I read about this subject on this Forum with great interest as I had problems. This put my mind to the task & this is what I arrived at.
Started late last year model making & set up
my work area in the garage. Despite a carpet on the floor, insulating
the garage door with polystyrene & living in Jersey (Channel Isles not the New York one which nicked our name ! ), which is a few
degrees warmer than the UK, the garage gets very cold when the heating is
off & especially when the weather is from the continent of Europe (wish the French would keep their country warmer in the winter).
So found drying paint (using enamels) not easy particularly the
darker colours for some reason. So searched around for ideas to dry the
paint in reasonably warm & consistent conditions. I looked at a few
but discarded them either not practical or the models would not fit in
them.
My wife being a mad keen gardener I suddenly thought plant
propagator. Most were not practical or not warm enough. But found a
Stewart propagator (must be good as they have also copied my surname). This is advertised with a temperature control from
12 to 28 degrees. So I bought it.
But found that paint drying & plant propagation do not match.
The soil or plant pots sit on the bottom of the propagator where there
is a heat blanket built in to the double floor. The soil actually
retains the heat in the propagator. So failure as if you put a model
into the propagator the heat just disperses out of the roof of the
propagator.
So, I do not give up without a fight (although pretty frustrated at
this point so my wife says, she suffered, I suffered from wife &
propagator). I insulated the propagator top & sides with 25mm(1”)
of upholstery foam. Bingo the propagator keeps a temperature of about
26 degrees. Fluctuates a degree or two depending on the ambient temperature of
the garage but it is near enough constant at 26 degrees.
Tried it for about 2 weeks & it works perfectly drying paint
over night when the temperature is 14 or 15 degrees in the garage. Nothing has warped or come unstuck. My
second model, I am underway with, is being painted with Revell Aqua
& this has turned out OK. Both types of paint have dried well &
much quicker. Enamel air brushed in the late evening is ready to be over
coated early next morning.
Also works with adhesives & fillers.
There are vents in the top of the propagator but I have ignored
these & have not had any problem with condensation. This surprised
me as Jersey has one of the highest RH humidity readings in the world,
87. In the UK the average is 68 approx. So any one wishing to use this
method should be OK. I will have to see how the summer effects this
matter but the means to ventilate are there.
One great advantage is that being a small area there is little
temperature difference within the propagator from the bottom to the
top. This gives a good chance of not having small hairs & air born
junk circulating & clinging to the paint.
I have two models to go next. A Lancaster 1/72 & a Lysander
1/32. Both with wings on will fit into the propagator. Just to warn any
body trying this method not to put model pieces or models on the floor
as this is the hottest places. I place mine on stands. The heater is
only 50 watts a small light (old type) bulb strength. Also tape the
temperature sensor to the roof of the top as this is where the
temperature is the lowest. This contrary to usual as heat rises but the
max heat is on the floor of the unit.
http://www.stewartcompany.co.uk/planter-collection/66-heat-grow-variable-control-electric-propagator.html.
code 2497005 size 52x42x28cm
You also get, lucky you, with the propagator 1 large seed tray, 2 small seed trays and 10 flower pots. Very useful !!
Laurie