Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hello,

I've built a few buildings using foam core materials I bought at a dollar store. As I built, I put masking tape along the edges to cover the open foam portion of the board to make it look neater (and protect the foam from any spray paint I use)

Last night I spray painted the buildings and the masking tape I used peeled off instead. Exposing white foam core and strips of unpainted board.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks to stop or paint this correctly? Or am I just using too cheap masking tape?

I hand paint ALL the CUT the edges with a glue/paint mix (the paint is mainly so you can tell you've covered it) similar to the colour I intend to paint the rest in.

Then I'll airbrush it all when the edges are dry.

If I can get it, I prefer the black foamcore I can get around here (the inside is BLACK foam and it seems to be a little firmer than the white version). Both get eaten by spray paint, though.



That's all done with the black cored stuff. ALL the cut edges were hand sealed prior to airbrushing the 3 coats of mechrite red over it.

Ive been experimenting with this for a while. I have found 3 ways so far. Masking tape, my least favorite. Cut card stock strips and glue them to edges, very time consuming and fiddly. My favorite so far is to filler (spackle?). Thin it with water and paint it on the exposed foamcore surfaces fairly thinly (sometimes 2 thin coats, experiment) , wait for it to dry and lightly sand. Texture etc. This has yielded the best result so far imho, but is also time consuming. Good luck.

Hi mate,

I totally agree with BlackOps about using filler! Takes a bit of time... but does allow for nice seal and also a little bit of texture also!

Best of luck!

A layer of PVA glue over the cut edges will seal them for painting.

Alternatively, you can get sprays that don't eat foam, but they can be a little hard to find. Try craft stores.

http://oinksterrain.blogspot.se/2011/12/working-with-foamboard-joining-basics.html

Here is a link with good ideas on how to avoid the problem. Below are pictures from the page showing my favourite solution to your problem.

Paint the edges with non-spray paint first.

You can coat the whole thing with PVA glue. then spray over.

Otherwise airbrushing it works as well.

Also there are brands of spray paint that is doesnt melt foam IIRC but they are expensive.

+1 for PVA