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Crackly paint: What is the cause and how do I fix/prevent it?

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  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 443 posts
Posted by Wolf359 on Thursday, August 2, 2018 1:46 PM

RR_Mel

I’ve had good luck using Denatured Alcohol to remove paint without damaging the plastic.  It has worked so good for me it’s my Go To now.
 
 
Mel
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
 

 

Good to know. I'll have to give that a try! Thank you for the tip.

  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 443 posts
Posted by Wolf359 on Thursday, August 2, 2018 1:44 PM

7j43k

I did a search for: "spray lacquer over enamel".

It's definitely not fully accepted.

 

Ed

 

 

 

That confirms it to be the culprit, because I decided to take one of the cars to a local hobby shop today, and the guy there said that was likely the cause as well. Won't be doing that again!Embarrassed Thank you.

  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Edwardsville, IL
  • 103 posts
Posted by KenK on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 9:50 PM

Here's a good article on paint strippers:

http://www.bonediggers.com/1-3/strip/strip.html

One man with courage is a majority!

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 6:21 PM

I’ve had good luck using Denatured Alcohol to remove paint without damaging the plastic.  It has worked so good for me it’s my Go To now.
 
 
Mel
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 5:26 PM

I did a search for: "spray lacquer over enamel".

It's definitely not fully accepted.

 

Ed

  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 443 posts
Posted by Wolf359 on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 3:47 PM

The basecoat is an enamal, but I let it set for about a week and that came out fine. Everything was clean too, as far as I know, so I have no idea what went wrong.

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 2:44 PM

You said that you sprayed lacquer over enamel.  Or did I get that wrong?

I once sprayed Floquil clear flat lacquer over Testors silver enamel.  The results were "sad".

I have the impression that lacquer can be sprayed over enamel once the enamel has set properly.  Which takes time.  How much time??  Uh, I dunno.

Certainly a week, I would say.  That's how long I let Testors enamel "rest" before messin' with it.  Like spraying with Dullcoat.

 

 

If you're NOT talking about one coat over another, but just a change in paint, then I would suspect you left a coating of "something" on the surface of the model, and that caused the paint to shrivel up.

That, also, happened to me.  I always wash my models with dishsoap and water before painting.  I suspect I didn't rinse the soap film off, adequately.  Either that, or the dishsoap had some additive it left on the model's surface.

 

 

Ed 

  • Member since
    March 2018
  • 688 posts
Posted by BNSF UP and others modeler on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 2:38 PM

Maybe spray it with dullcote immediately after it dries? I dunno.

I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.

  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 443 posts
Crackly paint: What is the cause and how do I fix/prevent it?
Posted by Wolf359 on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 2:29 PM

Here's a head scratcher for you. I've been involved in a repainting project on six HO scale passenger cars.(UP colors) I completed four with no problems using ModelMaster 2954 Dark yellow (spray can enamel) which I bought at HobbyLobby. I ran out before I could complete the last two, so I went back to HobbyLobby for more and they were out and had discontinued it. Since I was already there and nothing else is close by, I looked for a substitute and thought I found one in ModelMaster No.28104 Chrysler Yellow lacquer.(Also spray can) I got it home, followed the instructions to a T, put the first coat on and let it dry, and when I came back to it, it was crackled. It looks like when people distress furniture to make it look old, but it isn't supposed to do that. I even called ModelMaster, and it stumped them. I live in Colorado, so humidity isn't the problem. The next question is how do fix this without taking details like rivets off? I have since managed to find the original color at HobbyTown USA, but I can't repaint them until I fix the crackle problem. Any tips would greatly be appreciated.Confused

Thank you in advance.

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