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True Metal removal not going well

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  • Member since
    July 2019
  • From: Vancouver, British Columbia
True Metal removal not going well
Posted by Bobstamp on Thursday, April 7, 2022 11:46 AM

I used AK Interactive's True Metal to paint on my Pegasus model of Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas. I like the look, and it was easy to brush on (I don’t have an airbrush, nor couldI use one in my small apartment.). The problem is with the model's windows.

The kit is supplied with pre-die-cut masks, but they didn't stick worth a darn and some of the True Metal seeped under the masks.* Now I'm trying to remove the excess True Metal, which is thoroughly dried/cured, with little success. Acrylic thinner and lacquer thinner don't seem to touch it. Odorless paint thinner kinda sorta works, as does Mr. Paint Remover, but the clear plastic still seems cloudy and stained. AK Interactive sells XTreme paint thinner seems useless, and “XTremely” volatile and stinky and probably dangerous. I wrote to True Metal a week ago to ask their advice, but they haven’t responded. Have any of you Finescalers had experience removing True Metal paint (which is more paste-like than paint-like)?

Bob

*I may have made a mistake with the masks. Even though I sealed them with clear Tamiya spray before painting, I had applied a coat of Pledge floor wax, which I assume is similar to Future, to the windows. Perhaps the Pledge, even though had been drying for several days, may have compromised the adhesive masks.

On the bench: A diorama to illustrate the crash of a Beech T-34B Mentor which I survived in 1962 (I'm using Minicraft's 1/48 model of the Mentor), and a Pegasus model of the submarine Nautilus of 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas fame. 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Thursday, April 7, 2022 12:06 PM

Laquer thinner will pretty much destroy clear parts.

I would either try to polish them out, soak in windex to see if any pledge is still under there and maybe will let everything on top of it go loose, or paint them gloss black. 

Bill

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    November 2018
Posted by oldermodelguy on Friday, April 8, 2022 6:02 AM

I was going to suggest polishing as well. I might try the puple pond ( a small container full of Purple Power) treatment for a couple of days to see if that loosens the paint up. I didn't think of windex,that may be better yet. Then polish.

  • Member since
    August 2015
  • From: the redlands Fl
Posted by crown r n7 on Friday, April 8, 2022 12:07 PM

AK metal is enamel? Do you plan on removing ALL of the paint ?

 

 

 Nick.

  • Member since
    July 2019
  • From: Vancouver, British Columbia
Posted by Bobstamp on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 4:23 PM

Well, that went really badly! I've managed to remove most of the True Metal from the windows of my Pegasus Nautilus kit, but now they are irreversibly smudged and cloudy. Useless, in other words. I tried polishing with zero success. So now I have a kit that I can't finish until I get new windows, but the Pegasus company is no longer in business. I have ordered a second kit, so I should be able to finish the first one, but end up with an incomplete kit. Are there any businesses that specialize in parts for incomplete kits? Any other suggestions?

Bob

On the bench: A diorama to illustrate the crash of a Beech T-34B Mentor which I survived in 1962 (I'm using Minicraft's 1/48 model of the Mentor), and a Pegasus model of the submarine Nautilus of 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas fame. 

  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: back country of SO-CAL, at the birth place of Naval Aviation
Posted by DUSTER on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 4:58 PM

 Bobstamp.  Sorry the window treatment removal didn't work. But have you thought of using those windows as a form and pulling a vacuum formed window replacement ? Huh?

Steve

Building the perfect model---just not quite yet  Confused

  • Member since
    July 2019
  • From: Vancouver, British Columbia
Posted by Bobstamp on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 10:07 PM

DUSTER

Bobstamp.  Sorry the window treatment removal didn't work. But have you thought of using those windows as a form and pulling a vacuum formed window replacement ? Huh?

I've thought of it, but I know almost nothing a "pulling a vacuum formed window". Sounds both technical and expensive! Are there companies that do that? And one of the problems is the need for masks — many masks! See https://www.hobbytalk.com/threads/pegasus-nautilus-kit-review-and-build.392201/page-5. I could use Tamiya masking tape, like the referenced web page suggests, but I would need new windows, I think.

Bob

 

 

 

On the bench: A diorama to illustrate the crash of a Beech T-34B Mentor which I survived in 1962 (I'm using Minicraft's 1/48 model of the Mentor), and a Pegasus model of the submarine Nautilus of 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas fame. 

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 7:49 AM

Hi'

      Don't let the phrase fool you. "Pulling a Vacu-Formed window! isn't that hard You actually could do this. If you don't have access to a Mattel Vacu-Form machine, there is a method I have used that will work depending on the depth of the windows'

    Promise not to run scared from the room, Please? Take '030 sheet clear or thinner. Evergreen is best for this. Now take a pot, Put on stove, fill with water. Bring to a boil and turn off. Drop in a piece of the clear sheet large enough to cover the window piece. Wait five minutes. Take out of the hot water with Stamp tweezers. Lay on the originals and then Hit it with a hair dryer on medium.

    Don't get to close. Now turn the dryer to cool after the plastic has sagged over your part. This works too. The air from the dryer even on medium, will actually start cooling the piece as well as helping to finish the maneuver!

  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: back country of SO-CAL, at the birth place of Naval Aviation
Posted by DUSTER on Friday, April 15, 2022 1:34 AM

T.B. 's way is simple and very few equipment requirements.

My method: I have a 4x6x2 inch plastic box (99¢ store), covered the open top with window screen, taped down. Cut a hole the diameter of my vacuum cleaner hose (taped on to holdit and reduce air loss) on one end. Cover the screening not directly under the part (tape, paper etc.) leaving only the part and the screen under it uncovered. Then Heat the clear plastic as T.B. said.  Drape the warmed/softened clear plastic over your part. Turn on the vacuum cleaner and the vacuum pressure will suck the warm plastic down, covering your part to make a replacement. Let cool, remove the replacement part and as the Brits say,  “bobs yer uncle”.

ref, YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPWNpij1168 (not a great video,  but gets teh general point accross

 

Steve

Building the perfect model---just not quite yet  Confused

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