[Richard Johnson]

QUOTE (jukebox @ 17 Nov 2007, 13:24) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I was hoping someone may have come across this before, and know the best way forward.

<snip>

Thinking it might be the Microscale product, and needing a stronger cleaning agent, I carefully tried neat isopropyl alcohol. If I apply this to the surface, the bloom disappears - but as the alcohol evporates, the bloom returns.

Has anyone experienced this before, and if so, is there a way to salvage the DVT?

Cheers

SJ

Hi SJ

The alcohol is a water soluble solvent. the microset/microsol are water soluble solvents. The paint surface was probably slightly affected and immersing it in water and detergent has probably let a little "chemical dance" happen.

When U wipe with solvent you are cleaning off the bloom but not stopping the process which is deep within the paint layer.

I'd suggest two possibilities to fix it:

(1) placing them in the airing cupboard for a week and then cleaning - this will give time for the water based solvents to totally leave the paint.

I suspect that it will NOT come back once the reaction has stopped.

(2) After leaving a week clean with a little gentle wiping with as little chemical help as possible, and try to NOT use alcohol or water based (maybe something only slightly moistened with white spirit) hit with a hairdryer to evaporate the last of any cleaner used and add a clear coat which MAY prevent its return or indeed dissolve it so it is invisible.

It may or may not work, but its better than having to strip and re-do if you don't need to!

Richard

 

[Richard Johnson]

QUOTE (jukebox @ 17 Nov 2007, 19:28) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Thanks for the encouragement.

I just got brave, and tried brushing a small amount of "Pledge" (our equivalent of the aero modeller's magic potion "Future"), to the end corridor connection. Sure enough, the bloom disappears - although I'll be more confident when it has sat for 24 hours.

Its good to know this can be solved - but even more, I'd like to know what happened, so I can avoid it in future...

Scott

Hello Scott - I'm not surprised its going to work... the bloom is actually a very, very fine surface deposit and as long as the residual water is evaporated out of the paint it'll not come back. I've had the same thing happen and it is "solvable" as a problem.

I'm actually far from you, at DCCconcepts 3/13 Lionel street Naval Base. I build, paint, line and whatever to all my own loco's so if I can ever be of help just ask.

It happened because the chemicals in the micro-sol etc made the paint porous to water, and immersing it let the water, well wetted by the detergent, get into the pain itself - the bloom is a reaction to that.

Next time don't immerse it in water - let the decals dry properly in place then just use a cotton bud moistened with about 20% meths and 80% water OR water with just a tiny amount of detergent in it to remove the glue residue from around the decals (thats what it is - the micro-sol dilutes it and as the solvent is a good "wetting agent" it flows around a bit - the micro-sol itself actually leaves NO deposit at all)

Regards

Richard Johnson
DCCconcepts

 

[Richard Johnson]

QUOTE (Richard Johnson @ 17 Nov 2007, 20:42) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I'm actually far from you, at DCCconcepts 3/13 Lionel street Naval Base.
Regards

Richard Johnson
DCCconcepts

***Doop - meant to say "not far from you" - sorry

Richard
DCCconcepts