How do you paint PE parts?

What I generally do (I'm still relatively new to PE).....

For seatbelts and the like I will usually carefully cut them from the PE fret and hold them with sets of tweezers I have that work like clamps (i.e. you have to squeeze them to release the part).  I very carefully hold them by the buckle, being careful not to bend it.  Airbrush them like normal (many people like to primer first), then when that's dried and cured I hand paint the buckles.

For really tiny stuff like levers and the like I will cut a mask out of some cardboard so that the parts I don't want sprayed are covered, and the parts I want to spray are exposed. Airbrush as normal.  If you hand brush, no worries, I'd leave the parts on the sprue and hand paint them.  You can then touch up the spot where you removed it from the sprue later with a light dry brushing.

If the levers etc. are the same color as the main cockpit components, I'd attach them first, and spray them along with all the rest of the stuff, then hand paint the handles.

19 times out of 20 I'll attach the PE part to where it goes on the model, paint as I normally would, then pick out the smaller details (if any) with a fine brush, drybrushing, or a combination of both. It can be very difficult to attach PE parts to areas that are already painted, and most likely the bond would be inferior to the bond between PE and bare plastic. As a plus to getting a stronger joint, you also get a cleaner-looking one once the attachment points have been painted over.

do your self a favor and wash your PE fret with or soak it in vinegar, yes that's right vinegar, to get rid of and chemical "leftover" on the metal.  Prime and paint as you would any other part...

Of course this does not apply to prepainted parts! 

 

IYAAYAS wrote:

do your self a favor and wash your PE fret with or soak it in vinegar, yes that's right vinegar, to get rid of and chemical "leftover" on the metal.  Prime and paint as you would any other part... Of course this does not apply to prepainted parts!

aye, forgot to mention that.  Vinegar works great! 

espins1 wrote:

IYAAYAS wrote: do your self a favor and wash your PE fret with or soak it in vinegar, yes that's right vinegar, to get rid of and chemical "leftover" on the metal.  Prime and paint as you would any other part... Of course this does not apply to prepainted parts!    aye, forgot to mention that.  Vinegar works great!

 

of course you did...

yup, PE needs to be cleaned just like the plastic and resin parts need to be cleaned.  It really does make a difference.