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Plastic model ruined-Please help

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Plastic model ruined-Please help
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 24, 2005 12:31 AM
Heres what happened, I primed a plastic model car with a can a testors white primer with the intent of painting it with a lacquer paint. I was later told to strip the white primer and use automotive light grey primer instead because the testors white primer and the lacquer paint would react badly together. So heres what I did, I stripped the off white primer and then dipped the entire model in a bath of lacquer thinner thinking this would help prep the model for the lacquer paint, the model now appears to be ruined as Its covered with shiny blotches thru out. I think what happened was I still had a good amount white primer on the inside of the model and it mixed with the lacquer thinner and caused a bad reaction. I tried to sand the model to get the blothes off of it and it didn't work. I was thinking of dipping it in Castro Superclean to see if that would clean up the model again so that I can prime it with the Automotive light grey. Please advise as I'm very disappointed since this is a vintage 67 mustang that I'm trying to refurbish. Thanks..
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Falun, Sweden
Posted by proosen on Sunday, April 24, 2005 5:58 AM
OUCH!

To put it short, laquer thinner melts plastic!
The only way to play it safe is to use white spirit or equivalent or some kind of alcohol when cleaning models because these wont eat the plastic as the thinner will.
I think you can forget this model and move on to the next one, that's the down side of it. On the up side you got some fresh stuff for the parts box to use on some other project.

Niclas
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Shrewsbury, UK
Posted by Martsmodels on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 2:28 PM
Sounds as if Niclas is right - this one is probably for the bin. If the thinner hasn't warped the plastic you may save it with a coat of sanding primer but you're almost certainly going to lose some detail. Flatten off the sanding primer and then go with the gray as you first intended. May work - fingers crossed! Martin
Martin http://www.freewebs.com/martsmodels/
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Dahlonega, Georgia
Posted by lizardqing on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 10:57 PM
If nothing else , it is not a complete loss. You now have a body to practice painting techniques on.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 12:58 AM
hey can u post some pics to show us the damage?
  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Roanoke, Virginia
Posted by BigJim on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 8:42 PM
I learned a long time ago that when you paint plastic with lacquers you need some protection. Floquil used to make what they called "Barrier". It was a crystal clear protectorant that you sprayed on your model. You could then use lacquer based paints and not worry about them attacking the plastic, no matter how lightly.

Floquil doesn't make this product anymore, but Scalecoat has a sealer that does the same thing. Take a tip from an old timer, use this stuff and then when you mess up you can strip the paint and start over again.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 5, 2005 12:51 AM
I think your Mustang is a loss ,not knowing the extent of the damage. From passed experiences with lacquers, I've found that a coat of Krylon Primer or two makes a good protection barrier between plastic and lacquer paint and most paints. As for stripping off paint old or new paints I've used Easy Off oven cleaner (Blue can) remember to protect yourself it burns on skin and eyes. For the body, if damaged beyond repair try looking up a club site, they may have a scrap yard and maybe a member has a spare in their box. Good Luck and Let's Hear from you.
  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Roanoke, Virginia
Posted by BigJim on Monday, May 9, 2005 12:27 PM
Ken,
I would be very leary of that Krylon paint too. I've seen Krylon attack plastic too. Use Scalecoat's sealer for lacquer paint to be safe.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 13, 2005 11:34 AM
Hello Big Jim, Thanks I'll give it a try.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 15, 2005 9:09 PM
I'm now building AFV's, but for years before my switch I built cars. I used lacquer paints exclusively. For primer I used Plasti-kote Sandable Primer, T-235 Gray, which comes in a spray can. It's a fast drying lacquer based primer. Works well on plastic. Can find it in many auto parts stores.

And yes...unprotected styrene plastic and lacquer thinner do not mix. Bet you won't make that mistake again. I ruined a car body that my then 9 year old son was working on. Did he have a long face, until I bought him another kit like the one I ruined.

HTH

Glenn

P.S.- I prime all my current AFV parts with this Plasti-kote primer as well!
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