1960 Impala

[Iron Fist]

Got a 60 Impala on the go, going to do a two tone, Black & Silver. Had a really nice silver laid down and ended up ruining the paint when masking for black. Had the body in brake fluid for 20 min, I would like to remove more paint but don't want to ruin the plastic, can I leave the body in brake fluid for a few hours without harming the body? Thanks.

[whale392]

What manufacturer/type of paint is the Silver you are trying to strip? Easy-Off oven cleaner (in the Yellow can) will take most any paint off without harming the plastic underneath.

Brake fluid has been known to embrittle styrene, but I think you would be safe at a few hours in the fluid.

[Dr. Cranky]

Looking good, I wonder what color is going to make this one POP!

[crazyjim]

I've been using Dawn Power Dissolver lately. It works good, doesn't hurt the styrene, and it's gentle to the hands.

[71drolds]

i use simple green

[blue logger]

ive always used brake fluid for strippin paint . i use Automotive paint for everything !! I.ve never had any problums wit it causeing any harm to the plastic. i'll leave it in for a couple days then scrub it down real good wit a toothbrush an if it doesnt all come off keep it in there for couple more days then give it a real good scrub wit soappy water..

[Iron Fist]

Thanks for all the replies, ended up using Easy-off then an hour bath in brake fluid, body looks good.

I did a spoon test using Testors gloss black (thinned with lacquer thinner) on the weekend and then applied Future as a clear last night, never used Future before so I wanted to try it out; well it ended up checking the paint. The surface is smooth to the touch but it has cracked the paint.

Any thoughts or ideas?

Thanks,

Justin

[MikeMc]

You need to wait longer on the future application. Looks like the lacquer dried (shrunk) and the future cracked. Windex or ammonia will remove the future w/o harming lacquer.

Great kit....heres some thoughts for you!

[Guest]

Thanks for all the replies, ended up using Easy-off then an hour bath in brake fluid, body looks good.

I did a spoon test using Testors gloss black (thinned with lacquer thinner) on the weekend and then applied Future as a clear last night, never used Future before so I wanted to try it out; well it ended up checking the paint. The surface is smooth to the touch but it has cracked the paint.

Any thoughts or ideas?

Thanks,

Justin

Don't use future as a clear coat. I have one model cleared with it and it cracked just like that many days after I applied it. I know the paint was dry (Testors enamel also) because it was painted for 2 months before I put the future on. For some reason, it only did it on the hood,roof and trunk.

[Greg Pugh]

I second this

[Jon Cole]

You have a lot of stuff going on there. Your best plan would be to stick to one type of product. If you paint with Model Master Enamel, use Model Master Enamel Clear. If you use Testors lacquer paint, use Testors lacquer clear. And so forth...

Is the paint cured? I always use the sniff test... if you can smell the paint, it's still curing. You mentioned that you had an issue with the first color when masking for the second color? What exactly happened?

[59 Impala]

I use Future for all the clear coating on the models that I clear coat and I have never had a problem with it. I don't know what happened in your case though. It looks like what was said, the color had not completely dried before you used the Future. Dan

P.S. I use Testors little bottle paints almost exclusively which are enamel by the way.

[Matt T.]

The one time I had that happen, I didn't realize that the DupliColor I used was enamel and I cleared with Future a few days after painting. Clear looked great for a few days, then it checked all over like that spoon when the paint gassed out through the clear. That would be my guess what happened to you too.

[Iron Fist]

Thanks for all the replies. I took the Future off with Windex and the checking in the paint became even more apparent. For paint I am using the small Testors enamel paints thinned with lacquer thinner. I think I'll try another spoon test and wait longer before applying a Future clear coat.

This is the look I'm going for but the front bumper/lower grill (removed the bumper halves) will be silver for a monotone look.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSKrn8DYrq4JMh4qYROnmhPmlNZH_rXAH61vieiALeuY7Zv6EHT

[Jon Cole]

Thanks for all the replies. I took the Future off with Windex and the checking in the paint became even more apparent. For paint I am using the small Testors enamel paints thinned with lacquer thinner. I think I'll try another spoon test and wait longer before applying a Future clear coat.

This is the look I'm going for but the front bumper/lower grill (removed the bumper halves) will be silver for a monotone look.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSKrn8DYrq4JMh4qYROnmhPmlNZH_rXAH61vieiALeuY7Zv6EHT

Put those little bottle paints aside. Are you airbrushing? Are you new to airbrushing? And also, do you have experience with spray aerosol paints?

You got to walk before you can run. Buy what you need in spray cans... I highly recommend the lacquers from either Testors, or Tamiya. For now, you just want to make it as easy for yourself as possible. Or, you can keep banging your head against the wall with Future, risking more problems.

Edited February 18, 2011 by Jon Cole

[Chaz]

I have read some of the posts in this thread but I didn't see if you primered the spoon before spraying the Enamel paint/lacquer thinner. Lacquer/thinner will eat (craze) plastic. I would suggest lacquer thinner with lacquer paint only. Enamel and lacquer don't mix well. Don't mix different products; It's asking for trouble. They say you don't need primer with the new synthetic lacquer but I primer no matter what kind of paint I use. Better safe than sorry. Makes flaws in the body stand out so they can be fixed before finish paint.

