Re: C&Sn3 Kitbash of the UP built 27 foot boxcar (so far)

Posted by Konrad Schreier on
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/C-Sn3-Kitbash-of-the-UP-built-27-foot-boxcar-Outfit-Car-Info-tp8100p8113.html

Jim Courtney wrote

I'm not all that keen on resin kits so far. I generally do much cleaner work in styrene.

I've used the Tamaya fine white primer--I'll try the grey after I fix some of the obvious problems. By "decanting" I suspect you mean spraying into a cup, collecting the wet primer and re-thinning it . . . correct?

Jim,

I have built a lot of resin kits (many military, but the techniques don't change) and agree it has its issues.  Primer is really your friend with resin.  It smooths the surfaces (filling lots of micro imperfections) and highlights the bigger stuff which fixing will really  improve the model.

On decanting- yes, exactly.  Cut a v into a card, place it on a small cup and spray into the cup through the "v" - I use a cheap stainless shot measure.   With practice you can dispense with the card.  Add a little lacquer thinner and stir the paint (to de-gas it and reduce it for the airbrush), and pour it into the AB cup.   I use an Iwata HP-CS but any competent  AB will work.  You can store the decanted paint in a bottle, but leave the cap loose overnight to allow any residual propellant to gas off.  

I thought your model looked pretty good to go to the paint shop for priming as it was, but of course you can fix any really bad stuff you are seeing before priming.   The primer will level out some if not most of the littler stuff (like scribing depth) and uncover some stuff you can't see in the unprimed resin.  Fix and apply another light coat of primer.  Oh, if you don't have one, a fiberglass eraser is the bomb for fine clean up.  

As a closing thought, looking at the image you posted the prototype was pretty rough itself, so some of the flaws will actually be happy accidents.  To take advantage try some chipping fluid over a weathered wood undercoat along the lower edges before you paint the car sides to create the failing paint look.

Konrad

Konrad