Vallejo lifting with masking tape

[Cheshiretaurus]

I'm trying Vallejo paints after using Humbrol enamel for the last 30 years, just at the trials stage at the moment.

I've sprayed a scrap resin part with Halfords grey plastic primer, several weeks ago then today sprayed it with Vallajo gloss white, after a couple of hours I put some masking film over it then deciced to reposition it, but when I lifted the masking flim, it lifted the white leaving the primer intact, I found the rest of the white could be peeled off like a film. Tamiya tape did the same.

Did I not leave it long enough?

Does it not grip very well to halfords primer?

Do I need to give it a coat of clear varnish before masking?

Mark

[Giorgio N]

While I've never used the gloss white, I've never had problems with the lifting of Vallejos when laid over Halfords primer. A couple of hours are usually enough for the paint to cure properly, although it might be that the gloss paint behaves differently from the matt ones I always use.

[colin]

While I use Vallejo a lot for small detail painting, I have never got them to stay in place if you have to mask over them, they nearly always lift.They are also very prone to rubbing off if you have to handle the painted part a lot.

They do tend to peel when they lift, and are impossible to sand and feather out for respraying, as you have found out unfortunatley

[Cheshiretaurus]

Thanks chaps, think I'll try Tamiya

[Alan Kelley]

What do you thin the paint with?

[Richard M]

Vallejo takes a few days to fully cure, even though it's touch dry quickly. Once it's fully cured it's much more resistant to lifting and can be sanded and feathered in. To be sure, I minimise the area of the tape in contact with the paint by using other materials such as paper or clingfilm to mask large areas with a few mm of tape at the edges.

[Cheshiretaurus]

What do you thin the paint with?

Tap water

Do have IPA or de ionised water available.

Whats best?

[cruiserguy]

Cheshiretaurus,

Richard M is right. Vallejo is touch dry in a few minutes, but it takes time to cure, and the longer you leave it the tougher it cures. I use low tack masking tape with Vallejo as I found Tamiya tape lifted it. In addition, don't use IPA with Vallejo as it turns the paint into a gloopy mess. if you want to stick with acrylics try Lifecolor. I have found it cures more quickly than Vallejo, and is pretty tough too as it does not rub off easily.

Best Wishes,

Will.