What is the best way to safely remove paint from a Kato shell? What do you think is the best paint with which to airbrush a diesel? Are solvent-based paints like Floquil less prone to clogging the airbru***han water-based paints?
Not sure if it’s available over there, but there are plastic-specific paint strippers out there (regular stripper will melt plastic). As for repainting, my usual tactic is to give the model an undercoat of Citadel Minatures spray - they offer white and black, so white for light colours and black for darker ones. I then use Tamiya aerosols as they’re the closest matches that I can get hold of and adhere really well to the undercoat.
I’ve only tried an airbrush once with pretty mediocre results, which I think were probably due to not thinning the paint properly - I had clogging and blotchy spray patterns. It seems that getting the paint properly thinned is the secret to airbrushing regardless of whether you’re using acrylics or enamels.
Hope this is of help!
Always try alcohol first, it is the safest. With Kato you do have to be careful as some strippers make the plastic very brittle. Cameleon and Pine Sol I’ve heard work, but haven’t tried them myself.
I use Polly S in my air brush with great results.
Guys,
Be extremely careful!! [:0][:p]
There have been numerous post on using Alcohol for stripping paint off of Kato Models.
A number of the modelers have reported that alchohol “warped” their Kato shell(s).
91% alcohol can be safely used for stripping Athearn, Bachmann, LifeLike, Atlas, etc, but it seems that with the type of plastic Kato uses the Alcohol has often proven to be a little "too hot".
The overwhelming recommendation: DON’T USE IT ON KATOS!
If you still decide to try alcohol, test a small area on the locomotive or car shell first.
Several of the modelers here have had success using other chemical strippers. Hopefully some will chime in with their suggestions. [:)]
As for painting, with the exception of Metalizing, I very much like the Badger ModelFlex and Polly S. Waterbased paints today are much tougher than they used to be and so much safer for us to use. Keep the lids on them “snug tight” as loose lids allows air in the jars. This will greatly cut down on shelf life. Store your paints where no sunlight can reach them through a window. The cooler the area the better. [:D][8D][;)]
[#ditto][#ditto][#ditto] What Antonio FP45 said, even 70% alcohol will graze the plastic on a KATO!
Also I think denatured alcohol contains MEK, definently don’t use it. Do a search on Walthers for plastic-safe stripper, you might find something there.
Also, should Scalecote’s stripper for plastics be safe, has anyone used it on Kato’s?
Kato - Pine Sol straight, but it does etch the plastic somewhat. Just about everything else dissolves the plastic, and many chemicals don’t touch the paint. There have been Kato shells dissolved, leaving the paint in tact !!
The best method for Kato is an air eraser or grit blaster using baking soda.
Paint, use what Jim Six uses: Model Flex from Badger.