Washing kits

[dazza]

Just a quick question do you guys wash kits/sprues before painting ? Only asking because I used to all the time but I made a Hobby Boss kit I was given a few days ago just to hone my "skills" and I didn't bother to wash it and it painted ok.

I don't want to waste time with future kits if it's an out dated practice 😳.

[dogfish7 (R.I.P.)]

I found it to be much safer to wash my styrene, before painting and having less possible issues. It has worked well for me, and although it requires a little more preperation, the end results have been better. Sometimes, even the oils and dirt from handling can interfere with paint adhesion. There are agreements for and against, but mine remain to be better prepared and turn out a better model. The same may be said about primer coating, first.

[RLFoster]

I'll admit, I rarely wash a kit before painting, but there are caveats!!!

First, this practice really seems to have taken off with the transition by many modelers to using acrylic paints. When we were younger, we all learned the adage, "Oil and Water do not mix" and with the exception of some very magical chemicals, the adage is 100% true. Oils from your fingers or from the moulding process can make putting down a water-based coat of primer or paint nearly impossible.

I, on the other hand, use lacquers and enamels for the majority of my priming and painting. These paints will literally dissolve and break-up surface oils, rendering them mostly irrelevant to the coating.

IF I used acrylics, I would wash my models every time, I'm sure. But as long as I use the old-school products, I'll probably continue to skip the washing.

[JCON]

Exactly my feelings Robert!!!

[dogfish7 (R.I.P.)]

Mold makers use a release agent to help stop the pieces from sticking, usually silicone. ( Or at least they used to. ) Depends on the kit date and where it was cast. Roll the dice fellas.

[Steve Ski]

Ya know, I really never gave it much thought, armor kits, so I recon I have never done it, even old Tamiya kits, doooeeeee.......... But, resin figures always get a quick brushing and cleaning before my Polly S primer goes on, had too many curls of that primer crawling across the resin.

I have to agree with Bruce on this one, especially with older kits. But then again, I would think car kits are a must. But if I'm talking armor, paint boofs get hidden in most cases anyway. I haven't done a car kit, which requires clean styrene IMHO, in over 40 yrs.

[Dukemaddog]

I've only very rarely washed any kits before assembly. Mostly back when I did a few very short run kits, as they tended to be engulfed in release agent. Otherwise, I just build and paint.

[JED]

To be honest I rarely wash my kits/figures as I'm too lazy I mean short of time!!

[itsonlyakit]

I wash my kits be they figures or vehicles for a few reasons. If it were a garage sale item and has been started then I do a parts count against the instructions while in process. If it be handled by who or whoms ? Resin for sure. All chrome parts get the purple pond treatment, kit chrome and me do not get along, Alclad is my hero. The more you check over a kit the easier it is to identify parts when it is glue time. I wash and air dry before primer also. Washing does not slow me down, have at least 8-9 started projects waving "me next" signs at me. Cheers.