Painting info and help needed.

[CB435]

I know this isnt R/C related but I cant find a good website dedicated to Plastic Model Car Kits that you build. Sisne most of you guys here are very knowledge about airbrushing/painting. I just picked up my airbrush about 3 days ago been practicing with it. Painted a few R/C bodys. Ok. I am building a 1999 Mustang Cobra plastic model car kit. I painted the lower portion red and the top I am wanting to paint the upper half black. Well I put regular white masking tape over the red to protect it from the black paint. Aftering letting it dry overnight I peeled the tape off and it took off alot of the red paint. Is there any kind of trick or special tape I can use to prevent the tape riping off my paint? The red paint was about 2 days worth of drying. I am gonna have to repaint the model car just wandering if someone can suggest something I can do to prevent the paint from coming off.

Anyone know a good website for model car building that has a message board?
Also. What brand paint is best for painting R/C bodys with? Thanks for any info.

[dyslexic]

you could try Bob Divleys Liquid masking film instead of tape it's a latex type product you brusdh it on let dry then cut out your design and peel away the area you wish to paint it leavs nice clean lines and shouldn't peel the paint up.
it says it's for model use right on the bottle.
as for more info you could check for model railroading forums there should be a wealth of info there. or try searching for info on those gundum robots they are quite popular and there maybe info on how to paint those and what type of paints work best.

as for R/C paints I use faskolor/createx paints as well as Alclad2, Pactra & tamiya.

for the plastic models i'd use Testors Model Master they have a nice range of colors in gloss and flat

[Piggy89373]

I can tell you from painting with testors enamels, I usually have better luck (and finish) when the tape is pealed while the paint is tacky to almost dry. I too have had similar problems when letting the paint dry for long periods of time. Another problem you may have is the coat of paint might have been too thick.

An alternative to testors and with a great finish for model cars is nail polish. Thin the polish with acetone, and spray in very very fine coats. You'll be surprised at the finish, and you can match many of the car paint colors.

[CB435]

hey I appreciate the info guys/gals. Someone also told me that I should of sprayed on some automotive primer onto the car 1st. It holds the paint better according to them. I will try that.

Piggy- Question here. If the paint was tacky and almost dry wouldnt that peel it off more seeing it was slight wet?

Im using general household masking tape does that make any kind of difference?

and as for R/C colors I been using a rattle can for ages now but now I have steped up to an airbrush just wanting to get some good brands to use. Thanks again for the help.

[Piggy89373]

When using testors paints, tacky is about the time you want to pull masking. Common sense would dictate to wait till it's dry, but after it's dry, it's more apt to crack and peel. When it's tacky, the paint is more likely to break up smoothly, and not peel off. Some of the flat colors I've had better luck peeling off the masking when the paint was still very wet (but not runny). Airbrushing testors almost always comes out better when you've put on a primer coat.

A while back, I did some experimenting with nail polishes. I had a really nice look corvette done in candy apple nail polish. With it airbrushed, the finish was really nice, plus it was the wet look nail polish which made it look even better. I'd post a pic, but having moved through several states and across the atlantic, most of my stuff never survived. It's just an idea, but works excellently with model cars. I don't recommend doing this to an rc car body...way too much prep work and it'll eventually chip regardless of what you do.

[extremetmaxxer]

the prob is in you prep work, make sure you sand the body with a gray scotchbrite pad or 400 grit paper

then you can spray a base coat then when thats tacky you can spray the red let that dryup run a peice of tape along the bottom spray the top then clear it.

key thing here is to be scuffing and making sure your substrate is clean

[RespirologyRC]

tachy tachy tachycardia, tachipnea, sleep apnea what's the difference? hahaahahha