Trouble with panel liner/enamel thinner

[ohbejuan]

I have a question about panel liner and enamel thinner. I have made the same mistake a few times now. I am mostly making model aircraft. On this P-38, I painted it with Vallejo acrylic brush paint. Then I coated it with Tamiya TS-13 clear. I did the decals and then another coat of TS-13. I let it sit for a day, and then used Tamiya panel liner. I cleaned it up using testors enamel thinner and it wen right through my clear coat, and rubbed off some of my paint! you can see it on the tail section between the booms. I am pretty sure these all work together. I must be making a mistake somewhere along the line, but I am not sure where. Not letting the paint cure? I do several thinned coats of the Vallejo acrylic. Not letting the clear coat cure long enough? not using enough clear coat? Using too much thinner? I welcome advice on any fo this. Nice to be here.

 

[urumomo]

Cure time could be the issue .
Both for the Vallejo and the lacquer top coat .
How much thinner do you use ? I am not familiar with the Testor thinner , I assume it isn't " hot " - containing acetone , tolulene etc

You follow this procedure ? :
https://www.tamiya.com/english/products/87131_133panel_accent/index.htm

 

[ohbejuan]

thanks for the response! I don't let the paint cure very long. I will check out this procedure.

 

[urumomo]

a food dehydrator works great to speed up the drying .

 

[ohbejuan]

Cure time could be the issue .
Both for the Vallejo and the lacquer top coat .
How much thinner do you use ? I am not familiar with the Testor thinner , I assume it isn't " hot " - containing acetone , tolulene etc

You follow this procedure ? :
https://www.tamiya.com/english/products/87131_133panel_accent/index.htm

What I did differently is I applied it fairly liberally and sloppily. I had seen this work for others, but a little more care may be all that is required

 

[Wolf Star]

I couldn't say, I haven't used the Testors panel liner, so I'm not sure of its chemical makeup. I've used the Tamiya version with no ill effects.

 

[ohbejuan]

Just for clarity, I used Tamiya panel liner, and testers enamel thinner. I feel like the whole world does this without a problem. That why I can't figure out what I am doing incorrectly

 

[dlots1701alpha]

The issue is your crossing products use tamiya panel liner then use tamiya paint thinner yes they make an enamel paint thinner. With crossing products itbud probably what is causing your panel liner go into your top coat

 

[Rhythmrat]

The enamel thinner your using is too hot. Use Mona Lisa oderless thinner. I use the exact same combs of paints but use this thinner and have no issues.

 

[TheRaceforTerra]

I have a question about panel liner and enamel thinner. I have made the same mistake a few times now. I am mostly making model aircraft. On this P-38, I painted it with Vallejo acrylic brush paint. Then I coated it with Tamiya TS-13 clear. I did the decals and then another coat of TS-13. I let it sit for a day, and then used Tamiya panel liner. I cleaned it up using testors enamel thinner and it wen right through my clear coat, and rubbed off some of my paint! you can see it on the tail section between the booms. I am pretty sure these all work together. I must be making a mistake somewhere along the line, but I am not sure where. Not letting the paint cure? I do several thinned coats of the Vallejo acrylic. Not letting the clear coat cure long enough? not using enough clear coat? Using too much thinner? I welcome advice on any fo this. Nice to be here.View attachment 1400

Hi ohbejuan,

Sorry to hear that, man, must be frustrating. What primer did you use, if any? Vallejo paints will not adhere to the surface of the model by themselves, as they are water-based. If you simply brushed it on, then even less. The varnish cannot help if the first layers are not bonded with the plastic. Am I making sense?

 

[TheRaceforTerra]

The issue is your crossing products use tamiya panel liner then use tamiya paint thinner yes they make an enamel paint thinner. With crossing products itbud probably what is causing your panel liner go into your top coat

Not at all true. I "cross products" all the time.

 

[ohbejuan]

thanks everyone!

