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Vinyl track warning

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Vinyl track warning
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 15, 2003 10:59 PM
I resently completed 2 Tamiya kits and used the given vinyl track. I also used Testors Metalizer as a base coat before weathering. While putting a model in my display I notice my JagdPanzers' track had broken, also my Centaur. I found that the track did not fail at the joint, but rather at a stress point at the idler wheel. Looking over the damage I found the the center guides were cracked at the base and the vinyl had become brittle. The only method change in my track painting was the metalizer.I'm not a chemical engineer but I'm guessing metalizer attacks the vinyl causing it to become brittle. Well both tanks will look good in metal tracks.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Saturday, August 16, 2003 3:05 AM
I've never had any trouble myself, but I do remember hearing something a few years ago about Tamiya vinyl tracks giving off some kind of oozing, greasy substance when painted. It might have been with enamels, but I can't remember. I do recall that they were, ironically, the Cromwell tracks, the same as your Centaur's.
~Brian
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 16, 2003 6:21 AM
J-Hulk, tnker101,
You are both right, now while i do not know the actuall reaction, i can tell you from experiance that painting any kind of soft vinyl with enamels is a bad idea, i painted a small Anubis figure from McFarlane's toys and the head was made of a soft vinyl, i painted it with a semi gloss enamel since it was all i had, and to this day (about 9 months now) the head is still wet in a sence...kinda the same as the tamiya tracks oozing...just thouhgt i would tell you:)
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Saturday, August 16, 2003 11:18 AM
Yup, I've built tons of vinyl garage kits (Godzilla, Ultraman, Gamera, etc) and learned early on (luckily, before I actually painted anything!) that enamel doesn't work on vinyl.
However, for a little drybrushing, I've never had any problems, even on bare vinyl. But if you're gonna cover the whole track, use acrylics.

But tnker101's problem was breakage, not a lack of drying, right?
Hmmmm.....
~Brian
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 18, 2003 12:57 AM
Yep!Same happened on my tamiya Js3 and Wespe.It's gotta be the solvents in enamal.
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: The flat lands of the Southeast
Posted by styrene on Monday, August 18, 2003 7:39 AM
I absolutely HATE being the black sheep of the family, but I have sprayed and washed Tamiya's new vinyl tracks with enamels and enamel thinners with no problems whatsoever. I have tracked vehicles sitting on my shelf from ten years ago with no signs of deterioration. Since Metallizer is a lacquer, and not enamel, it may indeed be responsible for track degradation. Rather than Metallizer on tracks, I would suggest using a dry brush of aluminum, gun metal, or a VERY light application of chrome silver. Silver Rub N' Buff also gives superb results. Although I've never used them on tracks, the ideas regarding the use of acrylics is also well taken.
Gip Winecoff

1882: "God is dead"--F. Nietzsche

1900: "Nietzsche is dead"--God

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 18, 2003 9:38 AM
NOW you tell me..

-mutter mutter Boba Fett helmet still tacky after 3 years mutter moan-
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