Weird smell from kit parts

[Custom Hearse]

I'm building the Allison engine from the AMT/Rc2 Competition parts pack, and I've been sanding the chrome off to glue the parts together. After I sand the chrome off, the part emits a weird smell. It smells like latex paint. The chrome seems like it doesn't hold real well, and it flakes off when the part is being cut off the tree. Can anyone tell me why it smells like this?

[RodBurNeR]

maybe the friction from sanding heating up the sealer under the chrome plate?

[Tallchevy]

It's lead Darn Chinese knock off's

[crazyjim]

Maybe somebody passed gas during the plating process.

[george 53]

Custom, I think Bob may have it right. Could be just the smell of the plastic beein heated up by the sanding process. I noticed it to on some of my kits, but I thought it was just me.

[Custom Hearse]

I decided to not build the engine. I actually got sick and felt lightheaded from the smell. I guess I'll build a different engine for the '34 Mer-Rodder. I have never had a problem sanding chrome off before. Thanks Bob, I wondered if it could be the undercoat. The chrome just flakes off when it is sanded or cut on.

Edited March 11, 2009 by Custom Hearse

[bigphoto]

Try using a product called Strip Kit as it removes the chrome and the underlaying sealer. Then sanding should be fine.

[sfhess]

It's melamine.

Edited March 11, 2009 by sfhess

[Ben]

The smell you are smelling is the clear paint under the chrome plating. Model parts are vacuum plated and require a wet coat of clear paint to be applied to the part so that the chrome plating dust will adhere.

More than likely, the batch of clear coat was old or bad and did not cure properly.

I would suggest stripping all the plating (and clear coat), clean up any mold lines and flash and the either have the parts rechromed or simply paint with Alclad.

Hope this is helpful.

[Custom Hearse]

Thanks for the advice Ben. I'll have to get some CSC and see if i can't get it cleaned off.