[Iron Fist]

Appreciate the input.

I am airbrushing, you could say im new to it again, however its coming back quickly. I do use primer however I did not primer the spoon (good point) but the Testors enamel gloss black was as smooth as glass before I applied the Future clear coat. I decant any spray bomb paints as the nozzles are terrible and I probably will try lacquer paints in the future.

Thanks again.

[W-409]

Good looking... Exept the wheels, but I like the engine and color combo, which you'll be using... But that chassis is incorrect for '60 Impala. Spare tyre case or whatever was in '59 Impala, but '60 Impala hadn't that one. Spare tyre was in the trunk. So it might be removed... I have it in my '60 Impala, and that is really bad thing, I don't like it at all, but now when the chassis has been finished long time, I don't remove it. But this one would be cut off, if you see it as a good idea...

This thing here.

But nice job with the Impala, can't wait to see more work on it.

Edited February 20, 2011 by W-409

[LoneWolf15]

I have read some of the posts in this thread but I didn't see if you primered the spoon before spraying the Enamel paint/lacquer thinner. Lacquer/thinner will eat (craze) plastic. I would suggest lacquer thinner with lacquer paint only. Enamel and lacquer don't mix well. Don't mix different products; It's asking for trouble. They say you don't need primer with the new synthetic lacquer but I primer no matter what kind of paint I use. Better safe than sorry. Makes flaws in the body stand out so they can be fixed before finish paint.

Enamels cut with hardware store variety laquer thinner drys quick , hard , and tight with no loss of detail . It will not harm the plastic . Standard colors can be shot directly onto the plastic without using primer as long as the body is sanded up to 12000 under cold running water. Testors aluminum metallizer can be used under Testors metallics or pearls to provide a good reflective quality in place of primer. Testors clear top coat can be cut with cheap laquer thinner as well and lays down beautifully . I use a 2 to 1 paint to thinner ratio when mixing , 2 parts paint to 1 part thinner .

[Greg Pugh]

Donn's the guy to listen to!

[Chaz]

Enamels cut with hardware store variety laquer thinner drys quick , hard , and tight with no loss of detail . It will not harm the plastic . Standard colors can be shot directly onto the plastic without using primer as long as the body is sanded up to 12000 under cold running water. Testors aluminum metallizer can be used under Testors metallics or pearls to provide a good reflective quality in place of primer. Testors clear top coat can be cut with cheap laquer thinner as well and lays down beautifully . I use a 2 to 1 paint to thinner ratio when mixing , 2 parts paint to 1 part thinner .

I stand corrected.......never tried 'cheap hardware store lacquer thinner' with enamel paint. Learn something new every day.

[Iron Fist]

Good looking... Exept the wheels, but I like the engine and color combo, which you'll be using... But that chassis is incorrect for '60 Impala. Spare tyre case or whatever was in '59 Impala, but '60 Impala hadn't that one. Spare tyre was in the trunk. So it might be removed... I have it in my '60 Impala, and that is really bad thing, I don't like it at all, but now when the chassis has been finished long time, I don't remove it. But this one would be cut off, if you see it as a good idea...

This thing here.

But nice job with the Impala, can't wait to see more work on it.

Thanks for the comments, I also thought it was odd to have that upright spare tire recess; didn't research as to which was correct for the year, thanks for the info. I hope to get back on this build soon, just been having too much fun with the 32 Ford.

[Iron Fist]

Enamels cut with hardware store variety laquer thinner drys quick , hard , and tight with no loss of detail . It will not harm the plastic . Standard colors can be shot directly onto the plastic without using primer as long as the body is sanded up to 12000 under cold running water. Testors aluminum metallizer can be used under Testors metallics or pearls to provide a good reflective quality in place of primer. Testors clear top coat can be cut with cheap laquer thinner as well and lays down beautifully . I use a 2 to 1 paint to thinner ratio when mixing , 2 parts paint to 1 part thinner .

Your input is greatly appreciated, thank you.

Donn's the guy to listen to!

Oh ya, quite an honour.

[LoneWolf15]

The input is never a problem , just glad to be able to help out ! If you go with the Testors clear ..... Be careful how heavy it goes on the silver , it might want to go golden in color for you . It will still match the car but .....

Another little trick .. Pick up some of Jaquards Pearl X at Michaels . Take the silvermetal flake and mix it with your clear , have another jar mixed with plain clear . Remember ! A little Pearl X powder goes a long way , careful how much you mix into the clear ! Coat over the entire car with every other coat being the plain clear , then the silvered , back and forth between the two . It will blend your two colors together and give the black a high gloss with that extra pop .

Be sure to use quick mist coats , be patient , it will build up to a superior gloss and depth of color . When it's finished it will dance under the light and change color as you walk around it .

[Iron Fist]

Laid down a base coat last night. Testors enamel thinned with lacquer thinner, no primer on the body. I primed the hood and trunk as I sanded off the emblems.

I will clean up the over spray with a q-tip and brake fluid.