Hey guys! Anyone got any advice for knocking the shine off vinyl tires. The ones that came with my Revell-Germany MAN 5T truck are really, really shiny. I mean like they've been coated in Armor-All. I was thinking that just hitting them with a flat clear coat wouldn't work as it would just flake off.

Flat clear-coat will work as long as you don't handle or flex them much. Another option is to hit them with some sand paper to knock down the shine.

Thanks Gino!

DO NOT USE AN ENAMEL FLAT COAT!

It will never dry properly due to the properties of vinyl. Use a Scotchbrite pad instead of sand paper. You'll accomplish the same thing with much less aggravation.


G

Thanks Wayne!

You can use a scocthbrite and sand the tires lightly it'll help take the shine off then dead flat them. Regards, Brock

Thanks Brock!

Hi, Richard! (Or do you like Rick or Dick?)

First of all, may I say that I HATE vinyl tires for the very same reasons you quoted in your query. I like to replace ALL of my kits' tires with resin ones, if they're available.

If I were in your predicament, I would REPLACE those toy-like, shiny vinyl tires with the RESIN, "SAGGED" Tires, which are made by DEF:

DEF 1/35 Revell/Hobby Boss MAN 5T Truck, DW35105

These sets are readily available on Ebay... BNA, (from Australia), carries them, at a decent, affordable price, with RAPID, affordable shipping. I've been very satisfied with BNA over the years...

These are a BEAUTIFUL set of replacement Tires and Wheels, which are cast in one piece. The detailing is SUPERB. Investing in these will keep your handling of them to a minimum, which can sometimes be frustrating in that SOMETIMES, vinyl tires just won't slide onto their rims. Investing in this after-market Tire/Wheel set will also keep the air in your home from turning a distinct shade of BLUE...

Another advantage of this set for your MAN 5T, is that it's made SPECIFICALLY for your kit!

Yes, it's an extra expense, but THE RESULTS ARE MORE THAN WORTH IT, IN THE END...

You can also try washing your vinyl tires with WESTLEY's Whitewall Tire Cleaner, which will remove ANY shiny mold-release gunk from your tires. I don't know which composition of vinyl your kits tires are made of, but some of these vinyl tires can be a real pain in the a** when trying to dull-down their "sheen". That's why I don't bother to even try to fuss with, or waste my time with them...

CLEANING:

I like to clean any and ALL of my plastic or resin parts with either WESTLEY's or a mild solution of warm water and DAWN Dish-washing Liquid, and then RINSING THOROUGHLY with cold water.MAKE sure that all soap and/or cleaner suds have been thoroughly rinsed off, otherwise the soap residue can possibly have adverse effects on your paints and/or primers. Let them air-dry. DO NOT WIPE your parts down- Static electricity can attract dust-motes or pet hair, if you have any pets, which I do.

Then, before I even apply any primers or under-coats, I will spray everything down with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol, which I keep handy in a trigger-type plastic spray bottle, making sure that the alcohol has air-dried thoroughly. ("Dollar stores" carry both the plastic spray bottles and the 91% Isopropyl Alcohol, in their 'Household Cleaners' and 'Medicines' sections)...

Alcohol will evaporate much more rapidly than water, so you won't have to wait as long as waiting for water to evaporate.

DON'T SKIP the WASHING OF YOUR PARTS Step...

The resin "sagged" Tires made by DEF are EXCELLENT in execution and in their definition of detailing, and will also lend a much more realistic "look" to your finished model, in that they simulate the vehicle's weight...

GOOD LUCK!!!

PS- No, I do not work for BNA, "Dollar stores", DAWN, or WESTLEY'S...

Dennis,

Thanks for the advice. I haven't had any issues with vinyl tires in the past. I'm going to try washing them with Dawn...I already have that on hand and if that doesn't do the trick I'll try the Westley's.





Richard

Hi, Richard!

OK, but keep the part number for the DEF Tire/Wheel set handy. Sometimes, the price of the WESTLEY's, (depending on your retailer) can empty your wallet quicker than just buying the DEF Tire/Wheel set to begin with...

Again, GOOD LUCK!!!

PS- Let me know how the DAWN works for you...

Roger that! Will do!

I just brass wire brush the vinyl tyres, it also helps the powers to bind on them.

Thanks for the tip.

I ended up just priming them and painting them Tamiya NATO Black.

Yes scotchbrite will do the trick..then sand paper for the seamlines and wearing.

More or less identical Armorama thread started May 23, 2019 at:

"AFV Club Rubber wheels question"

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/277563