Halfords clear lacquer/Zero Paints problem.

[KB78]

Hi everyone, 

 

For the last 8 or so years whenever building/ Painting F1 Cars I have used Halfords (rattle Can) Primer, white basecoat then a coat of Zero paint all lacquered with Halfords clear lacquer. The finish was always beautiful & both products were absolutely superb. Recently however, whenever I coat Zero's "Rothmans blue" with Halfords Lacquer the Blue badly cracks, bleaches or (usually) both! This hasn't happened on any other Zero colour. I have spoken to Zero who have confirmed that their Paint formula hasn't changed at all, I am still waiting for Halfords to get back to me regarding any changes to their Lacquer.

I've recently painted then completely stripped a pair of white Metal, Rear wing end Plates 6!! times & the problem keeps reoccurring! 

 

I just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced any other problems of a similar nature as until now I've had no problem at all & I'm running out of idea's/ solutions. Help!! 

 

Many thanks,

 

KB.

[lasermonkey]

I've read a number of reports online that the Halfords clear lacquer isn't particularly consistent when it comes to solvent/pigment ratio. I've had it attack and lift the underlying paint at times in the past. It does seem to be quite "hot".

The people who complained about it suggested the premium lacquer, which apparently is much more consistent in use.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[KB78]

Hi,

 

Thankyou for getting back to me, it's just so strange to have never had a single hint of a problem & then suddenly nothing but! 

I have already coated an expensive Studio 27 FW15C (A model I've wanted/waited for 25 years!) with a light coat of clear Lacquer in order 

to apply the Decals (thankfully all OK so far). Any idea if the Premium Lacquer is compatible with the standard (already applied) variety? 

 

Either way, thank you! At least I have "some" slight idea of what may be happening now. MUCH appreciated.

[bentwaters81tfw]

Having problems with Halfords white primer reacting to some 40+ year old Humbrol Enamel. Doing a refurb, and it as driving my crazy (literally).

[KB78]

Hi all,

A bit of an update and a plea for help.

Over the past Month or so I contacted both Zero and Halfords, (both extremely helpful) and both confirmed that the formula for their products was unchanged. So I experimented, ALOT! Many plastic Spoons and other forms of plastic were tested in as many different ways as I could think of, Different Zero colours (all unaffected), temperatures, materials, Four different cans of two different kinds of Lacquer, everything, anything in any combination that I could think of was tested. 
The outcome was the same, Halfords Lacquer fogging, washing out and even cracking Zero's Rothmans Blue, but oddly none of the other colours. 

My final test was yesterday, and may be the "smoking Gun" I found an old-ish Can of Halfords Lacquer that still contained about a third of a Cans worth that I had successfully used (with no problem at all) with my old Bottle of "Rothmans blue" on a studio 27 Williams FW12 and an FW17. I tried the remnants of this can in combination with my new Bottle of "Rothmans blue" and the result was identical, fogging, washing out. 
So I'm now "almost" certain that (for whatever odd reason) it's the Blue not the Lacquer. 

I'm here to ask a favour, does anyone have any of the "old" Label Rothmans Blue (Chequered Flag motif on the label) that they would be willing to sell me?
It doesn't have to be full, even half a Bottle will prove or dis-prove my theory & hopefully allow me to finish my S27 Williams FW15C , my favourite Car of all time and a model I've waited 25 years to buy and build. 

I really love using Zero's stuff as it's always brilliant but am completely stumped by this problem and the only thing I haven't tried is getting hold of some older "Rothmans Blue" & trying that.

Any help much appreciated & greatly received.

[Steve Noble]

Have you tried the blue that you're having the problems with and used a different brand of clear, not the Halfords clear? Just a thought, it could be the Halfords clear. I would try another clear and see what happens. If you get a good result, it's the clear. If it does the same, it could be the blue..

[Steve Noble]

Ive had mixed results with Halfords paints in the past. On colder days I found that the paints would dry with no gloss and an almost matt finish, but when sprayed in a warmer environment or heated with a hairdryer they would have a good gloss. Also had problems with the clear coat, fogging and sometimes just a generally bad finish especially when the weather was damp or cold, bit also when it was a very hot day as well. I think in general they are a bit inconsistent a lot of the time. I don't use them much anymore, only really use the grey and white primers on models where I'm not too fussed about a perfect finish. On models where I want a really nice finish I tend to use Tamiya primer and either Zero, Mr Color or the new Tamiya LP lacquer paints. All of which spray very nicely with no effort at all to get consistent results..

[Steve Noble]

I remember i used the early Zero Rothmans Blue for the Renault R23 colour scheme and had no problems with it. The only Zero paints that I've used that cracked were the fluorescent colours and that was because I sprayed them a little too heavy..

[Steve Noble]

Can just see the blue right on top of the engine cover

 

[PhoenixII]

Morning KB,

glad you've got to the bottom of the problem.

No solutions I'm afraid, but a few suggestions.

Firstly, does your supplier of Zero have any old stock of 'Rothmans Blue'? If not, do they have a list of their stockists, that just might have what you want?

As has already been suggested, think about changing your brand of clear coat, possibly to Zeroes own?

Got to be remembered, Halfords buy their product in huge batches, 100's of 1,000's of litres annually, against the quantity that Zero buy in, plus, Halfords is a generic.

Forgive that they may appear simplistic but as modeller's we do have the habit of throwing money at a problem!

Hope the above is of some use,

Paul

[KB78]

Hi everyone,

 

Many thanks for your replies,

 

I had another Chat with Zero this morning & they have very kindly sent me another Jar of Blue and their own brand of Lacquer to try. 

 

I'm hoping that the Zero Lacquer doesn't react with the Halfords, given that I've already dusted my FW15C with a Coat of the Halfords stuff. 

 

I also asked if they had an old Jar of the Blue laying around but unfortunately they don't (I was clutching at straws), so whilst I'll try the Blue and Lacquer 

 

they've so very kindly sent, I'll also persue the avenue of trying to track down an old Jar of the Blue also.

 

So if anyone has any, even just a little I would be very, very grateful indeed! 

 

Many, MANY thanks,

 

KB.

 

P.S. that Renault R23 looks great! Is it a Resin kit? 

 

 

[Steve Noble]

10 hours ago, KB78 said:

Hi everyone,

 

Many thanks for your replies,

 

I had another Chat with Zero this morning & they have very kindly sent me another Jar of Blue and their own brand of Lacquer to try. 

 

I'm hoping that the Zero Lacquer doesn't react with the Halfords, given that I've already dusted my FW15C with a Coat of the Halfords stuff. 

 

I also asked if they had an old Jar of the Blue laying around but unfortunately they don't (I was clutching at straws), so whilst I'll try the Blue and Lacquer 

 

they've so very kindly sent, I'll also persue the avenue of trying to track down an old Jar of the Blue also.

 

So if anyone has any, even just a little I would be very, very grateful indeed! 

 

Many, MANY thanks,

 

KB.

 

P.S. that Renault R23 looks great! Is it a Resin kit? 

 

 

Well I hope that you sort out your paint issues. Try the new bottle of blue with Zero clear and if it's good I would try the new blue and the Halfords clear and see what happens. I still think the Halfords clear is the issue myself.

 The Renualt is actually a Revell 1/24 kit that I built a few years ago. An absolute nightmare to mask the yellow and blue, but it looked great when complete..