Does anyone know if you can use Scalecoat II paint on resin parts? I’m thinking I want to paint my Walther’s coal loads since for some reason when you remove the loads from their package a bunch of the black color comes with it and leaves white dots all over the loads. I have an extra bottle of Scalecoat II in black that I’d like to use since it’s on hand but I’m not sure if it will work on resin or not.
I think it will.
Scalecoat I might harm resin, but Scalecoat II should be fine.
Whenever I paint resin, I wash the parts using warm water and dish wash detergent with an old tooth brush just to make sure the surface is clean and there is no mold release left on the parts.
Rich
I just wrapped up scrubbing them down with an old tooth brush (thanks Rich for that helpful suggestion) in my mild dish washing solution.
Another question that now comes to mind is when the loads appear to be dry both visibly and to the touch are they safe to paint or is it necessary to wait a while longer? I guess I’m wondering if the resin retains what in some way?
Thank you for the helpful assistance!
I would make sure that they dry overnight. I don’t know if these loads have granules of simulated material or were molded and the resin itself was just painted. There could still be moisture in the crevases and will need time to completely dry. the existing paint may have been done w/o the molds being washed of any mold release. but touch ups should be fine w/ just about any paint.
If in fact these are only painted textured resin, you might consider glueing some material on the load. This way you will never have to worry about scratching through paint. Sandblasting “Black Beauty” works vert well for this. Motrak Models coal loads are done this way, and they do represent the coal better than anything else I’ve seen. I had to lightly sand the edges so they would slip right out and not jamb in the hopper.
All my loads are Motrak hydrocal base, I believe they are resin now or you have the option.
Scalecoat II should work and I know acrylic paints will work very well on resin. But like others have said, it does need to be clean and dry.
Wayne
i’m not supposed to bad mouth walthlers anymore, but, did you ask them about it? just curious.
grizlump
Ask them if you can use Scalecoat II on the coal loads or ask them why some of the black coloring comes off when you take the loads out of the package? I didn’t ask them about either one.
I think Walthers tries to demonstrate the texture of the loads based on how they are packaged. For those that don’t know, the loads come in a very tight almost shrinked wrapped plastic with a cardboard backing. I’ve purchased both the 6 pack and the 2 packs and they both do the same thing, you can actually see some of the black coloring or resin itself come off in the plastic no matter how careful you try and take them out. What’s then left behind is white spots here and there that probably isn’t that big of a deal to some but to me it stood out in a distracting manner.
I’ll test out the Scalecoat II and post my results here.
One thing I forgot, I do a alcohol wash to reduce any possibility of moisture in cracks.
Rich
Things turned out really well! I’m happy with the results. I have since placed the loads in the cars and they look great!
Thanks to all for the helpful suggestions and ideas.
Resins can be painted with ANY kind of paint. The resins are impervious to solvents when cured. The only real issue with resins is getting rid of the mold release.