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HI guys,
I am painting a 2005 Lucious The Etrnal metal model and I have some problems working with it.
The model is primed with Badger white primer then base coated with citadel paint. After that I gloss varnished it so I can apply wash, but before the wash I noticed that even the slightest touch chips off the paint. The varnish should be 100% cured as 24 hours already passed.

This is really annoying and I dont know how to fix it. Could it be, because all stuff Is acrylic? I didn't had those problems with my previous Metal Model - Chief Librarian Tigarius that was primed with Mr. Surfacer and coated with Mr. Hobby alcohol based paint?

For old Metal, especially if it has never been stripped before, could have a thin layer of Mold release still on it or possibly a bit of oxidation. Best solution is to strip the model and scrub it with a toothbrush. In the future, you should always wash your metal with a little bit of soap, scrub it down especially on the flat surfaces, and let it dry.

That should prevent your chipping from happening again.

SaganGree wrote:
For old Metal, especially if it has never been stripped before, could have a thin layer of Mold release still on it or possibly a bit of oxidation. Best solution is to strip the model and scrub it with a toothbrush. In the future, you should always wash your metal with a little bit of soap, scrub it down especially on the flat surfaces, and let it dry.

That should prevent your chipping from happening again.

Damn, I should have thought of that :( The model indeed had some kind of weird cover, but the guy that give me to paint said that I should not bother to wash.
I will strip fast with ISO and see what happens.

Also, if there are really smooth surfaces, you can get some fine grit sandpaper and rough it up a little - it won't be noticeable under the paint, but it will give the primer more surface area to grip onto.

Metal models just don't grip paint well. Plus they are heavy so more pressure is put on paint. I triple prime metal models to build up a thick base layer.

Never had a problem with paint gripping metal (from a painting standpoint). They're more prone to chipping when contacting each other or being dropped, but it shouldn't be flaking off for any reason. It will wear away at the tips of sharp points though pretty readily.

From what i recall they say you should prime metal models specifically with rattle can rather than airbrushed or hand painted.

i dont remember where i read that but i assume its because rattle can primers contain more aggressive formula that bind to surfaces better.
ymmv.

That'll be self etching primers, which actually bond slightly into the surface by dissolving a microns thick layer of the metal. Much like poly cement melts plastic and then sets hard.

To my knowledge, I don't think any brush on or airbrush primer sold for hobby purposes is billed as self etching, but I could be wrong.

Groo_The_Wanderer wrote:
Metal models just don't grip paint well. Plus they are heavy so more pressure is put on paint. I triple prime metal models to build up a thick base layer.

Not sure if serious....

Does your entire army consist of Veteran Trooper Smik?

 Grimtuff wrote:

Groo_The_Wanderer wrote:
Metal models just don't grip paint well. Plus they are heavy so more pressure is put on paint. I triple prime metal models to build up a thick base layer.

Not sure if serious....

Does your entire army consist of Veteran Trooper Smik?

Haha, never hear of Smik before. I'm totally serious. Three coats of Krylon rattle can primer doesn't clog details. Also, my definition of "coat" or "layer" could be thinner than yours.