I Have finished applying the second coat of Rustoleum painters touch primer to my refurb'd Mantua Pacific. The zamac boiler and tender shell were etched in vinegar prior to. Will an overspray of Testors help prevent any paint chipping, or need I even worry ? Thanks.
I've used Dullcote, Glosscote, and even in some cases an artist fixatif on models over the years and with very good results. I have a trio of personally painted DMIR SD9's I treated with Glosscote over 35 years ago and the paint and decals are completely intact. Dullcote should be equally as enduring.
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
Any addition of clear model paint (flat or gloss) will not increase durability as far as being chip resistant. The only way to increase durability would be to coat them with a finish designed to be durable, such as a three-part automotive urethane finish such as Imron.
I use that as a clear finish on restored die-cast cars, and I can attest to dropping one on the cement floor and not even marring the finish.
Careful handling and avoiding general abuse will go a long way in preserving a model's finish.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Vinegar etch is good surface prep. What you want for first coat is the best stick-to-metal paint you can buy. That happens to be Dark Grey Auto Primer in a rattle can. Rustoleum or Krylon. The auto primer sticks and resists chipping far better than Dull Cote will. The first coat counts for more, because metal is slick and slippery and the bond of first coat to metal is always weaker than the bond between first coat and second coat. When the paint chips, it's always a case of the first coat breaking away from the base metal.
My Mantua Pacific with just Dark Gray Auto Primer over the metal. It dries dead flat and the gray looks like Engine Black under layout lighting. The flat finish looks like a steamer after a couple of days on the road, away from wash racks. This photo was taken several years after I painted it.
I would give the bare metal one last wipedown with solvent on a clean paper towel or clean rag just before painting to get any last minute fingers prints off. Just touching the clean metal with your bare hands will leave enough fingerprint oil to spoil the paint bond.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
Most if not all, primers leave a slightly rough finish to allow the top coat to adhere better. This finish will show finger prints etc. The Dulcote will help prevent this.