Back in the day... say about 45 years ago... LION used to sell Good Humor ice cream from a truck. Him would give free ice cream to kids with casts. Him would mark the cast with his trademark CAT, that way him know that the kid already got his free icec ream (after all such freebies came out of my own pocket).
Any majyck marker did just fine, so would a pen or pencil, so the issue boils down to, is the plaster dry?
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
n2mopacThat is why I specified permanent ink markers in my post. Thanks.
Sorry Ron, I didn't mean to question you. I just wanted the readers to understand clearly which type of markers were being recommended, and since I had never rigorously tested to solubility of the Sharpie paint pens your comment raised an important point.
Cheers,
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
hon30critter Ron: Are you referring to Sharpie ink markers or Sharpie paint pens? I was recommending the paint pens. I just tested a paint pen mark with 70% isopropyl alcohol and it didn't touch it. I suppose it might after long periods of exposure but typically if you are working on open surfaces the alcohol should evaporate fairly quickly. The OP was talking about drawing on the surface I believe. FWIW, I have had experience with Sharpie marker ink dissolving on contact with alcohol. Dave
Ron:
Are you referring to Sharpie ink markers or Sharpie paint pens? I was recommending the paint pens. I just tested a paint pen mark with 70% isopropyl alcohol and it didn't touch it. I suppose it might after long periods of exposure but typically if you are working on open surfaces the alcohol should evaporate fairly quickly. The OP was talking about drawing on the surface I believe.
FWIW, I have had experience with Sharpie marker ink dissolving on contact with alcohol.
That is correct. I just wanted readers to make sure they were using the paint pens, not the permanent ink markers. That is why I specified permanent ink markers in my post. Thanks.
Ron
Owner and superintendant of the N scale Texas Colorado & Western Railway, a protolanced representaion of the BNSF from Fort Worth, TX through Wichita Falls TX and into Colorado.
Check out the TC&WRy on at https://www.facebook.com/TCWRy
Check out my MRR How-To YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/RonsTrainsNThings
n2mopac Be careful with Sharpie. If you use Sharpie permanent ink and later use alcohol as a wetting agent the ink will wick up through many types of material and make a mess of everything. I once used Sharpie permanent ink to mark out turnout positions on the subroadbed of a yard. Even though it was covered by cork roadbed, when I used alcohol to wet ballast of glueing, the ink wicked up through the cork and ballast and I had to tear out a bunch of stuff to fix the mess.
Be careful with Sharpie. If you use Sharpie permanent ink and later use alcohol as a wetting agent the ink will wick up through many types of material and make a mess of everything. I once used Sharpie permanent ink to mark out turnout positions on the subroadbed of a yard. Even though it was covered by cork roadbed, when I used alcohol to wet ballast of glueing, the ink wicked up through the cork and ballast and I had to tear out a bunch of stuff to fix the mess.
Thanks for pointing that out. It looks like all Sharpies use alcohol solvents. Some of the company's products also have additional solvents, according to their web site.
I will be more careful using their markers in the future.
CG
jmk3438 For the life of me, i can't find any pens that have the capabilty of writing on dark color acrylic paints over plaster . I've purtchased paint pens from hobby lobby, walmart and micheals with no success. I've tried using paint with fine brush ( masking tape between) but the paint somehow seeps thru underneath and it doesnt create a fine line. Any suggestions ?
For the life of me, i can't find any pens that have the capabilty of writing on dark color acrylic paints over plaster . I've purtchased paint pens from hobby lobby, walmart and micheals with no success.
I've tried using paint with fine brush ( masking tape between) but the paint somehow seeps thru underneath and it doesnt create a fine line.
Any suggestions ?
Use a colored pencil
how fine a line are you wanting like .050 or finer? and what are you making lines or lettering ?
Hi jmk:
I have had great success with the 'Sharpie' brand paint pens. The paint pens seem to put out lots of paint and they will write on just about everthing.
One thing you might consider doing is to seal the plaster with a couple of coats of Dullcote or Mat Medium even though it has already been painted. Anything you can do to reduce the absorbancy will help.