What Does It Take?

[Duke Maddog]

I am trying to build a 1/72 scale Saturn V rocket. That takes a shipload of white paint. I've been using the Wal-Mart .96cent rattle cans of flat white. It's been going on very smooth and even. I found that it is easier than trying to airbrush such a massive model, as I don't have a paint bottle big enough.I have had no issues with the paint itself.

My issue is that every time I try to prepare this model for a clearcoat to apply my masking for the black paint and subsequently the decals, I keep finding little flecks of dust and micro hairs that are very obvious. I've done all I can think of to wash and sand these specs off. I've even sprayed Static Guard on this model to try and eliminate the static that keeps attracting this crap! I've been at this for FIVE HOURS now and I'm further away from masking this than I was five hours ago! And I've only been working on STAGE II!

Now, I've seen all you Masters on here getting such smooth, CLEAN, and EVEN coats of white and other colors on your models. I have been at this second stage for FIVE HOURS and still nowhere near where I need to be to move on. Then I still need to do the larger Stage I. This is why I'm still just a moderately novice modeler here, nowhere near being in the same league as everyone here. I cannot make this model look RIGHT to save my life! I haven't even gotten to the step where I can add the black sections to this because I'm too much of a bad modeler to even get the stupid model CLEAN ENOUGH!

WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

All I want is for this to NOT look like some kid built it in a dusty, dirty room! I've cleaned my workstation, spray booth area and surrounding environs. I've done as much as I can to eliminate as much of the dust as I can. I've done everything I can think of to stop the static cling on the model parts. I guess I'm just too much of a screw up to do this model any justice!

What does it take to make a model even half as good as any of you Masters?

[RexCag]

do a Google search for " vinyl record static gun "

it is an old-timer's tool for keeping vinyl records from attracting dust.

one brand name was Zerostat

Something like a static gun makes your plastic model repel dust particles instead of attracting them,,,,,,,,,,, static is built up from all the sanding and polishing and etc.

[BorgR3mc0]

That is why I preferably to use my airbrush. That way the paint dries much faster and there is no time for dust to settle.
My spraybooth has an over pressure system so that also helps to keep the dust out.

[Duke Maddog]

Thanks Jim. I do tend to have an air purifier in the room, but because I have to open my window to vent the exhaust outside, I tend to defeat it's purpose. I still use one though. So far, I've done everything you aid about washing and wiping it off with a dust-free cloth, as well as blowing it off with air. I will be trying that spray bottle misting technique.

The paint isn't the issue. It's not Krylon either so I don't have any issues with graininess. It's Wal-Mart's brand that costs only 96 cents per can. I've had excellent coverage with it, going on airbrush smooth. The paint ain't the problem, it's everything else floating around in the air that is the problem.

do a Google search for " vinyl record static gun "

it is an old-timer's tool for keeping vinyl records from attracting dust.

one brand name was Zerostat

Something like a static gun makes your plastic model repel dust particles instead of attracting them,,,,,,,,,,, static is built up from all the sanding and polishing and etc.

Thanks Rex. I'll look it up, but unless I can pick one up locally, I don't think it'll get to my place on time. It does sound like something I need though.

That is why I preferably to use my airbrush. That way the paint dries much faster and there is no time for dust to settle.
My spraybooth has an over pressure system so that also helps to keep the dust out.

Borg, I would love to use my airbrush on this but this model stands almost two meters tall and is at least 10 centimeters wide on the wider parts. Broken down, it still stands three-quarters of a meter tall for Stage I, and half a meter or so for Stage II. That's a ton of white needed for coverage and I'd be refilling my airbrush 17 times or more before I can call this done. At least with the Wal-Mart spray bombs I can use a can and a half to put one coat on this fairly quickly, as opposed to spending two days just trying to put on one coat with an airbrush.

Also, I haven't got a spraybooth such as the one you describe. Can't afford one and so I simply place my subjects on a tray in front of a window with a fan blowing outside and let 'er rip.


Thanks again for all the great tips guys. I'm writing everything down and will use all I can. Maybe something will finally work well enough for me to actually succeed.

[Thomas_M]

Reading about these issues I am happy I decided to get the pre-painted and pre-assembled version of this 1.5 metres kit... Looks great in our living room beneath the TV!

I am with you in that dust s...s. We also have a cat so finding a cat´s hair even on parts I just got out of the bag is fun. Not...

I also make use of a water spray gun my wife uses to wet the flowers. It´s great to nebulise water all over the work area.

Any pictures of this build so far?

[BlackSheep214]

What does it take? How about a walk-in spray paint booth? LOL! I hear ya. I hate dust as well. That's why I try to most of my airbrushing outdoors or in my garage during the warm weather months.

Hope you are able to do it without any more problems with dust hovering in the way.

[Duke Maddog]

Reading about these issues I am happy I decided to get the pre-painted and pre-assembled version of this 1.5 metres kit... Looks great in our living room beneath the TV!

I am with you in that dust s...s. We also have a cat so finding a cat´s hair even on parts I just got out of the bag is fun. Not...

I also make use of a water spray gun my wife uses to wet the flowers. It´s great to nebulise water all over the work area.

Any pictures of this build so far?

Thanks Thomas. I also considered that kit too...briefly. I like the idea of saying "I built that!" when people see it though. Plus, even though it's been a pain getting it painted, I have had a real enjoyable time working on this.

I have posted the most recent progress on this Saturn V, among others, in my Maddog Manufacturing Thread. Feel free to go check it out. You'll see the completed LEM and Command Modules as well as everything else I managed to get done.

What does it take? How about a walk-in spray paint booth? LOL! I hear ya. I hate dust as well. That's why I try to most of my airbrushing outdoors or in my garage during the warm weather months.

Hope you are able to do it without any more problems with dust hovering in the way.

LOL! Walk-in spraybooth would ROCK! Gotta wait till I win the Lotto before that happens though!

I did write down all the suggestions from this and a few other Forums; implemented as many as I was able, and successfully clear coated this entire model. Now to get it masked off for black.

Wish me luck.

[BlackSheep214]

If only you knew of a body shop who you're tight with, maybe the potential is there if they have a walk in spray booth.

[Duke Maddog]

That would be cool, but no. Anyway, I'm moving on with this and hopefully will be getting the black shot on this soon. Stay tuned.