how long should you leave the model in dish soap and water mix before rince and is it ok to leave them on paper towels to air dry? Also how long to dry? rambo1…
Really no need to soak the shell in dish soap solution. Just use warm water and a small soft brush to scrub and then rinse. As to how long to dry? Will depend upon the temp/ humidiy. A good way to ensure the shell has completly dried is to place the wet shell on some paper towel. When the towel itself is totally dry, generally overnight, the shell should be more tha ready.
I will “carefully” blow the shell off w/ compressed air and a blowgun. You do need to be careful with the pressure as some of those snap on details will fly to that neverland of coupler spring and detail land never to be found again…
I’ve built a ton of model cars in my life time and what I have always done is give the parts a good cleaning with dish soap and water and then simply rinse it off and let it air dry on the stand I intend to paint it on. From that point on I don’t touch the model itself. It works for me…
How long should you leave the model in dish soap and water? I would think that a few minutes would be enough. Swishing it around would help remove the dirt and oils as would rubbing it with a lint-free cloth or a toothbrush. Is it okay to leave them on paper towels to air dry? That’s what I do. Laying them on a lint-free cloth would be better as they could pick up minute fibres from the paper towel. Also, patting them dry with a lint-free cloth would speed up the process. How long to dry? The short answer is until they’re dry. It depends on how wet they are and wether or not you patted them dry and how warm the room is. Some have said that leaving models to air dry leaves them open to dust settling on them. However, I’m sure that the air in our houses is clean enough that that isn’t an issue. I wouldn’t try to speed up the drying process with externally applied heat. Brass may be able to withstand a hair dryer or an oven but plastic can’t. And don’t forget to handle the model with rubber gloves or lint-free cotton gloves designed for photography or archival material work once it’s washed.
[Edit] Wow, two replies while I was writing mine!
for drying i usually use a hair drier on the lowest setting then let the piece sit for a while. the blower helps get into spaces that could hold water until you start painting and the pressure from the airbrush dislodges the water. granted this does not happen very often but i rather not chance it
I’ve been painting stuff for a long time, and just mix two tubs of water (I use the ones the hospital gave me when my kids were born). One full of soapy water, the other clear. I use a cloth (linen, not terry) dish towel on a small board.
Here’s my process:
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Drop items to be painted in soapy water.
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One at a time, pick them up, scrub them gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush (I get them free from my dentist), swish them back in the soapy water, shake off, and drop them in the clean water.
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When all the pieces are washed, dump the soapy water, rinse the tub, and refill with clean water. Dry hands and put on latex gloves.
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Take items out of the first tub of clean water and swish them in the second. Lay on dish towel to dry, concave side down.
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Fold the ends of the dish towel over and gently blot the top of the pieces. Carry board to workbench. Allow to dry until the dish towel is dry (overnight usually does it). Leave the ends of the towel draped over your items to keep the dust off.
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Prime with rattle can primer. After about 2-1/2 hours, turn and hit the other side. After 2-1/2 hours, touch up any missed spots. Allow to dry 72 hours before painting. I usually do a two weekend cycle – wash and prime on one weekend, paint on the next (I have a fantasy that some day, I will have time for my hobby during the week!)
If you were to airbrush the finish paint why would you chance priming w/ a spray bomb? After all the painstaking preparation of stripping and washing the shell, airbrush the primer or barrier. Most spray can paints will apply way too much paint with their poor nozzles. Yes there are better nozzles from one to another, however, none can compare to spraying with an airbrush. But this is your choice, I rarely will even spray can a flat (dullcoat), if I can spray w/ an airbrush instead. There’s absolutly no comparision between the level of the final finish done properly using an airbrush to that of a spray can. Would you like the “Body Shop” to spray your damaged car with cans of Duplicolor? or run it thriugh the spray booth.
Perhaps because I rarely paint with an airbrush (most of my painting is figures and structures). Certainly, airbrushing a primer on is a viable option, I just don’t generally do it. I also have issues with solvent-based paints, so thinning a primer and then spraying it isn’t really an option for me.
More importantly, though, if you do a lot of painting with rattle cans, and you actually do follow the instructions – that is, spray a light coat, run your stream past the ends of whatever you’re painting, and hold the can 10-12" away (the biggest mistake most people make), and you develop a light touch on the nozzle rather than the ham-fisted one that most people have, you can get an excellent finish using one.
Your statement: “there’s absolutely no comparison between the level of the final finish done properly using an airbrush to that of a spray can” isn’t necessarily true. The level of finish, DONE PROPERLY, with either, is comparable. Some people find the airbrush easier to get a “proper” final finish on, some don’t. Just because you have trouble getting a good finish with a spray can doesn’t mean everyone does.
Just stating fact, have painted just about everything over quite a number of years using “spray cans”, yes there are some paints w/ a decent controlable nozzle, and as you say, w/ experience and the proper paint and technique you can get a decent job. but there still is no comparison the the finish using airbrush.
If your happy with the results that’s fine, only recommending to others as to the difference.
Like I said, How would you like that body shop to spray can your car, Instead of properly painting w a spray gun.