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Touching Up Scratches or Rubs on Breyer Models
(Info Received From Breyer at BreyerFest 2009)
One of the special things about Breyer models is the way
they are painted. After having their seams finely
sanded, all unpainted models go to the washing department.
The washing serves a dual purpose. The first is to
remove the dust created when buffing the models, which
builds up on the body. Without removing the dust
completely, the paint will not stick directly on the model's
body - and will come off easily when wiped. The second
purpose is to slightly soften the plastic, as the molded
product is washed in acetone. This allows the special
paint used to actually bond to the plastic, and not just sit
on the surface. The paint can get scratched through
accidents, but all is not lost.
We recommend that you use a water-based acrylic paint (found
at art stores) to touch up scratches. Acrylics have
many advantages, as they can be thinned with water, they
come in a tremendous variety of colors, they are easy to
clean up, and they dry fairly quickly.
Once you have found the color that basically resembles your
model's original paint, you may need to add another or even
two other colors and mix them to get a good match.
While you do this, add some water to thin the paint out, as
the layer on most models is fairly thin. Always
remember that when dry, the paint will look a slightly
different color than when wet; the dry color usually has a
flatter look, and may vary either on the lighter or darker
side, depending on what color you start with.
If a large area of the model is to be painted, you may want
to wipe the area with a bit of acetone to prep the plastic;
let dry before painting. However, do keep in mind that
acetone will also remove any of the original paint it comes
in contact with.
The best method is to thin the paint for use in an air brush
(air gun), and apply with the air brush. However, hair
brushes also produce very good results with a little
practice. The traditional wet brush application may be
used, or for very small areas, you may want to use a dry
brush. Apply a small amount of paint to center of rub
and paint outward, thinning the layer as you make contact
with the original paint; try to blend with the original
paint. Be sure to keep the paint thin and smooth, as
any dried globs or grips of paint will be immediately
noticeable. However, if it is too thin, the new paint
will scratch off easily. Do not touch until dry.
Drying time will depend upon the size of the painted area
and the thickness of the paint.
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