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Hey folks.

So I posted a couple days ago, but having just gotten back into this hobby, I've been fiddling with paint schemes, and ran into a nuisance/problem last night.

I've been testing out paint schemes on a crisis suit, owing to its size- figured it would be a good judge of how the scheme is working. The first scheme I tried out I just didn't end up finding all that appealing, so I went back last night and covered it with a new scheme that I like a lot better. The only issue is that the slightest scratch from a fingernail causes a huge gash to appear in the paint, even after 24 hours of drying. If i was interested in it, I could peel all of the paint I put on the model last night off down to the primer. I tested the paints on another model directly on the primer and didnt see the same results. This leads me to three questions:

1- Is this because the paint on this crisis suit has become so thick now from 6-7 layers of paint owing to a first failed paint job? If so, I should just strip the model using some super clean, reprime it, and give it another go, correct? That seems easy enough to handle. For the record, I thinned my foundation paints (khemri and charadon) down to about 2.3:1 (I went ml by ml until I got a consistency I was comfortable with, not quite 2:1 as they were brand new pots)

2- Is this because there was something wrong with the priming I did? I know I didn't do the best job priming this particular model as it was the first I did. I ended up with a little bit of a stippling effect on one of the arms, presumably from spraying too long or too close. I've improved my spraying a great deal since. Again, solution being to just strip and reprime??

3- Is this just the way it goes? I mean, I can avoid scratching the model if I'm careful if you folks think it would just happen again were I to reprime it. If I do live with it, is it uncommon to varnish and seal plastic models? I only ever see it discussed with metal ones. In fact, I searched all over and couldnt find any cases of paint peeling so readily off plastic models.

Thanks in advance.

Well from it sounds like, you're painting over completed paint schemes again and again. Really, it's only the first layers of paint that will benefit from the primer. After that, it's just piling paint over old paint, so yes you probably won't have the same bond that the paint over primer would have.

If you've repainted over it a few times, I'd just take the time and strip it down, clean it down to plastic, then prime once more. With a fresh coat of primer, you shouldn't have quite the problems that you seem to be having.

that's exactly what I'd been doing, and to be honest, my first coats were shoddy and thick because i was even more noobish than I am today (a whole week later! >.&gt. I just wanted to hear from some of the experienced painters before I invested in stripping, though I have a couple other test miniatures I picked up cheap that I might as well strip as well.

Thanks!

Not sure entirely if it makes much difference, but once my models have been washed, dried and primed I try not to handle them until the final coat of varnish has dried.

Arander is probably correct though and the models will benefit from stripping and starting again.

What brand of primer was used?

I have had very good luck with a layer of SEM Plastic Adhesion Promoter prior to priming vehicle models.

To be honest, I just used good old GW Chaos Black undercoat. I know that for a metal model, a proper primer is better, and frankly once this can dies I'm going to get some since it's already less expensive to begin with. I just have never had an issue with a plastic model before, but I really am of the opinion that it's just caked on paint causing the problem, as opposed to a priming issue (since other models primed in the same batch have all adhered properly)


Separate question:

When sealing models, I know that a coat or two of gloss varnish followed by a dusting of matte testors dullcoat seems to be the most often prescribed treatment, but my question is: Is there a difference between spray and brushed on gloss varnish? Also, is there a brand of gloss varnish that is available in the states that would serve me well, keeping in mind I'm in the US?

The model that's scratching probably stil has some mold release on it. Even though not everyone does it, all models, plastic and metal, should be washed before painting.

Strip the paint (a 2 day soak in simple green should work fine) wash the model and start over.