What is the issue?

I used Rustoleum Metallic Bright Coat and am painting the RS list colors on top of it via airbrush.

It comes right off. All coats have been given over 48hrs to cure. I've been using "delicate surface" blue painters tape to mask. The tape caused what you see in the picture. I even noticed the masking fluid pulls off the silver underneath it when removed.

What did I do wrong and how do I fix it?
 
Not too sure what you mean by "rubbing it down." It's the lightest stick tape available and I put it on just enough to stick. I figure there's some type of issue with the silver paint, almost as if it had a dusty finish as it was sprayed on that never corrected when it dried. But it's the same kind everyone else seems to use...
 
Initially, I'd say the Rustoleum is the problem. It's an enamel and has a hard, durable finish, so the other paints don't stick to it well. If it were me, I'd sand the Rustoleum off, reprime the helmet and use a silver from the same vendor as the other paints. Airbrushed paints have finely ground pigments so they will atomize (spray) properly. Basically, the Rustolem spray paint isn't playing well with others. :)
 
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mixing brands / types is tough. most paints from one company stick to each other reasonably well. mixing brands can have wacky effects.

i've also noticed that the rustoleum silver tends to leave a powdery finish, which will cause paint to pull right up.

if you let the silver dry, then rinse it / wipe it all down that can help too.
 
Would it help to put a clearcoat over the silver then paint the rustoleum on top of that?

Clearcoat it, but use a gloss clearcoat. This will seal the finish and prevent the paint from peeling. The only problem is the silver paint will look wet rather than shiny like it should. Taking away from the authentic metal look. This is a problem I have fought with since I started my Fett. I have found no real solution to this problem, only compromise.
I've even tried painting over Rub N' Buff. That doesn't work either because the paint has nothing to grab on to. It just drips off in thin layers and looks like poo.:facepalm
For these reasons I've considered trying topical painting rather than layering.
From what I've seen on this site, if you have the patience you can make it look great.
 
i've been using plastikote metallic silver pretty successfully. but i mist it with krylon black while it's still wet then mist it again with the silver. it gives the silver a brushed aluminum look and it gives your next layer of paint something to grab to. i'm planning on doing that between all the layers of my armor to give it a built up weathering effect so i'll have less to do when i have all the colors down.
 
I would also try an new tape. Look for Tamaya masking tape, it is yellow and is supper low tack and comes as small as 6mm wide.
 
So it seems the general consensus is to use a silver that is the same as the other paint I'm using? (Testors chrome for example) and that will allow the paints to play nice between each other? And maybe some Tamaya tape as well.
 
The blue painters tape works fine, just apply a clear coat after each coat of paint. I use Krylon Matte Finish.
 
I always thought it was kind of a "No" to clear coat if you plan on putting more color on top of it, as the color won't stick to the top of the clear coat. Is that not the case?
 
Your clear overcoats give a little more bite to the next layers. It seems the color coats have a hard time adhering to the metallic particles in the paint. I use future to overcoat my layers and then a final dullcote at the end.
 
Oh, I get it. I could probably just clearcoat all of my pieces that have been sprayed silver so far and not have to sand those down. That won't save the helmet from the sanding but oh well. Thanks for the good ideas guys!
 
Hi Mason, the same thing happened to my helmet paint job. I used the same Rustoleum Bright Coat Aluminum paint and after applying the Krylon Italian Olive Green, it came right off with the tape. So I will try what everyone recommended to do with the clear coat, I have some matte finish here that I can use and hopefully that will do the trick. Thanks for starting this thread dude and thanks for your advice out there guys!

-Gene
 
It sounds like the Rustoleum aluminum paint is the problem in both cases. It doesn't seem to like having other paints on top of it.
 
I've had nothing but problems when it comes to rustoleum silver paints. I sprayed my shin tools with either the chrome or aluminum and the results were very bad...it litterally was melting.

I use Krylon silvers over every other paint brand because I never have problems with it. I even sprayed different brand spray paints on it and had no issues.
 
It sure was acrylics Lee. The issues were with the soviet green and c&o enchantment blue peeling up off the silver. But those colors just don't come in enamel. I have sprayed kelly green enamel on the back of the helmet and it seems much more solid. I'll have to do a small test to see if the tape can lift off the enamel on the back. I've also applied the reefer yellow to both knees and one shoulder. Those don't need to be taped off in order to paint, but I'll probably test them too out of curiosity...
 
The acrylics are a definite issue. You can't use any tape with these and if you do you have to proceed with great caution. Doesn't mean you did anything wrong just your approach has to be completely different with these. You can get fantastic results just keep listening to all the advice the others are providing in here it's good stuff. Hang in there you'll be ok just going to take some added patience with the acrylics.

Lee
 
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