 

[Deleted member 11187]

I have a question about panel liner and enamel thinner. I have made the same mistake a few times now. I am mostly making model aircraft. On this P-38, I painted it with Vallejo acrylic brush paint. Then I coated it with Tamiya TS-13 clear. I did the decals and then another coat of TS-13. I let it sit for a day, and then used Tamiya panel liner. I cleaned it up using testors enamel thinner and it wen right through my clear coat, and rubbed off some of my paint! you can see it on the tail section between the booms. I am pretty sure these all work together. I must be making a mistake somewhere along the line, but I am not sure where. Not letting the paint cure? I do several thinned coats of the Vallejo acrylic. Not letting the clear coat cure long enough? not using enough clear coat? Using too much thinner? I welcome advice on any fo this. Nice to be here.View attachment 1400

Ohbejuan,
One really quick tip to help you out here.
If you can still smell the carrier i.e. the thinner
from your last coat of paint, it is still gassing out.
While I'm not familiar with Vallejo, I know it doesn't have a strong bite with its surface.
I'm assuming bare plastic? Not much of a 'grip'
here. Testors enamel thinner is a pretty hot solvent. It's used to cut their paints for airbrushing and for brush cleaning! HOT
I'd used Testors Wet Clear a couple years ago over some WallyWorld acrylics and was quite surprised they didn't bubble and peel, but that was over a three day gassing out.
Sometimes, you do have to wait.
What you do have here does look good, besides the tweak. Part of modeling, covering or fixing the setback...right?

 

[ohbejuan]

Ohbejuan,
One really quick tip to help you out here.
If you can still smell the carrier i.e. the thinner
from your last coat of paint, it is still gassing out.
While I'm not familiar with Vallejo, I know it doesn't have a strong bite with its surface.
I'm assuming bare plastic? Not much of a 'grip'
here. Testors enamel thinner is a pretty hot solvent. It's used to cut their paints for airbrushing and for brush cleaning! HOT
I'd used Testors Wet Clear a couple years ago over some WallyWorld acrylics and was quite surprised they didn't bubble and peel, but that was over a three day gassing out.
Sometimes, you do have to wait.
What you do have here does look good, besides the tweak. Part of modeling, covering or fixing the setback...right?

Right! I am learning that as a newbie. Someone said to me "a third of modeling is being careful and avoiding mistakes. a third is dealing with your mistakes and setbacks, and a third is learning to live with what you can't fix"

 

[Deleted member 11187]

Right! I am learning that as a newbie. Someone said to me "a third of modeling is being careful and avoiding mistakes. a third is dealing with your mistakes and setbacks, and a third is learning to live with what you can't fix"

Haha, so very true.
You could apply this all to life lessons too.
I can attest, your second 1/3 is my family motto. Says so right on the crest.
'Thou, shoust screwst up most of the week and after weeks, shall call it a month...'
Remember it's plastic, though sometimes expensive plastic, it can be fixed. And we all start somewhere. We can help.
You'll get it. Guaranteed

 

[dlots1701alpha]

Not at all true. I "cross products" all the time.

Everytime i do i have issues

 

[Jim62]

Man that is a bummer, but you will get it resolved I'm sure. If you are interested in an alternative to try, I use Pastels, water, dish soap = water clean up and no harsh chemical worries plus you can mix up whatever color you need to use.

 

[ohbejuan]

Man that is a bummer, but you will get it resolved I'm sure. If you are interested in an alternative to try, I use Pastels, water, dish soap = water clean up and no harsh chemical worries plus you can mix up whatever color you need to use.

I have considered this! tell me more. Is there a magic ratio? or just go by what works? I guess my real question is how much dish soap? just a drop? thanks

 

[Jim62]

You need what is called Soft Pastels mixed with water and a drop of dish soap. Can't really give you a ratio on water and pastel mix but here's a video of making a sludge wash with pastels and shows you how to mix it. I use this method on my builds. Just make sure you have your clear coat on first.

 

[ohbejuan]

You need what is called Soft Pastels mixed with water and a drop of dish soap. Can't really give you a ratio on water and pastel mix but here's a video of making a sludge wash with pastels and shows you how to mix it. I use this method on my builds. Just make sure you have your clear coat on first.

this was very helpful. what I learned is I was too cautious with the soft pastel. my ratio of water to pastel had too much water, so the wash did not do much. Thanks!