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GreenBar0n wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2024 6:11 pm

XLR8 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2024 2:50 pm The challenge working with lacquer paints is that they dry very fast so you need to lay the paint heavy so it will flow (and avoid orange peel) BUT doing so, you increase the risk that it will bleed under the mask.
You're climbing the Mt Everest of RC body painting -- don't sweat the tiny mistakes. Having painted three Sand Scorchers, I believe it's impossible to achieve perfection.
Yours is coming along great so far and I predict that when it's finished and decals are applied, you won't even notice the very small blemishes.

You're exactly right, trying to get that wet look using just the paint, makes me go too far trying to make the entire body even-wet look, and drips, or runs happen, every time. I have to stop that. A clear coat was the answer, for me.

With an even base coat, wet sanded to 3500 with a sponge - to remove orange peel and debris - and then a TS-13 clear gloss layer over that, it's as good as I've seen yet. I'm not good at applying or polishing clear yet, it's another set of lessons, but I'm hoping to level up there soon. (2) TS-13 Clear Gloss will be here next week.

I'm really amazed that even after a week or so, with 99% alcohol on a sharp Tamiya swab, or a q-tip, that the overspray and bleed can still be wiped off, like it was never there. That also takes the pressure off of masking errors and bleed, for me. If I know I can fail, and how to recover/get back up, it removes the hesitation going forward.

For Lexan bodies, the Tamiya Polycarbonate Paint Remover does that same magic, just erases the mistakes and bleed, days later.

I'm going to try to fix any mistakes in the paint first, then clear over it, the middle of this coming week hopefully.

Thanks as always @XLR8!

XLR8 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2024 8:50 pm To be honest, I've tried correcting my overspray and other paint mistakes before and it always looks worse than if I'd just left it alone. I'm not good at fixing mistakes so I tend to live with them.
Anyway, clear gloss is your friend. So far, I've used it for all my hard body projects. Sanding and polishing can be tricky however. The most difficult polishing project I've tackled so far is this Grand Hauler. To sand and polish around all those rivets without removing them was a bear.



By chance, have you thought about using an old static modelers trick; Future floor wax? In youtube videos I've seen, they apply it with just about anything that's handy; a foam brush, air brush, dunking the parts, etc., and it self-levels and dries with a near perfect gloss finish. I always thought I'd give that a try some day.

GreenBar0n wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2024 9:16 pm

XLR8 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2024 8:50 pm To be honest, I've tried correcting my overspray and other paint mistakes before and it always looks worse than if I'd just left it alone. I'm not good at fixing mistakes so I tend to live with them.
Anyway, clear gloss is your friend. So far, I've used it for all my hard body projects. Sanding and polishing can be tricky however. The most difficult polishing project I've tackled so far is this Grand Hauler. To sand and polish around all those rivets without removing them was a bear.



By chance, have you thought about using an old static modelers trick; Future floor wax? In youtube videos I've seen, they apply it with just about anything that's handy; a foam brush, air brush, dunking the parts, etc., and it self-levels and dries with a near perfect gloss finish. I always thought I'd give that a try some day.

That is a sweet 1/14 Tamiya, nice work! My DS Bandit needs a Snowman.


I think I've heard about the Future Floor Wax, but it's not permanent like clear gloss is?

XLR8 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2024 11:57 pm Thanks!
A Snowman KW would be the perfect sidekick to your Bandit TA. Bob Jacobsen built one a few years ago - I believe the sticker sets are still available.

Bobs Snowman KW.jpg

Of course, the problem is that they are 1/14 scale.
To be fair, a 1/10 scale big rig would be rather large and likely require its own parking space in the garage.
I reckon floor wax wouldn't be as durable as clear paint but it is meant to be walked on so.... I just need to buy a bottle and experiment.

limestang wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2024 7:34 pm I like what you’ve done on the Sand Scorcher. Rogue Elements made a really cool gear cover. Looks like someone on ebay is now offering it, thought not as refined as Rogues.

- limestang