Primer & Paint question - Tamiya & Model color

Did you brush or spray the Vallejo Model Color ? And if sprayed, how did you thin it, with what products.

What color is the primer ? If not white, then clearly you are seeing plastic where the paint pulled off.

Vallejo is (in)famous for its poor adhesion. That's likely the main issue. 

  The Vallejo gets my vote too for being the culprit.

I have to say it's more likely the Vallejo Cavalry Brown than the Tamiya Fine Surface Primer, too.

You didn't say how you applied the Vallejo paint, but if it's Cavalry Brown from the Model Color line, and you airbrushed it, that would be another mark in my mind that the issue is with the Vallejo paint.  Their Model Color line can be airbrushed, it's true, but then, a lot of paints can be applied with an airbrush.  But the Model Color line is made for brushing by hand; it's a favorite among figure painters.  Vallejo's Model Air line of paints is formulated for airbrushing-though it can be applied by hand.  But the Model Air line has a selection of adjuncts to use when airbrushing, which increases the complexity of the process, in my opinion.

I have a dozen or so Vallejo Model Color paints in my paintbox, and I agree that they are more sensitive to scuffing, chipping, and other kinds of wear, as I handle a piece, until I can seal the color coats.  I use Tamiya's Fine Surface Primer, and have no problems with that primer.

Oops - i knoew i foprgot something!!  I airbrushed the VMC calvary brown.  10 drops paint, 2 drops thinner and 2 drops flow improver - all Vallejo paint/thinners/flow improver.

Maybe i shpould hasve done the Air line of paints....

Sorry to say, I think you're going to get mediocre results from Vallejo, whether it's intended for airbrushing, or not. Model Color, Model Air, Game Color, etc. are all notorious for poor adhesion. They're fine for figure painters, who generally don't mask or handle their work very much at all. Other kinds of modeling, not so much. 

I use Vallejo paints pretty much exclusively on my kits and while I've never had an issue with masking peeling the paint off I have had issues with it chipping easily and it wouldn't sand worth a darn.  Wil have to jump on that bandwagon that it is likely that.  However...

I discovered it doesn't harden properly at room temperature.  I've taken to curing everything in a box at 112F.  After a several hours in there it hardens nicely. The paint is much more durable and can be sanded afterwards. 

My paint dryer is nothing more than a simple cardboard box with a 60W incandescent bulb in it.

PhoenixG

I use Vallejo paints pretty much exclusively on my kits and while I've never had an issue with masking peeling the paint off I have had issues with it chipping easily and it wouldn't sand worth a darn.  Wil have to jump on that bandwagon that it is likely that.  However...

I discovered it doesn't harden properly at room temperature.  I've taken to curing everything in a box at 112F.  After a several hours in there it hardens nicely. The paint is much more durable and can be sanded afterwards. 

My paint dryer is nothing more than a simple cardboard box with a 60W incandescent bulb in it.

 

I agee, especially on the heat aspect of your post. It also helps to put the first couple of coats on very light and heat set those with a hair dryer to flash dry. Also in my experience , with final heat setting in a dehydrator, I only do 30 minutes @ 110f. Great improvement in scratch tests were revealed in my testing this method.And others supported my findings by having done something similar as well.

Also we noticed right in this forum several folks not complaining about Vallejo and it was found that all who were complaining were just room drying. That left the paint with a tacky or rubbery feel, even weeks later. Those of us heat setting got a harder shell finish. I personally have no complaints . And I don't even thin mine with Vallejo products, but I heat set the stuff..

Still, on a large ship hull ( not saying the OP hull is large) I probably wouldnt pick Vallejo. I'd probly mix the color myself from Rustoleum 2x enamel, decanted. Thin it extra with lacquer thinner and spray it with my Paasche H airbrush or even my LVLP touch up spray gun. Everything levels out nice with that method. Over lapping patterns melt in nicely with enamels. Doesn't have to be 2x, but you can't beat the quantity lol. Just sayin.

Thaks all.  I agree on the tacky part too.  Maybe ill try the lightbulb trick

I have been using Vallejo Model Air for years with no problems. I use Rustoleum primer decanted and used in airbrush. I use VMA thinned with distilled water, if needed, and a few drops of flow improver. After spraying, I close the sheer curtain on the spraybooth and leave the exhaust on for a few hours to aid drying. The sheer curtain on the booth catches any dust pulled into the booth. Every few months, when it starts turning grey with dust, I take the curtain down and throw it in the washer. I guess I've just been lucky with my method. Oh, one other item that could be affecting your painting is the humidity of the area your painting in. High humidity can cause all sorts of problems.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/y7uYDMLyBvCtT3mNA

Hope that this helps.

Stay safe.

Jim 

Will Heres the final version - I know I know , plastic stands & all. But , I did finally get a wooden block mount to try and start drillinling holes and mounting so I can make my own!  Anyway, a commission for one of my brothers. Guessing it's the last one of these I'll,do - maybe forever.? Lots of broken booms, etc on this one. And generally more of a challenge than the others - eye sight , a little hand cra,ping & patience!  It is what it is - very pleased!

MrchntMarine:

        I didn't read your whole post. I stopped when I got to which ship it was. You know, what you outlined isn't funny. Over the years I have built probably fifteen of the model. Each one was the same. Either a lot flash and broken parts, or, the paint didn't want to stick.

        I had one I was doing as a early MAERSK ship. Guess what?, The primer I used, Available at your local hardware store(Rustoleum, Dove Grey general purpose primer didn't Stick!) Geez! That stuff, in my experience even sticks to badly mixed Fibre-Glass Resin!

        I wonder this! When I worked for a plastics company in L.A.,Cal. We would recycle what we didn't want to throw out. Sometimes It was weird when it was re-Used. Same problem! I wonder if that is what Revell was doing?

Hi!

     Listen, I just want to say, I have had Wonderful Results with Mr Hobby-Mr Color Surfacer-500! It seems to stick just fine for me. When I first bought this stuff, I got it home and Immediately dosed it with Four Drops(Pea Sized) of Mr Color Thinner and two of the same size drops of my Tamiya retarder, because I do a lot of brushwork!

    It has never failed me and I love the stuff! Some of the brands are to quirky for me and that is ONE of the reasons I Totally did not like any aspect of Acrylic paint only! Give me my old fashioned Model-Master Military and Model car Paint line !

Mrchntmarine

Will Heres the final version - I know I know , plastic stands & all. But , I did finally get a wooden block mount to try and start drillinling holes and mounting so I can make my own!  Anyway, a commission for one of my brothers. Guessing it's the last one of these I'll,do - maybe forever.? Lots of broken booms, etc on this one. And generally more of a challenge than the others - eye sight , a little hand cra,ping & patience!  It is what it is - very pleased!

 

 

Looks to me like you ended up winning the battle ! Congrats !

Well, Gee Whiz!

       You did a fair dinkum job there mate! That model looks straight up. Kudos!

Thanks all!  3 of those booms were busted and other little challenges. Always learning and most of the time not too frustrating. Haha.