably wait another 3 or 4 hours anyway.
BTW, from what I see on the small area I sprayed, this paint looks fabulous! - So much better than Tamiya or PolyScale (my hitherto go to metallic paints).
P.S. I just realized this thread should probably be in a different forum. So if the moderators want to relocate it, please do.
Mike
Hector Berlioz
Well, there’s only one way to find out!
I usually wait about 24 hours, but you may be able to get away with less time. Acrylics usually cure pretty quickly.
The short answer is, "It depends."
Acrylic is a bit of a misnomer here, too, since paints like Mr. Paint are acrylic lacquers, but for the sake of water-based acrylics, I still say it depends. Did you prime it? I made the mistake of buying Model Master Acryl paint once upon a time, and while I liked the color I had, it lifted with anything more potent than a light breeze unless I used a primer first. Even then it was dodgy.
For a metallic, I would wait a day and do a test on some place you won't see or is easy to repair should it lift.
-BD-
This is what I would do so as to not ruin a nice paint job. I would buy the cheapest airplane model at Hobby Lobby. The I would paint the model, apply the masking and then remove the masking and see what happens. I do this all the time. It saves a lot of grief.
Your comments and questions are always welcome.
General rule for me:
Acrylics- 3 or 4 days
Enamels- 7 days
Morrison's Second Law of modeling: "There's never enough time to do it right, but somehow there's always enough time to do it over".
Modeling is an excuse to buy books.
GMorrison General rule for me: Acrylics- 3 or 4 days Enamels- 7 days Morrison's Second Law of modeling: "There's never enough time to do it right, but somehow there's always enough time to do it over".
Amen!
+2
RadMax8, Brandon, Johnny, Bill, and Mississippivol,
Thanks for your responses.
Looks like I'll wait a couple of days anyway.
Bill, 3 - 4 days! really?
1943Mike Bill, 3 - 4 days! really?
Im usually running with three or four models at a time so I can afford to wait as long as needed.
Clint
Also, in my experience with Tamiys and Gunze acrylics, gloss finishes will take longer than flats.
Tamiya and Gunze flat colours can be masked over quite quickly (about 24h), whereas gloss colours in these ranges tend to skin quickly but then dry/cure very slowly sometimes 7-10 days or more (depending on how heavy a coat).
Well based on all the replies I've received here it would seem best if I did let the paint sit for at least 4 days. I did not prime the sprues as I usually do. I just cleaned them in warm water with dish soap and then a clean rinse as I always do with my kits. I have other parts to paint before I head up to Mount Rainier soon for a few days of hiking.
Thanks all for your helpful replies.
Spirit based paints cure from the inside out. When they feel dry, they are.
Alcohol based paints skin and then cure inside.
Its a mistake to think they are dry when they feel that way.
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