Hello all,

I've been making a train truck for my son from sheet styrene. I've opted to use bright colourful enamel paint for the colouring (no rusting or subtle weathering here!) in order for it to fit in with the rest of his shop-bought set.

I washed and primed prior to painting and began to brush on the enamel (humbrol gloss). At the time I thought it seemed a bit thick and unwieldy. Here's where I made my fatal mistake -- being tired and short of time I thought 'stuff it' and pressed on. Fatal.

What I have now is a carefully built model with a really unsatisfactory paint-job on. Some areas are streaky (you can see the primer) other areas have blisters of paint (sag?).

Is there anything I can do? Can I rescue what I've done? It is possible to tidy the paint up in some way?

I've read up on the oven-cleaner/plastic bag method of paint removel. Sounds fine in general - but as the model is for my toddler son I'm extremely reluctant to use such powerful chemicals on a toy.


Can anyone help?

Cheers

A

Well you can either sand down what you done so far and start over or use the oven cleaner , which is the way I would go . Do this out side so the fumes won't be so bad . Might have to do this a few times but it really does work . wash it after really , really well and you are good to go . There is other products that are out there check your local hardware store and see what they would recommend .
Hope this helps out .

Hi,

Thanks for your messages. The oven cleaner thing worries me - not so much in regard to damage to the model - more in terms of using such toxic chemicals on a child's toy.

To that end I think I'll try sanding off the worst bits once I'm sure the paint is as dry and rock-hard as it's going to get, and then touch it up with some more paint but perhaps thinned a bit this time.

It's not going to be perfect - I may well end up touching it up periodically once it's in use anyway!!!


PS Projects like this is why I never get round to starting on my own stash of models!!!

To date I've built my son two train trucks, a tunnel, a bridge and also fabricated wheels for his plastic dalek -- and then there are repairs to damaged toys...




Cheers


A

There should be no problem with using the oven cleaner and it will be a lot quicker than sanding. Just wash the truck with plenty of soapy water and then rinse it well. If it makes you feel better rinse it with Milton
After all we use this stuff to clean ovens and then cook our families food in them.

Hi Exer,

"After all we use this stuff to clean ovens and then cook our families food in them."

That is a good point actually....


Cheers!

A

I wouldn't normally say this, being a devotee of the paintbrush, but would spray cans make for an easier finish second time around?

Too further ease your concern about using oven cleaner - the truely icky stuff evaporates pretty quickly. You'll have to scrub it really good regardless before you repaint. Also, a good coat of paint will seal things.

If you are really concerned, scrub it really well with dish soap after using the oven cleaner, then give it a good once over with 90% isopropyl alcohol (isopropynol, AKA rubbing alcohol)) from the drug store. Isopropynol is an excellent organic solvent, evaporates very quickly, but does not harm styrene. When it evoporates, it tends to carry other organic molecules with it and away from the surface. Give it another good scrubbing with dish soap once that is died, and I think you should be good.

Frankly, the contents of the paint are likely to more harmful once you get to that stage, and that will be ok once it is thoughly cured.

-v-

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the help. Having got home and had another look at it (after spending all day at work brooding on it!) , I've realised it's not quite as bad as I'd convinced myself it was. If it were a model for my own sake I would definately have taken it back to square one but it's going to get knocked about and touched-up as my boy plays with it - I won't have time to get it back into pristine condition every time. If I did I'll be wincing everytime it took a bash when he played with it - and it's meant to be a toy for his pleasure.

So I've sanded the offending areas and am going to give it a second coat of the enamel gloss. However I will definately want to thin it this time.

I only have white spirit in the house at the present--will that do - or should I get some paint thinner from my local DIY?

Cheers

A

Yes white spirits is a good thinner for enamels.

Cool!




A

how about simple green?