Need advice on this...

[Hotwire]

Here's roughly where I'm at on my Color Change Mirage...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5063094468_8aab95c8c4.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/5062483903_237035828e_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5062483745_8fbe844910.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/5063094298_dee21919fd.jpg

The tape I'm using still peels off the black, even though it's been cured for weeks. Any thoughts on how to keep that from happening? Also, how do you guys think it's looking so far?

[jbarb78]

I had the tape peeling problem with acryls, mainly anything masked over silver. I tried sanding between coats, multiple cleanings, etc., but nothing ever got rid of it. Using all of these methods, and switching to Tamiya masking tapes helped a bit, but I still notice some residual marks being left behind. If the paint you just painted is peeling (overlapping the tape, not under it) you're waiting to remove it too long. You should remove masking once the paint is dry, if its fully cured or too thick, it'll come off with the tape.

[SonOfNemesis]

I don't understand it, I never had paint peel on me. I usually will paint a figure, let it dry a day or two, then use tamiya masking tape, paint whether brush or airbrush and then within a couple seconds after applying the paint, I peel the tape and no probs.

I think it looks uniquely cool but not my preference of color choice.

[Solrac333]

I just weaken the stickiness of the tape by taping my arm and then the figure. That way the adhesive is not as strong.

[Matticus Prime]

Solrac has the right idea, if you first tape the underside of your forearm (less hairy unless your an ape man) peel and stick a few times you should be good. Don't use your pants as there may be some fuzz on the edge that is closest to where you'll be painting.

[SonOfNemesis]

Maybe not your arm Sorac (think of the skin oils right?). I went with F_R's advice and used my pant leg.

[starwarsgeek]

Or just try using a different kind of tape. The blue painters tape usually has a less-sticky less-tacky surface so it doesn't peel paint off as easily.

[SonOfNemesis]

Yeah but I think the hobby masking tape has a finer edge to prevent paint bleeding.

[starwarsgeek]

Maybe not your arm Sorac (think of the skin oils right?).

That's a good point, too. I almost always wear gloves now, whenever I handle unfinished custom work just for that reason. I never really had issues with skin oils coming into contact with figures or anything else I was working on, but I've seen some problems crop up where people had issues with paint after some contact with skin.

[starwarsgeek]

Yeah but I think the hobby masking tape has a finer edge to prevent paint bleeding.

OK, true. I didn't think of that.

Personally, I use liquid latex for masking. It gives a nice edge and has zero bleeding, yet peels off nice and doesn't remove paint.

[Hotwire]

Thanks for the advice, guys. Let me be a little more specific. I circled where the tap, I'm using Frog Tape BTW, peeled off the black.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5063200151_6fb1c2c0c0.jpg
I was going to mask off some of this to add more color change paint, and it peeled the black right off. This project is seriously pissing me off.

[Hotwire]

I think it looks uniquely cool but not my preference of color choice.

Thanks. What you see as purple, will actually change from purple, to teal, to orange depending on how you look at it.

[JaZzMan26]

Did you primer or do a base coat first?
Only reason I'm asking I had a Zoid do that but after primering with Krylon ultra black for plastics problem solved for me in the ways of paint flaking off or being pulled off by tape.

[SonOfNemesis]

Oh so it's a chameleon type look??? That IS SICK!!

[Sculpt-bot]

Did you strip all of the original paint? I have only had that problem with unwashed plastic or unstripped paint.


tape the underside of your forearm (less hairy unless your an ape man)

*runs off to cry into his pillow*

[jbarb78]

Thanks for the advice, guys. Let me be a little more specific. I circled where the tap, I'm using Frog Tape BTW, peeled off the black.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5063200151_6fb1c2c0c0.jpg
I was going to mask off some of this to add more color change paint, and it peeled the black right off. This project is seriously pissing me off.

You dont have proper adhesion in those spots then. If that was under the tape and you pulled it off with it, either something has prevented your paint from grabbing the primer, your primer was too thick in those areas and didnt cure properly, or the primer was contaminated. I say this because it appears to be primer sticking out, if that's the plastic beneath then it wasnt clean enough.

Good rule of thumb: Always spray in thin, even coats, and allow them some time to dry. This goes for primers, paint coats, clear coats, everything. If you pile on coats too fast, you inhibit the curing properties of the paint, and weaken the layers beneath. If you've cleaned everything properly, that's the only cause of this particular issue.

