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Yellowing white paint

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  • Member since
    August 2007
Yellowing white paint
Posted by Phantom Fan on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 8:56 AM

I've been cleaning & repairing my older, already assembled kits recently & noticed that the white paint is starting to yellow on some of them. Is there anything that can be done, short of repainting the whole plane, to restore the white? Anything that can be done to prevent yellowing in future builds? I've got a TSR2 in the works & don't want to see a dingy yellow plane 10 years from now.

Thanks!

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Left forever
Posted by Bgrigg on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 9:13 AM

You could try parking it in plain old sunlight for a while and see if the natural light bleaches out the white. However, sunlight isn't picky and tends to bleach out all colors, so don't leave it too long.

Sadly not much can be done to prevent this, other then keeping the kits it a darker room.

So long folks!

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Neenah, WI
Posted by HawkeyeHobbies on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 10:40 AM

Most of the paints we use in this hobby do not include a UV protector to prevent yellowing or fading. Is it the paint yellowing or are their environmental factors contributing to a build up of the yellow tinge to the surface such as nicotine from cigarette smoke. Models attract it like fingers do superglue.

If it is the latter, wash with a mild detergent. Once clean seal with a sealer that includes a UV protector such as Future which has some.

Gerald "Hawkeye" Voigt

http://hawkeyes-squawkbox.com/

 

 

"Its not the workbench that makes the model, it is the modeler at the workbench."

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 10:54 AM

Many of my older models show some yellowing even though they are stored in a protected way.  Whites & light Greys show the yellowing the most.  I notice it especially on models that I used Testors gloss & flat coat lacquers as the final top coats.  Models that I used Future & PollyScale Flat as top coats show significantly less yellowing.

Regards,  Rick

RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Peoples Socialist Democratic Republic of Illinois
Posted by Triarius on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 11:05 AM

Yellowing (unless caused by soiling as Gerald mentioned) is caused by changes in the binder, not the pigment, which is very stable. It is caused primarily by exposure to ultraviolet radiation, including light from fluorescent bulbs. Clear coats are particularly vulnerable, although some (like Future) are more resistant. However, even the most resistant will yellow given sufficient time or exposure. As Gerald also mentioned, hobby paints rarely contain any anti-yellowing components, nor are their binders generally formulated to resist the effects of ultraviolet.

Ross Martinek A little strangeness, now and then, is a good thing… Wink

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