13 replies to this topic

[Memoir]

I’m new to airbrushing lexan bodies but I’ve painted a lot of single or two color bodies with Tamiya spray cans.

I’m using Pro-line paints and it seems to take a very long time to fully dry. It stays tacky for many days after spraying for almost a week. If I try to pull off vinyl decals before this, it starts pealing up the paint and doesn’t leave a clean line as it should (it’s not a bleeding issue). I’ve tried using a blow dryer and leaving out in the warm sun light but it doesn’t seem to help much.

I know the obvious response is I’m spraying too much paint but I don’t think I am. I’m using far less paint than I used to with the spray cans.

I’m spray with an Iwata Revolution .5 needle at a little over 30 psi without using any reducer. This is what the bottle recommends and sprays nicely.

I’d appreciate any advice or if anyone else has had this issue. Thank you.

[Wizard Of Iz]

I haven't used Pro Line ... but from reading their website it appears to be developed for Lexan® bodies, so I'm surprised you're having this issue.

 

I primarily use Createx Airbrush Colors line of paints.  The only time I had an issue with the paint not drying after an extended length of time was many, many years ago when I experimented with using Formula 409 as a thinning agent. I know, I know ... not smart ... but I'd read it somewhere on the internet. A much-smarter-than-me friend tried to explain to me that the problem was the 409 was chemically wetter than water.  He might have been right because the 409-thinned paint would literally NEVER dry completely.  As in ... even Slick 7 reinforcing tape wouldn't stick to the inside of the body.

 

My only suggestion would be - and you may already be doing this - to use very, very light coats.  My first coat just barely fogs the body.  And I allow it to dry before applying a second very light coat.  You can see the "sheen" vanish as the paint dries.  Not that it's totally bone-dry.  But it's dry enough for the next coat.

 

Airbrushing is not a "blast the paint on the body" kind of deal like a spray can does.  It takes patience, Grasshopper.

 

I know that some model car hobbyists never use a hair dryer to dry their paint.  Their theory is that the dryer only dries the outer layer of the paint allowing the lower layer(s) to remain wet.  Having said that ... I use a hair dryer on its cool setting just to move air to speed the drying process.

[team burrito]

Use a hair dryer in-between light coats.

[Bill from NH]

Rollin,

 

The using 409 as a thinner idea came from Lee Gilbert's Seattle friends in some of their OWH posts. I've had a new bottle of 409 sitting in my cellar for about 20 years.    

[Memoir]

Thanks for the advice. I’ll try and work on my technique and use the hairdryer in between coats.

I may pick up some of the createx paint and give that a try as well and see if it’s more me or the paint I’m using.

[Bill Seitz]

Also consider temperature and humidity. Remember, water has to evaporate out of a water-based paint for it to dry. Cold and damp effects that.

[Rob Voska]

Createx works.  Also get an eyedropper to put the 409 in the cup and stir it.  

[Memoir]

Just so I don’t make the same mistake twice and buy the wrong paint… is there a difference in Createx “airbrush colors” and Createx “wicked colors”? (Besides the actual color choices) which ones exactly are you guys using/ recommending?

[Wizard Of Iz]

Just so I don’t make the same mistake twice and buy the wrong paint… is there a difference in Createx “airbrush colors” and Createx “wicked colors”? (Besides the actual color choices) which ones exactly are you guys using/ recommending?

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IMG_4430.jpg

 

 

I prefer the Airbrush colors ... and my buddy Eddie Stilley (who is a much better painter than I am) prefers the Wicked colors. It might be my imagination, but I think the Airbrush colors are a little more forgiving.  Though the Wicked colors might be a little richer.

 

I thin the Airbrush colors with Createx Reducer #4011 to about the consistency of skim milk.  Though Createx also claims that you can spray straight out of the bottle as long as you're using a 0.5mm tip.

 

You can use the same Reducer #4011 with the Wicked Colors.

 

Createx also makes a good Airbrush Cleaner

[Bill from NH]

Both paints airbrush well. I think their formulations were slightly different, but Createx has made some changes in the past year. You can probably find more info on their YouTube videos. Createx made the Parma line of acrylics when those were available.

[Ryan C]

I use Proline Primer Gray all the time. I run a few drops to about 5% reducer (createx 4012) with 1 super light tack coat and 2 additional light coats. Hair dryer between all coats and the usual dawn dish soap followed by isopropyl. You may need a water separator on your compressor given your location and humidity.

[Bill Breck]

Thanks for the advice. I’ll try and work on my technique and use the hairdryer in between coats.

I may pick up some of the createx paint and give that a try as well and see if it’s more me or the paint I’m using.

 

Lots of great advice in this thread. 

 

I use Createx airbrush colors with their 4011 reducer sprayed at 20psi with a .5 nozzle/needle combo. 

 

I've also used craft store paints (FolkArt seems to be the best) reduced with windshield washer fluid, 4011, and "homebrew" reducer (91% IPA+water+glycerin) with very good results.

 

Buy a bag of plastic spoons at the dollar store and spray them with different paint combos and techniques until you get the results you're looking for.

[Brian Czeiner]

Just so I don’t make the same mistake twice and buy the wrong paint… is there a difference in Createx “airbrush colors” and Createx “wicked colors”? (Besides the actual color choices) which ones exactly are you guys using/ recommending?
 

Createx and Wicked Colors also merged with Auto-Air in 2021 so they are all the same manufacturer. They are interchangeable in both product and technique.

 

https://createxairbrushcolors.com/

 

http://autoaircolors.com/

[Alan Dodson]

You might also try the new Ralph Thorne "Racer's Choice" acrylic paints. I have been using them lately and really like them. I thin them 5 to 10 % with Createx 4012 reducer. Light coats with hair dryer in between.