peteski

Maybe they referred to https://www.eti-usa.com/envirotex-lite/ as that is a 2-part epoxy compound used to encapsulate items, and it has a high-golss finish. But not only the coat of that stuff is so thick that it would make your model look like it was coveredy by ice, it also takes 12 hours to set (so it wold simply just flow off your model before it set. There are also epoxy-based paints (which could be used on a model), but I never seen an epoxy-based clear paint. I would also discourage anybody from using epoxy as lenses for model car gauges. Some of the stuff (like the one shown in the initial post) has amber tint to it, and in my experience epoxy adhesives will yellow (or even turn brown) after few years.

Why not just plain plastic wrap or even thin plastic bag material? PNS has pressure sensitive adhesive which comes off fairly easy. Now add some solvent from the paint and the adhesive will most likely dissolve and stick to the lip on the jar. Not something I would like to see on the lip of my jars.

Yes, you've captured what I was thinking but couldn't describe.

He will probably need some nipples too.

I also heard that modelers use this stuff and like it so I decided to give it a go. I tried once and never again - still have the roll in my workshop. While it worked well as a mask for large areas, after it was removed it left plenty of the sticky adhesive on the model! It was a mess! The funny thing is that I didn't even use it for masking paint - I simply applied over the model to protect it from fingerprints while I was handling it. So it is not like the paint was not dry, or the solvent from the new coat of paint somehow permeated the wrap and dissolved the glue. I say: stay away!

Does it really matter whether the problem is mechanical or electronic when the car is unable to run? Nope! It is broken. All that goes under the overall reliability ratings. Then regardless whether it is mechanical or electronic failure, there are repair costs. See where I'm going with this? The failures might have have shifted from mechanical to electronics, but they are still failures.

That sure is an unusual design. I'm not sure if I like or hate it. The B-pillar hinged doors are neat.

I use as few of the paint layers as possible (to improve model's realism). I often shoot plastic-safe paints over clean bare plastic. I use organic-solvent-based paints like Testors or Tamiya sprays. Those solvents do not craze plastic but have enough "bite" to firmly adhere to the plastic. Or whatever they have (as I think this "bite" think is just something modelers made up). The binder material in the paint bonds to the model's surface on a molecular or even atomic level. No solvent "bite" required. If you think about it, even the shiniest surface is really rough when you look at it under extreme magnification. That is where the bonding occurs. Primers do have their place when the painted surface will be made up from multiple materials (such as mix of plastic, putty, or resin parts). Then the primer coat provides a uniform surface for the paint over all those materials.

As for glue, you can use epoxy or CA glue.

Looking at the photo you questioned, and at Harry's finished model photos, I think that the rod with a loop-handle on the end is for manually throwing the turnouts. When I used to ride trolleys in Poland in the '70s I used to love to sit up front and watch the motorman drive it. Every once in a while the remotel-controlled turnout would not throw as expected. He would stop the trolley car and grab a rod just like the one on this trolley (it was stored inside the trolley). Then he would go out to the turnout and stick the rod in a slot in a metal cover over the switch machine and manually throw the turnout to the desired route. BTW, nice job on the model Harry!

I believe that Modelhaus "chrome" is all done by the the Little Model Kar Company. Of course the finish will only be as good as the surface of the part itself, so Modelhaus resin parts are really well done.

Thinning paint for airbrushing, the air pressure and needle opening are all something that everybody does a bit different: a skill that you learn on your own. If the paint is thick, you could try to open the needle up more instead of raising air pressure. You might find a a setting which will work for you. Or just add more thinner.

It is not about attacking the details - if any glue oozes out from the perimeter of the lens to under the lens, it will fill in some of the delicate engraving.

Ah, that explains why I haven't encountered that phrase. I don't know if I already mentioned this earlier in the thread but I hate when "ask" is used instead of "question". For example, someone says "What is the ask?", instead of saying "What is the question?". Or "The ask is..." Instead of "I would like to ask you...". That really gets under my skin (coming from my manager during company meetings).

Irregardles of the fact that the word is in the dictionary (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irregardless ) , I don't like it either. I never heard that phrase, and I don't even know in what context it would be used.

Reflex could mean that it changes color depending on the viewing angle. But it could also be just a fancy name.

The Novus system (all 3 types) are specifically designed for polishing plastic, so they are the way to go. Toothpaste is an alternative but it has to be white (not the clear gels). The white stuff is abrasive in the toothpaste.

There is a lot of propellant (propane or butane) dissolved in the paint in aerosol cans. That has to degas before you can use that paint for airbrushing. I never totally leave the jar open - I put the lid on but leave it loose. Decanted paint is usually thicker in consistency than what you normally use in an airbrush.

Guy like you doesn't have a well-stocked workshop?

You do have a point.

You think that it was difficult to paint? You should try to paint (and decal) one of these models. The coin is about 18mm in diameter. But seriously, you did a wonderful job on that Mercedes! Congratulations! About 30 years ago built the 4-passenger version of that Mercedes (which was produced by Pocher before your version of model). At that time I built it mostly stock, so it is nearly not as good as yours. It also took me about a year to complete.

Funny, several years ago I bough (from HLJ) the set identical to the bp-770 packaged IIRC in "Modeler's" brand package. I have to dig out that set to verify. One thing I don't care for is that the engraving is done on the inside of the lens. While that is how real lenses are, on models this makes it makes more difficult to glue them in while trying to preserve the delicate engraving.

I was told that no mold release agent is used when injection-molding styrene parts. Go figure. If Art is familiar with injection-molding styrene process I hope he chimes in.

IIRC, this engine kit was displayed at the last NNL East (along with the entire visible car frame model). It was displayed on a table along the wall with windows. That was a pretty cool looking model!

Strange that it was cloudy when you decanted it. But if it was humid at that time, the moisture could have also mixed with the decanted liquid (as it really cool down when being decanted).