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Modeling in General: Advice on...
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A STOOOPID QUESTION ??????
squeeky1968
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Member Since: June 06, 2006
entire network: 315 Posts
KitMaker Network: 12 Posts
Posted: Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 06:09 AM UTC
Hi Gang,
This might be a stupid question to be asking as i`ve been modelling for thirty years,but i`ll ask it anyway,as replies might help someone who`s just starting out in our beloved hobby.
Is it worth/do you wash a kit before you start to make/paint a model ?.
I personally only do it if i`m making a resin model but seldom if it`s a standard plastic kit.
Personal thoughts and experiences are most welcome.
chukw1
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California, United States
Member Since: November 28, 2007
entire network: 817 Posts
KitMaker Network: 12 Posts
Posted: Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 06:54 AM UTC
Do it! I use a little dishwashing soap and a broad artist's oil-painting type brush to gently scrub the parts. You'll see plenty of pics where the modeler says, "Oh, no! The tape lifted the paint!". Could be the tape, could be finger oils, could be mold release agents- or all three! It only takes a few minutes to wash the parts, and let 'em air dry.

Cheers!
chuk
HARV
#012
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Wyoming, United States
Member Since: November 07, 2003
entire network: 3,098 Posts
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Posted: Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 11:02 AM UTC
I also agree that you need to wash them before painting.

I use one of two methods:
1. I wash it with dish soap in warm water with a large make-up brush and then rinse it off.
2. I spray it down with Windex (glass cleaner)and then rinse it off.

Both seem to work out well for me.

HARV
mother
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New York, United States
Member Since: January 29, 2004
entire network: 3,836 Posts
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Posted: Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 11:31 AM UTC
I never ever washed ever a kit in my 35 plus years of modeling and never experienced any problems, that's including any resin. I may here and there wip resin pieces down with my rug and rubbing alcohol.

Joe
Finch
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New York, United States
Member Since: August 03, 2005
entire network: 411 Posts
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Posted: Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 04:05 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I never ever washed ever a kit in my 35 plus years of modeling and never experienced any problems, that's including any resin. I may here and there wip resin pieces down with my rug and rubbing alcohol.

Joe



For many years I did the same thing - never bothered washing a model. Now I wash them all prior to painting. It adds almost no time to the project because I always have stuff sitting around anyway. I have noticed my paint looks better now. I'm going to continue washing everything.
mat
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Limburg, Netherlands
Member Since: November 18, 2003
entire network: 894 Posts
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Posted: Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 09:35 PM UTC
Hi,

I never wash my models, unless I can see that there is still release agent or sanding dust on them or when I know I have been eating chips while modelling I think there is generally speaking no need for washing. But then again, it takes only a few minutes and if the paint starts to lift when you remove the masking tape when you are painting a very complicated camouflage scheme you will do a lot of

Matthijs
tankmodeler
#417
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Ontario, Canada
Member Since: March 01, 2004
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Posted: Monday, June 01, 2009 - 10:20 AM UTC
You may never have a problem (and I haven't and didn't wash models for a looong time) but all it takes is one bad experience to really ruin an otherwise great model. After spending weeks or months building a great model, washing takes so little time that it's almost criminal to not do it.

I like to wash the parts on the sprue before starting and then again after completion.

Paul
capnjock
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United States
Member Since: May 19, 2003
entire network: 860 Posts
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Posted: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 06:04 AM UTC
Pollyscale's plastic preperation works also. I would wash all ICM kits on GP.
capnjock
35th-scale
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Kildare, Ireland
Member Since: November 21, 2007
entire network: 3,212 Posts
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Posted: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 08:53 PM UTC
I only wash resin....

Cheers,
Sean
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