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peteski

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Posts posted by peteski

  1. Is the hood resin cast, or 3D printed? Can you post a photo of what the paint looks like?

    Yes, dishwasher detergent and warm water should be used. I would even go as far as using 91% isopropyl alcohol (it will not damage plastic or resin).  But I would also not expect wrinkling on contaminated surface - instead I would expect fish eyes or patchy coverage.

  2. Blue dots were owner-added accessory (not a factory installed option).  The were small blue glass "gems" in a  thin chrome bezel. You drilled out a hole in the taillight lens, and installed the blue dots. They are barely visible on the 1:1 car unless the taillights are illuminated.  In 1:25 scale they will probably be around 0.030" in diameter. That is small. You could try to simulate that feature by drilling the kit's lens with small drill bit and installing a piece of clear styrene. Then dab a small dot of transparent blue paint on the clear styrene.

    Or even simpler: paint a small dot of chrome paint (like from Molotow pen) over the taillight lens, then when that dries, dab a dot of transparent blue paint over the chrome dot.

  3. That is why I posted a warning in the 2nd post of this thread. Always test first.  If a debonder shows a list of ingredients, that can also be helpful in figuring out whether it will attach polystyrene or not.  The BSI debonder likely uses different solvents from the Z-7 stuff.

    I'm always cautions because CA glue is basically acrylic resin (Acrylic is Plexiglas).  In my experience, anything that dissolves Plexiglas could likely also melt polystyrene.  Maybe there are exceptions.

  4. On 7/31/2023 at 3:25 PM, Mike 1017 said:

    Pearls powders are liquid soluble. They are used to be mixed in with paint to achieve the desired pearl effect.

    I believe you used incorrect term. "Soluble" means they will totally dissolve in liquid. Like when you put sugar crystals in your tea and stir it.  The crystals totally disappear because they dissolve.

    Pearls powders do not dissolve. They stay suspended in the liquid. That is why the liquid with pearl powder in it will remain sparkly. Same with metallic paints - the particles do not dissolve in the liquid paint.

  5. Also, while a single spoke is very thin and fragile, all the spokes combined result in relatively strong wheel.  Just like the 1:1 scale wire wheels. They use thin steel spokes to support the entire car and withstand rough roads, and the forces of cornering.  As for sagging resin, yes some resins have been known to lose integrity in time, but other resins are much more stable.  Once can hope that the wheels (and other 3D parts we buy) are printed using the more stable resin

  6. On 7/27/2023 at 1:51 AM, kurth said:

    Now UV curing CA would be perfect... it would stick to everything and cure immediately.  CA cured with accelerator just is not quite the same as letting it cure naturally. 

    There is such a thing, but UV light cures it similarly to a standard liquid accelerator. Try it.

    J-B Weld Super Weld Light Activated Instant Glue.

    jbweldcom_972361895.jpg

    • Like 1
  7. LOL! Well, AA is not really naughty. It is just a Alcoholic's Anonymous group helping people to quit the addiction.

    We on this side of the pond also have American Automobile Association, and  the acronym is AAA.  🙂

    These simple black decals should be easy to make yourself using some basic graphic editing program and print them on decal paper.

  8. Take a high resolution scan (not just a photo), to have a backup if you need to have them custom printed).  At least 600 dpi, and save the scan using a non-lossy format (like PNG).  To try using the old decals, get some Microscale liquid decal  film and brush paint several  layers over the decal sheet.  That will put a fresh clear film over the cracked old decal film. Of course you will have to trim each decal close to the image before placing them in water.

  9. Next size down from 00-90 is 000-120, then even smaller is 0000-160.  In the past I was able to get mine (in brass) from some sources which evaporated.  Yes, the 0000-160 are very pricey, but if you can find 000-120, they should be less expensive.

    You might also look at metric size fasteners. Those might be available from China for less money (but I cant' give you any specific sizes - not very familiar with them).

  10. Thanks guys.  This is not a project I'm ready to tackle, but it is good to have options.  Silver plating sounds interesting but unlike aluminum, in my experience silver tarnishes, turning dull or even black. I suppose it could be clear coated, but that just adds another layer to the finish.

    As for problems vacuum aluminizing 3D printed parts, there are different printing technologies and materials out there.   If I do decide to send them to Dale, I'll discuss it with him first.

