Paint bubbles

[wdcav]

I painted this yesterday, using Testors White Lightning Lacquer. Shook the bottle plenty, but I still got some odd spurts in the paint that look like speckles of pure color or flake.

But what's really made me mad is that rigt there along that body line going from the front of the door to behind the air scoop, the paint bubbled really badly. I have no idea why it did that there, it's the only spot on the whole body that did it. But it looks like ######. (edit: it bleeps out c-r-a-p?)

How should I fix this? Sand the bubbles out or could/should I strip the entire body and start over?

Edited February 11, 2009 by wdcav

[MrObsessive]

If it were me I'd strip it and start over, but I'm very particular when it comes to paint.

Seems as though your paint had some excess propellant in it when you sprayed............I'm not sure as I seldom if ever use cans when I paint bodies. A slightly further distance away when spraying may help. I would also make sure the paint can is warmed up a bit before spraying.

I had a similar problem with Tamiya's spray cans when I tried to decant them some time ago. There was so much propellant to gas out, I had to wait a good hour before all the bubbles went away.

[MrObsessive]

I also wanted to add that you could try sanding out those bubbles------------but I'm afraid you're gonna see bare primer/plastic underneath because the paint did not fully stick for some reason in those spots.

[Guest Davkin]

Bill is right, that's most likely propellant bubbles, the only real fix is to strip and start over. You might have been spraying too close not giving the propellant a chance to escape before hitting the body.

David

[wdcav]

It's so weird it only happened there though. I used long sweeps back and forth the body. And everything around those bubbles came out great. It's disturbing.

How could I strip this if that's what I end up wanting to do?

[bobss396]

I have a low opinion of all Testors products in general. It looks like they still utilize those horrible spray cans. They must get a "truck" load of them for almost nothing.

I would let it dry and try to sand it out before I'd strip the whole works.

Bob

[Brendan]

I can tell you exactly what happened. You put too much paint down too quickly. And the paint started to collect in the low lying areas and also the lip of where the seam line is. The paint was already drying underneath and wet paint went over the top and the bubbles are the result of off gassing from the drying paint. I've had this happen to me quite a few times when I used spray cans, especially with Tamiya sprays. As for trying to fix the problem, your best bet is to strip it as suggested by everyone else.

[MikeMc]

I can tell you exactly what happened. You put too much paint down too quickly. And the paint started to collect in the low lying areas and also the lip of where the seam line is. The paint was already drying underneath and wet paint went over the top and the bubbles are the result of off gassing from the drying paint. I've had this happen to me quite a few times when I used spray cans, especially with Tamiya sprays. As for trying to fix the problem, your best bet is to strip it as suggested by everyone else.

YEP I agree 100%...If you cleaned, and primed the body you might get away with it, but on bare plastic thats the nature of that product line...But if you learn to MIST it you will get first class paint out of the can....even W/O primer.

I would strip it in DOT3 brake fluid, wash it in Dawn dry it, prime it, then shoot some killer paint!!

[MikeMc]

I have a low opinion of all Testors products in general.

Bob

Me too. But you SHOULD try the new lacquer line.....works quite well (below tamiya TS line, but still good paint.)

[935k3]

It's so weird it only happened there though. I used long sweeps back and forth the body. And everything around those bubbles came out great. It's disturbing.

How could I strip this if that's what I end up wanting to do?

If it was Testor's Laquer you should try 91% Alcohol to strip it.

[robertw]

I'm currently having the same problem with the same paint/colour.

In my case I think I was spraying to close and not moving fast enough. I've sanded down the area affected but have still been left with some pits so I applied a small amount of putty which I'll sand then re-spray a shot of primer before I try colour again. I'm hoping this works because in my case stripping the whole body can not be an option.

I've had this problem with this new line of Testors paint before so perhaps decanting some of the paint is the best option.

Good luck,

Robw