paint prep

Hey,

Guys being new and nervous about painting I thought I would ask this question. Does anyone wash their models before spraying? Is it recommended before and after the primer coat?

I really don't want my model being ruined by the paint job!

Red

wouldnt hurt to wash it before painting, i usually sand with wet and dry before each coat so i guess u could say they get washed before evey coat of paint

So that is with cold soapy water? And what is the best way to dry the model?

i use plain old water and let them sit for a few hours to dry

Awesome thanks!

I wash them in the kitchen sink in warm soapy water (dish detergent) followed by a rinse in clean warm water followed by air drying on a tea towel on the kitchen table.
Haven't tried using the dishwasher yet...

Yep, I do the same as Zenrat, before any paint or primer it's a soapy wash in the sink followed by a rinse, then let it airdry.
Sometimes I'll give it a quick wetsand while it's in the sink, just to give the primer/paint something to bite into. Not sure if that really makes a difference or if it's just a rumour I've heard, haven't built enough models to properly test it

I always wash the bodies and bits before painting. Warm water and a couple drops of dish detergent. Sometimes a light scrub with a soft toothbrush. Rinse...and air dry. If I am in a hurry...a hairdryer set on low is good...but be careful.

...I used to lovingly wash them in warm soapy water but I'm a bit slacker now, just a rinse under the tap outside the garage and a blow off with the compressor. I always rub back the bare styrene though with some 3200, after I've eradicated the mold lines etc.

Yeah, I'm with Paul but I've always been to lazy to wash the body before paint but I always sand with 800 to give the primer something to key to. I always use Duplicolour primer/filler then paint.

Tubman wrote:Yeah, I'm with Paul but I've always been to lazy to wash the body before paint but I always sand with 800 to give the primer something to key to. I always use Duplicolour primer/filler then paint.

Geez Tubbs, don't you sticky tape them to the roof
of the car and go through the car wash anymore.

Washing the body/body parts before painting is ALWAY's a good idea. Warm soapy water, as mentioned, with a toothbrush ( soft-bristle ) is highly recommended. Most kits come with various discrepancies such as mold/seam lines, excess flash, in & on different parts of the model. I have yet to come across the perfect model that doe's NOT have any of these discrepancies. All these lines/flash need's to be sanded off & smoothed out, obviously before ANY paint ... Unless you don't give a shit 😉 . So no point washing before all this is done. Anytime you sand/wet sand, unless you want the residue build-up in the panel lines to be covered in paint & make your panel lines disappear with each layer.. Then washing after sanding, wet or dry, it's necessary. I use a hair dryer on low & at a distance, to dry the body etc. It's pretty safe & more speedy than air-drying. I find that allowing it to air-dry leave's residual water spots everywhere & they could easily still have detergent trapped within them... This could cause fish-eye spots appearing through your colour coats. Treat it like you're making a meal... The better your prep... The better the foods gunna look & taste 👍👍
Cheers Cliffo 😊

Shoey wrote:

Tubman wrote:Yeah, I'm with Paul but I've always been to lazy to wash the body before paint but I always sand with 800 to give the primer something to key to. I always use Duplicolour primer/filler then paint.

Geez Tubbs, don't you sticky tape them to the roof
of the car and go through the car wash anymore.

What you talking about Shoebox, sticky tape just falls off when it gets wet, I use sandblasting tape, if it won't come off in the sandblaster it won't come off in the carwash.