I am about to begin my first polyurethane resin kit, a Sylvan Scale truck. By the instruction sheet, it is recommended to use ResinPrep (Sylvan Scale own brand cleaner) or Floquil's Diosol to remove the mould release.
Is there any other cleaner that can be used for that purpose? Can I use dishwasher cleaner?
Is it necessary to prime polyurethane resin before painting?
Guy
Modeling CNR in the 50's
Ordinary lacquer thinner, about $6 a quart at your local big box home center, Home Despot or the like, will work as well as diosol for cleaning purposes. I would follow up a lacquer thinner cleaning with a hot soapy water cleaning and rinse to get the last traces of grease, oil, and fingerprints off. Don't handle the model with your bare hands after the last rinse. Dry well before painting.
A coat of Krylon or Rustoleum rattle can auto primer of the right color, will stick to anything, cover anything, which prevents color changes in the resin from showing thru the paint. Use dark gray under dark colors, light gray under light colors and red under red. Primer offers the ideal surface for the finish coats to adhere to.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
While lacquer thinner seems to work okay for Sylvan's resin, don't leave parts, especially small ones or very thin ones, in it for more than a few seconds. I lost a lot of detail parts (mostly frames for screen windows and also screen doors) for one of their CNR wood cabooses, and ended up having to scratchbuild replacements.
Wayne
GUY,
I have built many of those kits, only used warm water and dish soap and never used any primer of any kind, using combo's of, Enamels and Acrylic water base....used Zap-A-Gap Medium CA+ and used GS HYPO cement for window glazing or canopy glue. Except for the Autos, all the trucks/trailers suspensions were modified with brass tube/brass axles with A-line wheels and tires, so they roll. Most all the trucks/trailers and Autos in Pic' are Sylvan's, decals are Graphic's on Demand:
Take Care!
Frank
I use a PPG product called DX-440 availkable from auto paint shops. It's specifically designed for cutting grease and oils and works really well at removing silicone mold release. I scrub the parts with a plastic bristled brush and the wash it with Dawn dish detergent and let everything air dry.
I then assemble the model and wash it again with Dawn (or any grease cutting detergent) and let everything air dry again and then hit it with primer and paint. I don't prime it first because it's a pain to clean all the glue joins of paint before gluing.
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums
Good thread, and I appreciate reading advice from the experts.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
zstripeI have built many of those kits, only used warm water and dish soap and never used any primer of any kind,
I agree with Frank, especially the rattle-can primer. It is OK on some work, like large expanses of brick or for coloring ties and track work but, to me anyway, it is too heavily bodied for detail work and obscures too much detail.
As for degreasing (removing mold release) I use this:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-128-oz-Heavy-Duty-Citrus-Degreaser-ZUCIT128/100676344
It has been my experience that the interior moldings of Walthers passenger cars are particularly heavy with silicone and need a good scrubbing.
A good selection of nylon scrub brushes, some fine, some coarse, some round, some flat, tooth brushes, baby bottle brushes, etc. are helpful in getting into the crannies and the nooks, too.
Just sayin' Ed
Word of advice for all......
Some advice given is OK to a certain degree, but like I said I have built many of Sylvan's kits at least 50, and some of those parts are really brittle.....You can break them, by just cleaning the flash, let alone washing and priming them. A lot of the parts have to be sanded or filed to fit. I use Jewelers diamond files for that. They do not bend...they will break first. They will make great models.....but it takes a lot of patience and some skill....those kits are not for the novice....In My Opinion.....they are not at all like building a box car or structure. I also found that no other adhesive, but CA will work well.
Have Fun!
Thank you all.
Frank:
Looking at your trucks and cars, it is obvious that you know what you are talking about. I will follow your advise.
zstripe some of those parts are really brittle.....You can break them, by just cleaning the flash, let alone washing and priming them. A lot of the parts have to be sanded or filed to fit. I use Jewelers diamond files for that. They do not bend...they will break first.
some of those parts are really brittle.....You can break them, by just cleaning the flash, let alone washing and priming them. A lot of the parts have to be sanded or filed to fit. I use Jewelers diamond files for that. They do not bend...they will break first.
I already know that, unfortunately.
Guy Papillon Thank you all. Frank: Looking at your trucks and cars, it is obvious that you know what you are talking about. I will follow your advise. zstripe some of those parts are really brittle.....You can break them, by just cleaning the flash, let alone washing and priming them. A lot of the parts have to be sanded or filed to fit. I use Jewelers diamond files for that. They do not bend...they will break first. I already know that, unfortunately.
Guy,
Thanks for Your kind words.
Should You need some replacement parts, that are broke or missing...like axles, wheels, tires, rear ends....shoot Me a PM. I have a whole bunch of parts, that I did not use. I make My own suspension out of brass and use A-Line wheels & tires. All truck/trailer parts. FREE
This apply's to anyone who may need some parts.
Sylvan's Resin Prep is a citrus based cleaner/greaser that is similar to an orange cleaner by Zep that you can get at Lowes or Home Depot. This product is friendly to resin parts.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
George:
Thank you for your input. My wife already have a citrus based degreaser called Orange Cleaner. I will give it a try.