Up to now I have been using Pactra Racing Finish in the airbrush for almost everything. The exception being the Tamiya Bright red that I can only find in rattle cans. It's the closest thing to Ferrari red I can find.

I have been using a few colors of Testors for detailing with brushes. Since it's not acetone based like the Pactra RF there's less risk of brushing up the base coat.

But Amexmas night I ran some Testors Guard Red through the airbrush for a couple bodies, a Porsche Cayman, and a Lancia Stratos. I expected, like the PRF, that it would be be set up, dry and hardened in 12 hrs and would be safe to handle.

I was wrong.

The Porsche will need to be stripped and redone because it has fingerprints embedded in the paint after leaving it set for almost 30 hrs after painting. After nearly a week in a dry warm room the Lancia is still a little tacky. I thinned it with Testors thinner for the brush. Now I'm confused. Did I use the wrong thinner? Why won't this stuff harden? And why does it look so thick? PRF dries so thin there is no rased line at masked edges. This stuff looks like it's a quarter inch thick.

At this point I think I'll just stick with the PRF for future use. I'll try to find a way to brighten their red.

I don't know if you primed or not, but when I tried a finish color with no primer ,I had the same problem.

Agreed Leonard.

Same outcome here on numerous occasions. The way I figure it Pactra thinner is mineral spirit based. As is the base paint. Pactra thinner will not cut lacquers or enamels. You'll note that it has about the same flash rate as mineral spirits/house hold paint thinner.

Kinda reminds me of Rustoleum in a way. Still sticky three days after spraying regardless of air temp or humidity. Prints/dents easily and fills in detail like drywall mud. Ya really got to watch it with compounds or polishes too. Not only do they cut fast, some polishes will start to dissolve the paint on contact.

You can always tell if a body has been painted with this stuff. If you hold it in your hand for a bit you can feel it get sticky just from the slight warmth in your hand. I've adjusted the thinner rate to the point where it runs off like water and subsequently adjusted the air volume to compensate. I never have been able to get the type of wet film and dry stretch that I have been accustomed to with other products that have a higher flash rate. No doubt I expect to much.

This is not to say that I dont use their products. I find that they work excellent for dotting the "I's" and crossing the "T's'. I actually prefer them for detail work. They stay put when brush touching, generally cover with one coat, and wipe right off with spirits after the enevitable windsheild wiper or gas cap screw up. To speed up the cure rate I've been using automotive wax and grease remover for brush touch thinner. Quicker flash rate!

Their aerosols seem to work a bit better than the 'lil jugs. Been using the same 'lil bomb can of testors silver for a coupla years now. Spray a little in the lid and get brush touching. Doesnt run, and always lays down pretty smooth. The lower flash rate allows you to go over small areas using the wet on wet technique without dragging brush marks into previous coat should you have to make a correction.

Now gun shy, I just dont spray them anymore.

I'll have to try the wax and grease remover. I like this red but I hate waiting a week for it to set up.

But I think I'm gonna try adding a few drops of white to my PRF to brighten it up a little before I try Testors again.

I'll have to try the wax and grease remover. I like this red but I hate waiting a week for it to set up.

But I think I'm gonna try adding a few drops of white to my PRF to brighten it up a little before I try Testors again.

Dan,

Well this may sound crazy but, use a hair dryer shortly after painting with Testors. Wait till it is dry enough that the heavy air flow won't move the paint. I usualy do light coats and use a hair dryer between coats.

Ooooh and start out by holding the body far away and point the hair dryer from a distance. Then the paint starts to dry and you can start to move in for the kill. Just clear coat it all when done and bam....glossy paint job.

I also use flats or Chromate paints by Testors and then just clear them or Future them when all done. Flat paint dries real fast. Hate to wait here also!

Bob...zilla

Bob, I knew I could count on you to give me a larf out of this. Hair dryer... Hair dryer.... Hair.....

"Honey, have you seen my hair dryer?"....

"Honey?"....

Where'd my wife go? She was just here... No... wait... that was just a dream I had years ago. I don't have a wife.

Well, in any event I need that hair dryer. Wait... Hair dryer.... HAIR? I haven't had that since before I had dreams about a wife.

Maybe I could just stick it in the oven.

Jus' hackin' on ya, Bob. :D

Bob, I knew I could count on you to give me a larf out of this. Hair dryer... Hair dryer.... Hair.....

"Honey, have you seen my hair dryer?"....

"Honey?"....

Where'd my wife go? She was just here... No... wait... that was just a dream I had years ago. I don't have a wife.

Well, in any event I need that hair dryer. Wait... Hair dryer.... HAIR? I haven't had that since before I had dreams about a wife.

Maybe I could just stick it in the oven.

Jus' hackin' on ya, Bob. :D


Joez got a couple of Dozen, have him send ya one...


Coach! :wave:

Joez got a couple of Dozen, have him send ya one...


Coach! :wave:

Nah, he needs all the dryers he can get. ;)

I don't know if you primed or not, but when I tried a finish color with no primer ,I had the same problem.

Sorry, musta missed this one.

I always use primer befor panting resin casts, and almost always before painting a regular pruduction body. I have white and grey primer but I would love to find some yellow.

Sorry, musta missed this one.

I always use primer befor panting resin casts, and almost always before painting a regular pruduction body. I have white and grey primer but I would love to find some yellow.

Testors makes a yellow Chromate that is a dull yellow and dries flat and fast. :) Look for it in the small bottles...love the stuff! You can even clear it and will look real nice!

Don't even have to dry it......blow....dry....it...that is. :lol:

Bob...zilla