wonwinglo
SMF Supporter
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 6,754
- Points
- 113
- First Name
- Barry
Paint is something we use in our models every day and take for granted,however the way we are going to use this material in the near future is going to change dramatically,already there are changes in the motor automotive and aviation industry on the types and useage of industrial paints and the tiny model building tinlets we buy will change in the way that the basic constituents are made up.
The changes started to take effect some ten years ago when entire warehouses of cellulose based spray paints were cleared from the shelves overnight,in their place came a brand new range of acrylic based sprays which do less damage to our bodies and the earths ozone layer,scientists have worked for years to develop a brand new product that uses polyvinyl acetate as its base,the admixture of finely produced particles would mean that new spray nozzles would have to be developed to meet the demand.
The changes have been subtle and you have probably never even noticed them,but they are in place and already affecting certain areas,for example cellulose dope is used by vintage aircraft that have Irish linen fabric as the covering material,nitrate dope is virtually out of production and a new product designed to replace it will come into force within the next two years,there have been arguments that the special thinners is just as dangerous as the old cellulose product,whether this is true I really do not know but one thing is for sure we are under pressure to change our ways when we buy paint whether it be to spray our cars or use on our tiny models.
But it is not all doom and gloom because in many ways the new legislation and products will actually help us as modellers,for example you could never get away with spraying cellulose onto plastic with the old finishes,now the spray paints are safe to use on plastic without melting it ! however beware as some of the products especially available at christmas time as decorative silver and gold paint are 'Lacquer' based,the days of these products are numbered and they are probably very old stock.
One area which they have not quite got right is that of plastic wood products,this consists of finely ground wood dust mixed with a cellulose solution,the newer substitute uses the same dust but with the addition of a water based acrylic,somehow it does not have the same feel about it and will not sand as easily,a letter to the manufacturers highlights the fact that they too are not entirely happy with this product.
Changes are not always easy to take on board and it is only with knowledge that we can be expected to understand them and the new products that are produced every day,as they say old habits die hard but as model builders we can experiment with these new materials and must not be afraid to give feedback to the manufacturers,after all without our support,their products would be useless ?
The changes started to take effect some ten years ago when entire warehouses of cellulose based spray paints were cleared from the shelves overnight,in their place came a brand new range of acrylic based sprays which do less damage to our bodies and the earths ozone layer,scientists have worked for years to develop a brand new product that uses polyvinyl acetate as its base,the admixture of finely produced particles would mean that new spray nozzles would have to be developed to meet the demand.
The changes have been subtle and you have probably never even noticed them,but they are in place and already affecting certain areas,for example cellulose dope is used by vintage aircraft that have Irish linen fabric as the covering material,nitrate dope is virtually out of production and a new product designed to replace it will come into force within the next two years,there have been arguments that the special thinners is just as dangerous as the old cellulose product,whether this is true I really do not know but one thing is for sure we are under pressure to change our ways when we buy paint whether it be to spray our cars or use on our tiny models.
But it is not all doom and gloom because in many ways the new legislation and products will actually help us as modellers,for example you could never get away with spraying cellulose onto plastic with the old finishes,now the spray paints are safe to use on plastic without melting it ! however beware as some of the products especially available at christmas time as decorative silver and gold paint are 'Lacquer' based,the days of these products are numbered and they are probably very old stock.
One area which they have not quite got right is that of plastic wood products,this consists of finely ground wood dust mixed with a cellulose solution,the newer substitute uses the same dust but with the addition of a water based acrylic,somehow it does not have the same feel about it and will not sand as easily,a letter to the manufacturers highlights the fact that they too are not entirely happy with this product.
Changes are not always easy to take on board and it is only with knowledge that we can be expected to understand them and the new products that are produced every day,as they say old habits die hard but as model builders we can experiment with these new materials and must not be afraid to give feedback to the manufacturers,after all without our support,their products would be useless ?