Hairspray Technique / Chipping Advice Please

[Guest]

Just a thought Alan, but if you aren't getting along with hairspray there are other chipping techniques that can give you that beat up look you are after. Basically applying the chips after painting with a sponge or small brush. Plenty of videos out there on the technique but Night Shift has a good one, and Andy's Hobby HQ released one just today I think.

Personally I might go back to doing it that way in most situations as I find HS a bit too hit & miss for my liking.

[AlanG]

Andy i'm going to give it one last go but this time using Klear as a varnish to seal the paint in. If it doesn't work then i'm going back to painting the rust or trying Maskol

[Ian M]

Hi Ian

Yes i'm applying water. Although i'm not waiting any time for it to soak in. Should i? Not sure how much hairspray to put on. I suppose the bits have had quite a bit of hairspray placed on them.

You do have to give the water time to get through the paint and you might need to apply it a couple of times. This softens the paint and weakens the grip of the hair spray.

[AlanG]

I've sort of got it working on the side armour but yet again it went south when it came to doing the exhaust. So in the future i'm either going to paint of the rust or maskol it. Fed up of trying this technique and it not working properly. I would buy AK stuff but the price is stupid (as with most things AK) and i have Vallejo and Humbrol masking fluids sitting in my draw waiting to be used.

[langy71]

The last time i did any 'hairspray' chipping I followed this sequence, (using Tamiya acrylic Paints)

Apply base colour, seal with future, (24 hour to dry), then apply a coat of cheap hairspray, leave it for an hour or so, then apply the top coat, leave this for around ten mins...just enough time for it to 'flash off'.. and then proceed to start chipping using warm water ..(to reactivate the hairspray)..using a soft brush and cocktail sticks.

hope this helps.

This Is the front section of my Bandai Slave 1

[David Lovell]

Alan sorry to hear your struggling but agree with the boys ak chipping fluid has given me no problems you say its expensive but what price the kit a jar of it goes for miles and will do more than a few kits I'd rather use a product I know works than ruin a expensive kit and all my time and effort ,you could try again with the hair spray on a old kit (we've all got at least one built and never finished in the back of the cupboard) keep testing things till your happy and confident in your self with it Dave

[SimonT]

Alan,
my two pence worth....
spray base coat and leave for a few days to make sure properly set
a couple of sprays with hairspray - leave only until it looks dry
spray a light top coat - don’t make it too thick, just enough to look covered and leave just until it looks dry
attack with the water and brush