| "Oh no, now I've done it." You have just applied to | | | | glue them to wooden "tools" to get into small places. |
| much paint and created huge sagging paint globs to | | | | I will also use paint thinner to soften paint buildup |
| your once perfect model. That perfect contest | | | | around detailed areas keeping in mind that you do |
| winning finish you were hoping for is now a disaster. | | | | not want to ruin the plastic. |
| All is not lost however. You can fix just about any | | | | Once this is done, re-spray paint the damaged area. |
| paint mistake that you have made on your contest | | | | Continue this process of sanding and re-spraying until |
| model with just a bit of work. With a careful paint | | | | you are satisfied with the finish. At this stage you |
| sanding technique, you can create a perfect finish. | | | | are now ready to fine sand the paint. |
| Using four techniques; paint standing, re-spray, paint | | | | Fine sanding is really the true secret to a perfect |
| polish and wax, you can fix just about any mistake | | | | paint finish. I work the paint finish by sanding the |
| you make. I will show you how to use these | | | | paint using these grits in order. |
| techniques to fix your model and bring it back to | | | | 2400 |
| contest level. | | | | 3200 |
| Paint standing is the first technique we will use to | | | | 4000 |
| correct and over spray or orange peel situation you | | | | 6000 |
| have created on your model. Orange peel is just | | | | 8000 |
| extra paint that is applied to thickly and ends up | | | | 12000 |
| making the surface of your model looked like the | | | | The sandpaper I like to use is sandwiched between |
| outside of an orange. The easiest technique I've | | | | foam so that it conforms to the surface of the |
| found to correct this kind of situation is just to use | | | | model more easily. Each step uses the wet sanding |
| sandpaper to grind off the extra paint. The hardest | | | | technique with water. Change your sanding strokes in |
| part of doing this is not to stand into the details | | | | different directions and try not to use a lot of |
| sticking out of the surface of your model. | | | | pressure. At the end of this paint sanding sequence |
| There are many different grades or grits of | | | | the surface of your model should be very even and |
| sandpaper. I basically classify sandpaper into two | | | | smooth. This will bring us to the next step which is |
| types, rough and fine. Rough sandpaper comes in grit | | | | polishing the paint. |
| numbers from 100 to 1000. The lower the number | | | | Paint polish is the next secret to that near perfect |
| the more course it is. For heavy paint removal I | | | | paint finish for your contest winning model. I prefer |
| typically use number 320 grit. Fine sandpaper runs | | | | Novus plastic paint polish. I work the paint to a fine |
| from 2000 thru 12000 grit. This fine grit is one secret | | | | mirror finish by using No. 3, No.2, and then No.1 in |
| to getting to a perfect finish. | | | | sequence. This sets you up for the final step which is |
| Sandpaper comes with different kinds of backing. I | | | | wax protection. |
| prefer cloth backing over the cheaper paper backing | | | | Wax protection is the final step in and creating your |
| because generally I use only a wet sanding technique. | | | | contest winning the model finish. |
| Wet sanding is where you use water to help lubricate | | | | I use Meguiar's mirror glaze #26 professional high |
| the surface of the model and generally works better | | | | tech yellow wax. You can find this at any automotive |
| for my model paints. | | | | parts store. I apply it with a soft cloth and buff the |
| Your first task is to let your paint mistake dry | | | | paint to a showroom finish. |
| completely. Then start the uneven paint removal with | | | | Well there you have it. It is a lot of work but it is |
| a rough grit sanding being very careful not to sand | | | | well worth the effort. In the end you have fixed |
| into any plastic detail of your model. I will cut the | | | | your pain problem and come out with a model that |
| sandpaper into very small pieces and hold them or | | | | has a complete showroom and contest winning finish. |