discussion Which to start on?

[stona]

Hi Wayne,I find that ordinary brake fluid works well for stripping acrylics. You do need to leave it soak overnight though so it's not quick, but it doesn't harm the plastic. A stiff paintbrush helps with stubborn bits but you obviously need to be careful with fragile bits like aerials, gun barrels etc.

Gern

Or an alkaline cleaner. Oven cleaners (containing ammonia) or my airbrush cleaner (Muc-Off,meant for bikes) will strip acrylics. For stubborn bits methylated spirit and a tooth brush works. For enamels you'd need to use the appropriate solvent but I've never tried to strip a large area of enamel paint.

Steve

 

[Guest]

Oven cleaner? Well that's easier to get than brake fluid! Having said that, I might just try re-spraying the offending areas first! Sorry Wayne for taking your thread off subject!

Patrick

 

[Guest]

Oven cleaner? Well that's easier to get than brake fluid! Having said that, I might just try re-spraying the offending areas first! Sorry Wayne for taking your thread off subject!Patrick

Not at all, all good info is useful info. And i know i'm going to have to buy shares in oven cleaner and brake fluid to keep my costs down ha ha.

Cheers

Wayne

 

[Guest]

Well I've never stripped a model of paint before so that will be an interesting experience! Hopefully I won't need to go that far but my desire for perfection outweighs my skill!

Patrick

 

[Guest]

I hear that patrick.

Wayne

 

[Guest]

Another one, how do i clean brushes that i've used with enamel paint? And do i always have to thin paint down and where can i find the ratios?

Cheers

Wayne

 

[Guest]

I use that Revell brush cleaner stuff-It's a lime green colour? Watch out though coz it takes the paint off the brush handle too! Thinning paint in general is best simply coz 2-3 thin coats work better than one thick coat that might obscure detail. Also, thin paint flows better & (hopefully) won't show brushmarks. If I'm painting enamels by brush then it's just trial & error, I have a small amount of thinner & paint in a mixing tray and I combine them as needed. With an airbrush, I've not tried enamels but for acrylics I thin 50/50 or more thin if getting close to do camo patterns.

Patrick

 

[Guest]

Sorry i'm probably being thick here but what do i need to use to thin the paint down? Does it have to be the brand of paints own thinner, i.e humbrol enamel = humbrol thinners? Are there any cheap alternatives? And when i get some acrylics in can i just use water?

Cheers

Wayne.

 

[Guest]

Don't think that Wayne, coz there's no such thing as a dumb question! You can use the branded thinner though most people are happy enough with basic white spirits-I've never had a problem using that coz I save my Humbrol thinner to make oil washes! You can also use white spirit to clean your brushes too!

With acrylics, it depends on what kind you have. Vallejo are fine being thinned by water (distilled if possible) but I personally wouldn't thin Tamiya acrylic paint with water. The reason for this is that their chemical formulation is alcohol-based. Many people (including me) have used 91% isopropyl alcohol, surgical spirits & even windscreen washer fluid to thin Tamiya paint. All work fine although all of them speed up the drying time which can lead to a gritty finish when airbrushing. I've gone back to using Tamiya branded thinner although soon I'm trying a lacquer thinner which is rated highly.

Keep asking Wayne, I don't mind helping!

Patrick

 

[Guest]

Cheers again patrick

Wayne