  11. 5 hours ago, Bugatti Fan said:

    Pete in an earlier post was considering having the wheels plated. Would this process lead to the spokes looking a bit heavy and defeat the object of their scale appearance due to the build up on each spoke?

    Good question.  I'm talking about the standard vacuum aluminizing process used for decades on model kit's "chrome"parts (not real chromium electroplating). The process where a clear coat is applied to the part, then the shiny aluminum layer is deposited over the clear. The thickness and overall quality of the process can vary.  I have worked with some factory "chromed" parts where no appreciable thickness has been added (Japanese made kits are usually the best).  I have also seen where the clear coat was applied rather heavily.  But the aftermarket vacuum aluminizing ("plating") companies (at this point I think we only have one left in USA) usually do a good job with the process, not adding much thickness to the part's surface.  Not more than a layer of black gloss enamel followed by Alclad II chrome.  I'm still not sure how I'll handle finishing those wheels.

  12. 3 hours ago, ctruss53 said:

    To the people making the arguement that you can use some lacquers over enamels.

    Not to insult the original post person, but that user is having trouble finding bottles of paint, and it is pretty clear to me they have a very novice understanding of paint in general. So I spoke in absolutes in order to help them avoid possible mistakes.

    As a general rule, you should not apply lacquer paints or clears over enamels. Odds are the lacquer will be to "hot" and react with the enamel. Are there some lacquer products that will work on enamels, sure. But the OP seems to know very little about the topic, so it is best to tell them it won't work, and to test spray first.

    I have included a chart that is a great starting point. As Steve and others have said, there are always exceptions, but in most cases, this chart works.

    A perfect example of an exception to the rule: The chart says acrylics work as a top coat over enamels. However, Tamiya acrylics like lacquer thinners for airbrushing. Thin a Tamiya acrylic with lacquer thinner and it very well might not work over an enamel.

    Another example: The chart says you can't topcoat an acrylic with a lacquer. I topcoat Tamiya acrylics with Mr Hobby lacquer clear all the time and I have never had a problem.

    paints by type.jpg

    This is the bane of the modelers.  "Acryilc" is a nebulous term. Acrylic resin is the paint's binder (look it up if unfamiliar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paint ).  There are acrylic lacquers *AND* enamels, using hot and milder solvents (including water).  Modelers really need to gain better understanding of paint chemistry for successful results (especially if using multiple coats of different types or brands of paints).

    Yes, yes, I know that in modeler's colloquial terms "acrylic" is supposed to mean "water based acrylic-binder enamel". Still, that is not the best way to to approach the subject of compatibility.

  13. 1 hour ago, Can-Con said:

    The thing that most people don't understand is there are several different types of lacquer, about a 1/2 dozen, maybe more. 

    Some are hot like the nitrocellulose lacquers that were used on cars and others like the waterborne ones that are relatively neutral. 

    The ones made for hobby use are usually the cooler waterborne types.

    That is the main problem with the hobbyists.  Many just put every paint in the enamel or acrylic buckets, where when in fact are many formulations of each type of paint out there (especially if one starts using paints not made for the hobby market).  Same goes goes for even different brands of paints. When you do that, you are always doing an experiment (on your precious model, if you didn't to a spoon test first).  When  mixing paints and brands you always run a risk of  incompatibility. 

    • Like 1
  14. I doubt you can save it.  Even ignoring the facts that cured enamel is difficult to remove, and it also likely soaked into the paper, the most problematic is that whatever solvent is used to remove the paint, will almost certainly also start dissolving the ink that was used to print the box.

    But you have nothing to lose by  trying..

  15. Should not dull the chrome paint (you use water, and decal has water-soluble adhesive), but any clear film outside the image will be noticeable. But if you also use decal setting solutions, those might affect the chrome paint's surface.

  16. 3 hours ago, atomicholiday said:

    Also wondering if the same thing would work for round decals?  Or would they paper just tear?

    That depends on how  precise the fit of the punch and die is.  If they have very close fit then they can punch even very thin materials, but it the fit is too sloppy, then the thin punched material will tear or even stretch.

    • Like 1
  17. If someone is willing to spend such an excessive amount of money on one of those models, it is their prerogative to do so. That way the buyer is happy that they got what they wanted, and seller is happy with the profit.  :)  Unless we actually were to ask the buyer "why", we'll never know what drove them to buy it.

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