Laquer Spidey Webs

[tempestwulf]

I finally started using my Mr Colour Laquer paints today spraying a nice Zinc Chromate # 1 on a Italeri F6F Hellcat, great colour tone & density, not hard to use but the mask was needed. No issues really but came across 2x interesting issues.

1. Spraying the cowling + engine bay there appeared to be spider webs/strings forming in certain areas. If memory serves me right I think this is normal with Laquers but unsure?

2. Do Laquer's react badly to specific paint brands? I was spraying onto Humbrol (thoroughly dried) but it came up with a fine yellowy power in the recesses, easily scribbed out with a stiff brush but interested me.

[Bruce]

Spider webbing of lacquers is not normal, and is generally due to the paint drying too quickly out of the gun. the normal cause is incompatible thinners, which flash off too quickly and or react to certain binders in the paint. If the majority of your painting has come up O.K, it suggests that the thinners are a close match, but may still have problems. this also causes the powdery effect. I have come across it painting full size aircraft components as well. There isnt a particularly easy fix, but some you could try:

1. mix with a higher percentage of thinners - generally laquers are thinned to a higher ratio than other types of paint, up to 150% is quite normal.

2. add a little hexane (white spirits) to the mix, this slows the flash - off rate, but be careful as it may effect plastic - Test carefully before use.

3. Investigate other thinner alternatives, especially specific laquer thinners as opposed to universal thinners.

4. Dont use external heat sources which speed up solvent evaporation, keep the air temp constant, 5-20deg, but dry. Any cooler or moister and you get problems with "blush".

Laquers are nice when they work, but there are a lot more variables to consider than other paint types - I had to have several goes to get the paint on the belly of my full size aircraft, although this was due to blush (due to the humidity) rather than spider webbing...

see if that helps.

[tempestwulf]

Rock on Bruce, thanks for that.

I think the thinner ratio one will be the right answer, I was probably doing a 1/1 ratio thin down so was a little thick. I must comment though that I'm totally satisfied with laquer, dries very fast and is durable. I got Alcalad, god forbid I can get that right

I have about 15 paints now, mostly Mr Colour. They're main colours for RAF, US navy and cockpit colours, the most important one.

[agalbraith]

Yep they are the best there is in my opinion.

I have had the problem you spoke of and similar to what Bruce said. I thin it quite heavily and try to knock the pressure back a bit. That always works for me.

Cheers
Anthony