Swift disaster 🤬

[Properjob56]

I'm in the process of building the Airfix Swift. Painted it with acrylic paint, Xtracrylix on top, Model Master on underside. Spent 3 days putting on stickers and last night used Humbrol Acrylic Gloss Varnish to seal them in having given it a good shake. Went back to the man cave this morning and the photos show what it looks like. Stickers eaten away, frosted and Matt varnish coat (tho the underside is barely touched 🤷🏻‍♂️). The photos don't do justice BTW of the extent of the frosting. It's as tho I've misted it in light grey.

Before I put it down to bad luck, write off the hours I've put into it, vow never to use Humbrol Acylic Sprays ever again and bin it I thought I'd ask if there's any way to save it aside from stripping it and starting again. TIA.

[Marklo]

This can be so frustrating. I’m always very very wary of mixing paint manufacturers after having a few bad experience myself. I have found that humbrol vanishes can melt other paints. So I tend to stick to aqueas varnishes like Windsor & Newton or mr colour. 

 

 

This disaster was from incompatible rattle cans, If it’s any consolation I think nodes up having to sand the whole thing back to bare plastic, but it turned out ok.

All I can suggest would be to polish it down with micromesh or very fine sandpaper to an even finish (I managed to get 2000 grit from my local motor factors) you should be able to salvage the paintwork, you might salvage the decals but they’ll probably need retouching or replacing.

 

Worst case scenario soak it in disinfectant or oven cleaner and repaint and redecal.

Edited December 19, 2020 by Marklo

[Back in the Saddle]

@Properjob56 Sorry to see what happened to your Swift. 

 

I've had a few issues with these Humbrol varnishes:

 

 

Very similar problems to what you described, but to a lesser extant. Is this the product you used?

[Properjob56]

32 minutes ago, Back in the Saddle said:

@Properjob56 Sorry to see what happened to your Swift. 

 

I've had a few issues with these Humbrol varnishes:

 

 

Very similar problems to what you described, but to a lesser extant. Is this the product you used?

Nope. It was the spray can marked 'Humbrol Acrylic Varnish'

[TEXANTOMCAT]

This has caught me out before too and I use their acrylic spray varnishes all the time. It doesn’t like humidity and especially thick coats. The trick is to hit it with a feather coat, let that dry for 20 mins then do your top coats I’ve never had this happen with their gloss but I have with their Matt. It’s a right pain mate sorry it’s happened to you By the looks of things stripping is the only answer- I think the initial coat was just too thick 

 

TT

Edited December 19, 2020 by TEXANTOMCAT

[tomprobert]

It may be down to the atmospheric conditions. The spray cans don’t like cold air and I’ve had the same problem in the past. Another coat of gloss should reduce the frosting significantly. 
 

Not wanting to teach granny to suck eggs, but I always warm rattle cans prior to spraying either in the airing cupboard for an hour or two or in a bowl of warm water - and when spraying is done again it’s to the airing cupboard to dry and since doing this I’ve not had the problem again. 
 

Nevertheless, very frustrating!

Edited December 19, 2020 by tomprobert
Autocorrect

[Properjob56]

30 minutes ago, TEXANTOMCAT said:

This has caught me out before too and I use their acrylic spray varnishes all the time. It doesn’t like humidity and especially thick coats. The trick is to hit it with a feather coat, let that dry for 20 mins then do your top coats I’ve never had this happen with their gloss but I have with their Matt. It’s a right pain mate sorry it’s happened to you By the looks of things stripping is the only answer- I think the initial coat was just too thick 

 

TT

I think I agree with you. Too thick. Just a shame It looks like stripping is the only answer.

[Properjob56]

Just to add to the frustration I tried to overcoat with gloss varnish to see if the frosting disappeared. I used Aquagloss and Xtracrylix with no success. The only one which was a qualified success was Humbrol Enamel Gloss.😱

[Big Dave S]

Oh hell!

That's rotten luck. I know how it feels.

Have written one off like this myself in the past.

It's really annoying and disappointing.

Bad luck mate.

Have a few drinks tonight and try again another day.

Edited December 19, 2020 by Big Dave S

[Big Dave S]

34 minutes ago, Properjob56 said:

Just to add to the frustration I tried to overcoat with gloss varnish to see if the frosting disappeared. I used Aquagloss and Xtracrylix with no success. The only one which was a qualified success was Humbrol Enamel Gloss.😱

That frosting is a nightmare. It doesn't go. Light areas can be brushed away to a point after drying, but it's always a bad thing to happen.

 

[The Spadgent]

Hey @Properjob56. Sorry to hear of your misfortune. If it’s any consolidation it doesn’t look “that” bad. I have never had this happen. I too use rattle cans but I always stick to Tamiya. A little trick that might be worth trying. (Worked on my clear outdoor lightbulbs too as it happens) frosted stuff seems to vanish under a gloss coat. Give it some light coats any see what happens. Then after it’s dry do another matt coat. I can highly recommend the Tamiya tins. Light coats are your friend. Excuse me if I’m teaching grandma how to suck eggs but it might just save such a lovely looking model. 
 

Johnny.