Blame it on the weather.

[Ramfins59]

So I'm itching to get the replacement '58 Olds resin body primed and painted... but we've had the ridiculously long stretch of either oppressively humid or rainy weather here in the western PA area for over 2 weeks and it's supposed to continue for at least another 2 or 3 days.

I have the chassis and engine assemblies complete for a '56 Chevy Nomad... but can't paint the body due to the crappy weather conditions.

While I was down in NC back in May I primed and painted the first color of a 2-Tone color scheme on a '56 Plymouth promo. I masked off the lighter color (Tamiya Gray Green) and want to spray the Tamiya Dark Green second color... but I can't due to the crappy weather conditions.

I started work on a '58 Corvette. While I'm not a huge Corvette fan, it IS another car for "The Class of '58" so I have the engine pretty much completed right now. I'm thinking a Silver body with a red cove and red interior might look cool... but I can't paint it due to the crappy weather conditions.

It is so unlike me to have 4 models is various stages of work at the same time, but I need to be doing something with plastic during this stupid, lingering, crappy weather pattern. Yeah, I know... it's summer, and in the summer it gets hot and humid. All I want is a day or 2 of nice, dry conditions so I can spray some paint. No I don't have an airbrush or a paint booth, and I use either Tamiya or Duplicolor rattle cans, and I spray outside. The women in the house (wife and daughter) complain about the paint smell if I paint in the attached garage... Funny how they don't seem to mind the smell of their lacquer nail polishes...!!

The only thing we can do about the weather is complain about it. I'll continue to do some non-painting work on these cars for the next few days and see if mother nature might give us some drier conditions.

[JDGREEN]

So true

[bbowser]

" The women in the house (wife and daughter) complain about the paint smell if I paint in the attached garage... Funny how they don't seem to mind the smell of their lacquer nail polishes...!!

How true! My wife will complain all day about paint and glue odors but nail polish, scented candles, soaps & shampoos are perfectly fine.

[MAGNUM4342]

I live with two neurotic cats. If any of the smells here bother them they haven't said anything.

[High octane]

I avoid the humidity by spraying in the air-conditioned house in the morning while my better half is at work. By the time she gets home, the smell is gone.

[martinfan5]

"Blame it on the rain' yeah, yeah!, blame it on the rain, yeah, yeah

[Danno]

We have nothing but hot and dry here in the desert. Nothing.

We measure the size of our paint dryers/dehydrators in acreage.

[Agent G]

Me too, except for this week. Freakin' 50% humidity all weekend after two horrific thunderstorms. Momma landed this morning and it's gonna rain again.

Normally I accomplish a great "baked enamel finish" just by placing the car outside.

G

[Guest Johnny]

The kid painted a GTO red and set it down in a box to dry and when he opened it up a couple days later the top surfaces were bright shiny red but when he lifted it out the sides were a dull PINK!!!

I see that happen once years ago on a 1:1 at a shop I worked at!

[wrecker388]

Don't feel bad, I have 10 that are ready for paint!

[Ramfins59]

I realize that I'm not the only modeler having issues... I just felt the need to vent a little.

[Tom Geiger]

I hear ya Rich! I'm the victim of the weather you send east! My main issue is that I bought 20 gallons of deck stain to do my large deck, my bridge (yea I own a bridge) and other wood stuff near the pool. For each step, I need about 4 days without rain. Figure two days for the wood to dry out enough to paint, and the instructions say it will dry to touch in 24 hours, but needs 48 hours to dry completely. Who knows when that will happen!

[mikemodeler]

I hear ya Rich! Living here in NC has it's advantages, but humidity is the hardest to overcome. I already know what I want in our next house, a room that is air conditioned so I can spray when I want!

[ToyLvr]

So, all of us east of the Mississippi river are gonna plan a trip to Dan's house out in the desert so we can get our stuff painted and get down to business.

[Tom Geiger]

So, all of us east of the Mississippi river are gonna plan a trip to Dan's house out in the desert so we can get our stuff painted and get down to business.

Maybe we just need to mail our bodies to Dan and include a note what color, and how we want them painted!

[Danno]

Maybe we just need to mail our bodies to Dan and include a note what color, and how we want them painted!

MODEL CAR bodies, right?

[Jon Cole]

And yet, the 1:1 body and paint shops keep on sprayin'. There has to be a way. I just don't know if it is financially feasible. How much would a dehumidifier cost? Sears should have them. Also, the 1:1 cars are probably painted with two part catalyzed finishes. Maybe someone with more knowledge on the subject could chime in here. I know it would most likely cost more. Seems like they may be resistant to airborne moisture.

[ToyLvr]

The professionals in the body shops are painting with spray guns, of course, so they can mix up their own paint and add some faster-drying catalyst. The shops with more resources can afford a climate-controlled environment.

I do have one trick to offer. I gave a combo thermometer/humidity gauge, and I keep a close eye on it. Even in the midst of the humid summer, there is often a brief period of time on a given day where the humidity will drop to an acceptable level, and I can sneak in a quick paint job (at least on the interior parts, wheels, etc.)

Hey Nick, please explain to me how you can paint INSIDE the air conditioned house and get the fumes to disipate by the end of the day. My old lady always catches me if I try something like that. She has the nose of a bloodhound..... ;-)

[jrherald420]

I just step outside in between the storms spray the color then bring it inside and let it dry in the extra bathroom with the pooper fan going. I have yet to have a problem.

[Tom Geiger]

Hey Nick, please explain to me how you can paint INSIDE the air conditioned house and get the fumes to disipate by the end of the day. My old lady always catches me if I try something like that. She has the nose of a bloodhound..... ;-)

Not Nick, but... my model room is a spare upstairs bedroom. I built myself a spray booth with a fan in it. I keep it running the entire time I'm working. So I've created a good flow in the door of the room, and out the window. It keeps the smell contained.

[Guest Johnny]

MODEL CAR bodies, right?

Yeah, my body is beyond any help paint would give!

[Tom Geiger]

MODEL CAR bodies, right?

Many years ago a group of us drove up to the Masscar show in my old Dodge Caravan. We were all practically drunk with laughter after the ride. Some of those guys just cracked you up. We got to the hotel and were checking in and bringing some stuff inside. The late night hotel clerk was not amused with us. One of our guys was going to do some vending and insisted on bringing his stuff inside the hotel. As he walked through the lobby carrying a large box, the hotel clerk stopped him and asked "What is in that box?" We looked over and saw he had written "BODIES" on the side of it. He just kept his composure and answered "BODIES" and walked on. We all lost it!

[Jantrix]

A paint booth is the only thing that will save you.