Guys, I know that this technique has been discussed to death but I have a question and hope you will humor one more go at it.

I used Tamiya as a base coat and let it dry over night. I then lightly sprayed hairspray and let it dry about 10 min or so. Then I lightly sprayed a different Tamiya color and after about 5 min began to chip with water.

Things worked beautifully except that in certain spots it chipped right through the base coat to the bare plastic! Now, I know that this can't be because the base coat wasn't dry. Do I need to apply a clear coat between the hairspray and base coat? Should I use future? An enamel/lacquer (floquil)? My fear in anything other than using future or an acrylic (tamy or model master) is that the top coat of tamy won't stick. But, then I'm afraid that by using an acrylic clear coat is that the chipping will work right through it as well.

So, I know that many of you use this technique all the time and have this down to a science. How do you prevent the base coat from getting chipped away? Thanks in advance.

I would normally let the base coat dry for a couple of days, and yes, I use Future before I put the hairspray on.

I encountered the same problem while experimenting with this technique and asked one of the "hairspray masters" for advice. He suggested the following:

- Prime the model before applying the base coat as it gives the paint something to "bite into"
- Apply a barrier between the base coat and the hairspray / top coat if you want to be super safe ... but it isn't necessary and he doesn't use one

Based on my own (limited) experience, I'd say if you're scrubbing so hard that you're taking off the base coat, then a) apply more hairspray, b) go lighter on the top coat, and c) begin chipping immediately. By the time you clean your airbrush, it will be ready to go.

I too have used Tamiya as a base coat (with no primer) and the hair spray technique after that but have had no problems whatsoever with rubbing all the way down to the plastic. The key here is to leave the base Tamiya coat to cure (not just to dry) for at least 48 hours. I actually leave my base Tamiya coats to cure for 72 hours just to be on the safe side. In my experience, I find that Tamiya actually bites to the plastic really well (as long as you have a clean surface). In fact, I normally use Tamiya as a primer coat when I'm going to be using other acrylic brands for my base coats.

Rob

Thanks so much. I'm glad to know that others have had this problem. Rob, I appreciate the distinction between dried and cured paint. That maks a difference. Thanks again.