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Mould Release Agent


Spodger

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Apologies if this has been dealt with elsewhere - I have searched but not found.

I'm about to make my first model for 37 years and I vaguely recall being aware of MRA and the need to wash all the parts with mild soapy water before assembly/painting.

I'm sure I never did but I don't recall having a problem painting kits (airfix/tamiya) with enamel paints. The only time I remember having an issue was with painting the sets of small figures (infantry, desert rats etc. in softer plastic).

Is it always present on all kits? If it is, can you see or feel it or detect it in any other way? Or, should I just wash them all anyway just in case?

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It isn't normally a major problem, and it's not something I normally do. However, better modellers do so maybe that's not saying a lot, and it might explain the odd failure of a paint to take hold. It was particularly commented on with some of the older cruder East European kits. Doing it certainly won't hurt - as long as you make sure to rinse all the soap off too.

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I always use self-etch primer anyway, so the problem doesn't occur, but resins have a surface which is naturally waxy and has some silicon residue from the moulds. Usually resin doesn't need release agent when moulding as the only thing that silicon sticks to is more silicon, as you'd know if you ever made a 2 part silicon mould, with insufficient release agent betwixt the twain!

Martin

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