Brand new RTR structures and rolling stock. Is surface prep required prior to airbrushing acrylic “dull coat”" or other colors?
Bruce in the Peg
If it is feasible wash them in warm water with some liquid disfigured washing detergent to get rid of any oils, finger prints, ets. Be sure to rinse well and let dry thoroughly.
That said, I have rarely followed that advice and have never had an adverse outcome (yet?).
I don’t use air brushing, but I also don’t perform any prep before painting w/ acrylic paints. The cheap craft paints are great for structures.
Bruce, I always wash/rinse before painting. One can see the current projects drying on the kitchen counter before I got bed! Most model acrylics go on pretty thin, so I usually ‘prime’ them with a grey color first. For structures, I use a lot of the cheap ‘craft’ acrylics available from places like Walmart or Hobby Lobby. These ‘craft’ acrylic paints need to thinned down to make them air brush compatble. They brush on well with little or no thinning. I spray them with a ‘flat finish’ paint to kill any shine before I add window glass. On freight cars, oxide red usually covers fine in one or two coats. Then a high gloss coat before decals. A final dead flat funish before any weathering(to give the car body some ‘tooth’). I usually mist some flat to seal the weathering. Jim
Wash in soapy water, rinse, air dry. Then, only handle with gloves.
Nothing looks worse than a “giant’s fingerprint” on a model.
Unless it’s more than one fingerprint…