Also, a great masking tape for covering larger ares after you've used hobby tape for your fine lines is Scotch blue painter's tape for "delicate" surfaces. It sticks quite well, easy to remove, and doesnt bleed. Its not cheap, but that's because its worth it.

[Hotwire]

Stripped factory paint, sanded it, primed it with Tamiya Fine Surface Primer. The paint I used is Spaz Stix High Gloss Black.

[Hotwire]

You dont have proper adhesion in those spots then. If that was under the tape and you pulled it off with it, either something has prevented your paint from grabbing the primer, your primer was too thick in those areas and didnt cure properly, or the primer was contaminated. I say this because it appears to be primer sticking out, if that's the plastic beneath then it wasnt clean enough.

Good rule of thumb: Always spray in thin, even coats, and allow them some time to dry. This goes for primers, paint coats, clear coats, everything. If you pile on coats too fast, you inhibit the curing properties of the paint, and weaken the layers beneath. If you've cleaned everything properly, that's the only cause of this particular issue.

Also, a great masking tape for covering larger ares after you've used hobby tape for your fine lines is Scotch blue painter's tape for "delicate" surfaces. It sticks quite well, easy to remove, and doesnt bleed. Its not cheap, but that's because its worth it.
Thanks. I guess it's more sanding and respraying for me.

[Solrac333]

Maybe not your arm Sorac (think of the skin oils right?). I went with F_R's advice and used my pant leg.

Actually, I go into locker rooms and tape buns together. But then I had to spend one Saturday in detention.:p

[jbarb78]

Thanks. I guess it's more sanding and respraying for me.

If the areas you sprayed over the black have cured for a week, you should be able to mask them, and just respray the black.

[Boggs6ft7]

Actually, I go into locker rooms and tape buns together. But then I had to spend one Saturday in detention.:p

Ha ha, you're old.

But I get the joke, so that makes me old too.

[C2567]

I just weaken the stickiness of the tape by taping my arm and then the figure. That way the adhesive is not as strong.

what do you do about the hair problem? :pooptoast:

[jbarb78]

Ha ha, you're old.

But I get the joke, so that makes me old too.

If I have to come in here again I'm crackin skulls!

[Hotwire]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5063094468_8aab95c8c4.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/5062483903_237035828e_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5062483745_8fbe844910.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/5063094298_dee21919fd.jpg


Thanks, for all the advice on the paint issue, guys! Now, what does everyone think of the paint scheme itself?

[Solrac333]

Thanks, for all the advice on the paint issue, guys! Now, what does everyone think of the paint scheme itself?

Looks purply. Is that what you were going for when you say "Color change"?

[Hotwire]

Looks purply. Is that what you were going for when you say "Color change"?

It's chameleon paint. It changes from purple to teal to orange depending on how you look at it.

[BigHank]

Is there a "bluer" flip flop paint available? I feel it's a tad too dark in the purple tones. But I have yet to see the full color change effect. I'll reserve judgment til then, a video review may be necessary for that.

As for the paint peeling, I use the low tack painters tape (the blue masking tape) and reduce the tackiness by putting it on the wall a few times.

Also, similar to StarWarsGeek I use Micromask by Microscale. You brush it on like Elmer's glue and after it dries, you paint over it and simply peel it off. It never pulls up paint.

One final tip is to use the "blue tac" sticky tac stuff. You can shape it, push it into tight areas. Also it does not leave residue and won't mar paint. This stuff has the added bonus of being shapeable into globs you can use to make very nice camo effects. I used it alot when I did military armor models.

[Hotwire]

Is there a "bluer" flip flop paint available? I feel it's a tad too dark in the purple tones. But I have yet to see the full color change effect. I'll reserve judgment til then, a video review may be necessary for that.

As for the paint peeling, I use the low tack painters tape (the blue masking tape) and reduce the tackiness by putting it on the wall a few times.

Also, similar to StarWarsGeek I use Micromask by Microscale. You brush it on like Elmer's glue and after it dries, you paint over it and simply peel it off. It never pulls up paint.

One final tip is to use the "blue tac" sticky tac stuff. You can shape it, push it into tight areas. Also it does not leave residue and won't mar paint. This stuff has the added bonus of being shapeable into globs you can use to make very nice camo effects. I used it alot when I did military armor models.
Cool. I have some liquid mask, but have yet to really work with it.

[C2567]

yeah blu tac is very useful, and its something you should definitely have, its good for eating too..

[SonOfNemesis]

Now that I know it's a color-changing paint, that is really cool, I want to see a video on it man!