SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Weathering Model - Crumbling Into Pieces In My Hands

2744 views
35 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2021
Posted by JoeSMG on Saturday, April 1, 2023 10:36 AM

I'm thinking it's your thinner? I looked up Ammo and saw it's enamel based, what were you using to thin it? Acetone can be used and is a strong enamel thinner but may have detrimental effect on plastic if used in a slurry and left to sit. But that's a total WAG, very odd - Please let us know if you figure this out.

- Joe the SMG

  • Member since
    January 2020
Posted by GovernorTarkin on Saturday, April 1, 2023 10:34 AM

I've found several quite old Reddit threads on /r/modelmakers alluding to the fact that enamel thinner and the thinner contained within enamel washes can weaken, crack, and disintegrate the plastic used in Bandai kits. Threads here, herehere, and here.

This kit was heavily primed, painted with multiple coats, and sealed with a final gloss coat. Would have assumed this ultimately would have been enough to protect the kit from whatever in the enamels is damaging to the plastic. Seems not.

Perhaps someone in future might learn from this thread.

Weeks of work down the tube, extremely disappointing return to the hobby.

This forum remains an essential resource and continue to appreciate its wealth of knowledge.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Saturday, April 1, 2023 10:27 AM

Nothing stands out there  but I had something similar after stripping paint off a little 1/144 dc-3 by soaking it in testors ELO.  After a few hours I pulled it out of the bath and it just kinda fell apart like you described.

 

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    December 2022
  • From: Canada
Posted by Tcoat on Saturday, April 1, 2023 10:26 AM

Well since it was primed then that would be the only product that actually contacts the plastic. Never heard of that primer before but it doesn't look like it should cause an issue. Did you thin the primer with anything before applying it?

  • Member since
    January 2020
Posted by GovernorTarkin on Saturday, April 1, 2023 9:57 AM

I cut the parts off the sprues, assembled the model in logical chunks. Primed, painted, washed.

That's all I did.

  • Member since
    April 2020
Posted by Eaglecash867 on Saturday, April 1, 2023 9:44 AM

Did you wash the parts in anything before you primed and painted?  If so, what did you use to wash it?

"You can have my illegal fireworks when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers...which are...over there somewhere."

  • Member since
    January 2020
Weathering Model - Crumbling Into Pieces In My Hands
Posted by GovernorTarkin on Saturday, April 1, 2023 9:37 AM

Hey all.

I come to you extremely discouraged. Recently returned to the hobby as a casual builder after several years away, so please take it easy on me if you can.

I was just in the process of weathering a model and as I was doing so, the model began to quite literally crumble in my hands. Pieces that were previously solid plastic began to bend and fall apart in my hands, breaking and snapping at points that were not even seams. It was almost liked it melted, thick pieces were suddenly malleable, bending and crumbling in my hands.

The kit is a Bandai AT-AT. My process was the following

  • Primed with Stynelrez.
  • Painted with Tamiya Acrylics.
  • Gloss coated with Vallejo gloss coat.
  • Wash/sludge bath with Ammo by Mig.

I let the wash sit for thirty minutes and began to wipe it off with a rag and cotton swaps. It was while doing this that pieces began to bend and crumble.

It's almost like something compromised the structural integrity of the plastic.

I have absolutely no idea what happened here and am extremely disappointed that weeks of work essentially just disintegrated in my hands.

Can anyone walk me through what happened here so I can prohibit a disaster like this in the future?

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.